CPT to run industry-wide recruitment week in February
The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has announced it will run an industry-wide recruitment initiative next month to help tackle the current driver shortage.
Between 21-27 February the trade body will work with coach and bus operators to run open days and local recruitment drives in order to bring more drivers into the sector.
Members will be equipped with a "myth busting sheet" to fight negative perceptions, and an online map where potential recruits can find local operators. Press release templates will also be provided for use with local media.
An open session with Senior National Account Manager for passenger transport at the Department for Work and Pensions, Carl Widdowson, will be hosted as part of the initiative.
CPT says the recruitment week, which is being supported by the Department for Transport, will be central to encouraging more people to consider careers in the coach and bus sector.
"As we exit the pandemic and seek to grow the number of people travelling by coach and bus, to help us hit important net zero targets it is vital that operators have sufficient drivers to be able to run the services people need," says CPT Operations Director Keith McNally. "Many drivers once they enter the industry stay for decades and our recruitment week will help showcase the benefits of a career in coach and bus."
Adds Transport Minister Baroness Vere: "This industry initiative supports the wider work we’re doing to help people become bus drivers, including our measures to make 50,000 more coach, bus and HGV driving tests available each year."
CPT says there are currently around one in 10 driver jobs vacant across the sector.
Operators looking to find out more about the recruitment week should contact Mr McNally at [email protected]
Ritchies adopts Omnibus depot allocation software solution
Ritchies of New Zealand has adopted Omnibus's cloud-based depot allocation solution, OmniDAS, across its main depots.
OmniDAS will be used with planning and on-the-day driver and vehicle allocation processes to improve efficiency, cost management and collaborative working.
"We are confident that our depot controllers will gain valuable operational efficiencies which have been experienced in the network planning teams across the business," says Stephen Cruttwell, Implementation Manager at Ritchies. "This major investment in OmniDAS will provide access to leading-edge technology ensuring our allocators can react to on-the-day unscheduled driver events and easily access real-time driver and vehicle information to make the optimal business and customer service decisions.’
‘Having worked with the Omnibus team for three years and the great customer support we have received, for instance accommodating working out-of-office hours on their side due to the time differences as we rolled out the solutions, we are in good hands for the next phase."
Adds Aiden Proctor, International Client Manager at Omnibus: "We are delighted Ritchies has selected OmniDAS to support its future growth and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Having proved our scheduling solutions and demonstrated operational efficiencies to the business, this has further cemented our partnership. Our technology will play a key role in rebuilding patronage and providing a reliable service in New Zealand."
The operator has used the Omnibus scheduling suite since 2018.
Switch Mobility offers further details on new Valladolid site
Switch Mobility has shared further details on its planned manufacturing and technology centre in Valladolid. It has confirmed it will be built on a greenfield site in the Soto de Medinilla area.
The 140,000m² site has been selected from numerous locations within the Castilla y Leon (Castile and León) Region of Spain. The facility will be built in phases, starting with bus production and research and development.
The announcement of the chosen location was accompanied by the planting of the first of 2,000 trees which will be introduced over the coming year, or one for every direct job Switch plans to create at the new centre. Dr Andy Palmer, Switch Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, and Eva Driessen, President of Switch Iberia, along with members of the executive Team were present.
Construction, which Switch says will be entirely carbon neutral, is due to begin soon.
Says Dr Palmer: “We are delighted to have selected Valladolid as the location for our first manufacturing site in continental Europe.
"The region’s wealth of quality engineers and strong supply chain, combined with Spain’s desire to be a leader in electric buses, make the Soto De Medinella area the perfect location. This new facility will provide us with crucial access to the European bus and light commercial vehicle market.
"Since announcing our plans to invest in Castilla y León, we have been overwhelmed by the level of interest in the project and I would like to thank Reyes Maroto Illera, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, Oscar Puente and their respective teams, who have worked tirelessly to secure this site for Switch.
"Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, which have resulted in the ground-breaking ceremony being postponed until March 18, we look forward to commencing construction imminently and seeing our first buses in production within the next 12 months."
The new centre will produce Switch's first battery-electric bus designed specifically for the European market. Further details on the product, which is expected to be 12m, is due in Q2 of 2022.