Freeway Fleet Systems are selected by Bournemouth-based operator to supply the latest generation fleet and asset management software.
Yellow Buses said it needed a more comprehensive system offering improved cost control and fully integrated mobile working. The Bournemouth-based operator also required a system to manage a wide range of assets, with better performance analysis and reporting capabilities.
Part of the multi-national passenger transport group RATP Dev, Yellow Buses operates a fleet of 140 buses and 18 National Express coaches. Services across Dorset include the popular holiday destinations of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. Yellow Buses says it has been at the forefront of innovation with live passenger information at over 1,000 stops, custom journey planners and a recent £1.3 million investment in ultra-low carbon emission double-decker buses.
Maintenance management
The Freeway system will be used to manage the maintenance of not just vehicles but also workshop equipment. The software automates paperwork and administration tasks to boost efficiency and reduce costs, as well as improving working practices and providing useful performance analytics and reports.
Phil Pannell, Service Delivery Director at Yellow Buses, had previously implemented Freeway’s software at a major London bus operator: “Having had three years of experience with Freeway, I was able to compare it with the system Yellow Buses already had. It became clear very quickly that Freeway was much more comprehensive and could be used to underpin some major improvements in the management of the fleet and assets generally.
“Freeway’s solution was particularly appealing as we can undertake many tasks on mobile devices. The mobile working is not just for engineering but also for management tasks and, for example, we can authorise purchasing requests on a mobile. In addition, the Freeway analytics and reporting is very comprehensive and handles the requirements for DVSA Earned Recognition, which is something we want to get involved in.” Added Pannell.
According to Patrick Tandy, Managing Director of Freeway, Phil Pannell had been a pioneer in the development of autoreporting – a feature that is now built into every Freeway system. Engineers complete inspections and raise job cards using smartphones or tablets and the central Freeway system is automatically updated in real time; as is job closure.
“Freeway has been developed hand in hand with fleet managers and together with other users, Phil has helped develop the system to meet the needs of bus and coach operators across the UK. We are looking forward to helping Phil and his team improve fleet maintenance operations at Yellow Buses.” commented Tandy.
