Freeway integrates Wheely-Safe into fleet maintenance offer
Freeway Fleet Systems and Wheely-Safe have joined forces to integrate wheel security and tyre pressure monitoring into Freeway's fleet maintenance platform.
The development will add intelligence to help prevent tyre degradation and wheel failures on coaches and buses.
Wheely-Safe's offering includes what is believed to be the world's first in-motion driver alert system for wheel loss, which uses sensors on wheel nuts to detect movement. In the event of a nut loosening, an alert is sent to a display unit in the cab, telling the driver to pull over.
The system also includes heat sensors to warn of high temperatures on brake discs and hubs, and a tyre pressure monitoring system which helps ensure tyres are maintained to optimum pressures.
Freeway can receive the data directly from the devices via the vehicles telematics or CAN bus, or wirelessly on return to the depot. Tyre pressure data is able to be transmitted to a driver's mobile phone using the Freeway app during walk-round checks.
"Wheely-Safe adds crucial data to Freeway’s pool of vehicle maintenance data. It’s all the more important as Wheely-Safe picks up defects that are not that evident to the human eye and therefore are easily missed during driver first-use safety inspections," says Freeway Managing Director Patrick Tandy. "Wheel loss is of course a particular worry but whether reducing this risk or identifying incorrect tyre pressures, Freeway is very much a system that helps operators improve safety while reducing unnecessary costs."
Adds Steve Jackson, Managing Director of Wheely-Safe: "Our patented and multi award-winning technology offers a full suite of protection against major road safety issues that no single solution has ever tackled before.
"Many of the UK’s largest public transport operators are already protecting their vehicles with Wheely-Safe and working with Freeway as one of the driving forces in the digitisation of fleet maintenance represents a perfect partnership for both of us."
Mistral launches 'The Bus Shop' website for ex-rental vehicles
Mistral Group has launched a new dedicated website for used vehicle sales called The Bus Shop.
The site lets operators view and buy stock formerly used on Mistral's rental fleet.
The Bus Shop will act as a home to late registered ex-rental fleet vehicles built by Alexander Dennis at what Mistral describes as "affordable pricing" and with "flexible finance packages". Every ex-rental vehicle will be rigorously inspected and supplied with a long MoT, as well as up to three months' warranty.
The venture is being headed up by Mistral Used Vehicle Sales Manager Andy Biggs.
"The launch of this dedicated used vehicle disposal arm of the Mistral Group will allow us to engage more directly with a hugely important segment of our industry - those operators that see high quality used vehicle purchase as a key strategy toward enhancing their vehicle fleets," says Mr Biggs. "Mistral Group continually invests in new vehicles for its rental fleet, and works hard to keep the market aware of new stock availability, but in the past we've been less visible in offering the same market place our end of rental life fleet disposals which still represent great quality vehicles that remain ready to enter service for the next operator.
"Our new website is easy to navigate and contains search, select and finance features that allow prospective buyers to find the vehicles they need and at the same time understand the funding options available through our associated asset finance business Mistral Asset Finance – together, this offers a true one stop shop when it comes to finding the right used vehicles for fleet.”
It is expected The Bus Shop will also act as a sales agent for end-of-lease contract vehicles belonging to partner finance companies.
The website is live now and already hosts a variety of used coaches and buses.
Squarepeg Buses digitalises scheduling and allocation with Omnibus
Leeds independent Squarepeg Buses has chosen omnibus cloud solutions for its scheduling and operations.
The company, which has a peak vehicle requirement of 13, will use Omnibus for timetabling, vehicle scheduling, rostering, mapping, depot allocation, and data sharing after it said it needed software to "work smarter" in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Says Director of Squarepeg Buses Simon Daymond: "We’ve always embraced technology and our approach has been to find opportunities through software, rather than scrambling for solutions when problems occur. COVID-19 brought this to the fore and gave us an opportunity to pause and reflect on what we do as a business.
"We were impressed by the clear superiority of the Omnibus products and the cloud benefits they will provide our family-focused business. We’re driven by the needs of our passengers; the team at Omnibus has a strong background in the bus industry and deep understanding of the challenges operators face which will make a major contribution to the continued high quality of our services.”
Adds Peter Crichton, Founder of Omnibus: "We are delighted that Squarepeg Buses has chosen Omnibus to address its scheduling and operational requirements to support its future growth and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Our technology is designed specifically for schedulers and is quick and easy to use with efficient processes which improve productivity."
Squarepeg buses provides public, private and school services in Leeds and the surrounding areas.