Interesting. After all, it’s not compulsory, but it is a little like going to a restaurant, eating half the bread basket, and when the waiter asks what you want, you say: “I’m not ordering. I don’t really get involved.”
I get it. Coach operators have reasons. They might say, “I don’t like politics”. Nobody likes politics. That’s fair enough. Nobody likes politics the way they like pizza.
But here’s the thing: not liking politics doesn’t make politics stop liking you. Politics is still going to show up at your depot, rummage through your wallet, adjust your expenses, mess with your compliance, decide what’s happening with your payroll, fix — or rather, not fix — the roads. And you’re standing there, saying “I didn’t sign up for this”.
Well… actually, you did. Specifically, you signed up when you gave undertakings to secure your O-Licence. You live within the domain of a Traffic Commissioner, and if you want to carry passengers, that means only one thing: the government is going to intervene. That’s the deal.
The better question might be who is negotiating your side of the deal. Reluctant operators might say the same thing: “I cannot make a difference.”
You probably can’t on your own. But with likeminded fellow coach operators, you can.
Your voice is louder when you join the only trade association run by coach operators, exclusively for coach operators. It’s the only time you get to say, in unison, “Here’s what I want” and amplify your voice with businesspeople facing the same pressures as you. It beats muttering it into your phone while scrolling.
But there’s more than the satisfaction of saying I did my bit. Joining the UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) is one of those rare adult tasks that has a payoff. As a consultant to UKCOA I’m here to invite you to step into a world filled with possibilities that can assist your business in ways you might not have considered — by opening it up to a network of ideas, experiences, and suppliers that are beyond the reach of any one individual, however impressive that individual might be.
In my legal career advising in the whirlwind of modern coaching, I have observed how it is all too easy for individuals to feel isolated. The pressure to perform can become overwhelming, leading to distressing thoughts that can spiral into the darkest corners of the mind. During 33 years of legal practice advising the transport industry, I have personally dealt with two coach operators who became suicidal due to commercial pressures. I identify these extremes of business pressure to identify that it is good to talk and be part of a group that understands that you are not alone in your struggles. There is a powerful antidote to business strain, and it is being part of a trade association. You can become part of a collective where knowledge is shared and collaboration assists your personal business, and moreover, your bottom line.
It’s understandable to feel apprehensive about stepping forward. Perhaps you worry about contributing too much in time or money. These concerns are valid, and I can address them. But rest assured the knowledge to navigate the future of the coach industry is in abundance within UKCOA, and you’re welcome to offer as much or as little as you prefer.
Take a small step and call me on 07710 187211 and I will do my utmost to explain the benefits of coming forward from the back seat of the coach. Your experience is relevant and will be greatly appreciated by your fellow passengers, albeit as the sign at the front of the coach says: ‘do not disturb the driver’.
