Meeting the challenges of ever-changing legislation

With so much for coach and bus operators to keep a check on when it comes to legislation, an army of apps and companies are available to help. We look at some of the top solutions available to the industry.

With the threat of a loss of O-Licences or legal action and with passenger safety paramount, it is no surprise that operators have a wide range of companies to choose from in their bid to stay the right side of legislation. From drivers’ hours to vehicle checks and Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training, managers have much to take care of in this regard. 

EOS Training is one company that helps ensure the legalities are met, providing training materials for both Driver CPC (DCPC) and Transport Manager CPC. 

It offers an extensive range of products which includes student notes, exam preparation, home-study packs and PowerPoint presentations. 

EOS Training’s move into offering DCPC is a recent one. Managing Director Chris Shelford explains: “We have recently introduced driver handbooks and are in the process of designing slideshows for DCPC specifically to support the National Highways movement Driving For Better Business. This will be focused on road safety and will have a positive impact on all staff that it is delivered to. Our plan is to create a package for a training organisation to purchase that will give them white-labelled products to deliver to drivers that will be updated when required, allowing them to focus on the delivery and not whether the content is correct.” 

Recent suggestions under consultation for DCPC reform could mean changes are in store, but EOS Training hopes safety is not compromised. “Coaches are the safest mode of transport,” says Chris. “The reason they are the safest is down to the education of the managers and the continuing professional development of the drivers.” 

The flexibility of more e-learning could be one feature of any DCPC changes, and this is an area in which EOS Training has been active. 

“E-learning has allowed students to digest the information at their own pace and in familiar surroundings,” says Chris. “This supports the digestion of the subject, and allows them to recap without feeling embarrassed to ask.” 

Maintaining vehicle safety 

Vehicle compliance software CheckedSafe assists operators in making sure their coaches and buses are roadworthy. 

CheckedSafe Founder and Director Gary Hawthorne says: “In today’s fast-paced transport industry, we understand the challenges faced by coach and bus operators in managing their fleets and ensuring compliance with stringent regulations. 

“With over 100,000 assets and 1,000 clients under our wing, at CheckedSafe, we have made it our mission to revolutionise the way operators tackle these challenges using our cutting-edge compliance and fleet-management solutions.” 

CheckedSafe’s platform streamlines compliance processes for coach and bus operators, providing a convenient, cost-effective and innovative method of monitoring their fleets. This is designed to save time, reduce errors and ensure compliance with DVSA requirements. 

With access to real-time data and valuable insights into their fleets, users are able to ditch the paperwork, generate data reports, quickly identify defects, and schedule maintenance work — all through the fleet management app and portal. 

As well as this, coach and bus drivers are able to swiftly carry out daily walk-round checks, report vehicle defects and quickly comply with DVSA regulations without disruption to their daily operations. 

CheckedSafe has recently introduced pay-as-you-go licence-checking software into its platform, allowing fleet operators to remotely ensure their drivers are regulated and have a clean driving record.

“For only £1.60 per check plus VAT, operators can remotely verify licences, making this an ideal solution for managing dispersed workforces,” says Gary. “At CheckedSafe, our client’s success is our success. We remain committed to empowering coach and bus operators with the tools needed to succeed in the competitive market.” 

 Delivering vital data 

Road Tech’s Tachomaster service has been helping managers analyse tachograph data since 2006. Helped by the birth of the digital tachograph, Tachomaster has since been able to analyse hundreds of millions of cards, charts and vehicle downloads. 

Tachomaster receives 150,000 digital downloads of driver and vehicle data daily. The system is used across all areas of the transport industry. The solution looks after everyday tasks such as planning routes to improve efficiency and checking metrics for driver habits and infringements. 

The company’s Download Optimisation Technology means vehicle and driver card data are automatically downloaded remotely. Thus, the facility to automate and integrate real-time data instantly is another potential money-saver for operators. 

Aside from Tachomaster, Road Tech offers Falcon Tracking to further boost fuel economy via vehicle tracking. Its Checkmaster software allows operators to check drivers are appropriately and legally licenced. The walk-round check app PreDrive is another utility which is designed to monitor efficiency and safety.

Talking of the companion app Road Tech Notifier, Sales Manager Maureen Ballance says: “It warns operators of potential issues for infringements — for example, if drivers have not done their walk-round check or not inserted their card.”

As legislation tends to change over time, Road Tech places a high priority on adapting to operators’ needs. Maureen adds: “At Road Tech, we have our own internal team of developers who keep on top of legislative requirements by adapting the rules and systems to any new requirements.”