Bournemouth Transport, the south coast bus operator of the distinctive Yellow Buses brand, has joined CT Plus (part of HCT Group) and Reading Buses to represent the bus industry in the Earned Recognition pilot. The operators have successfully achieved DVSA Earned Recognition status and were able to meet the DVSA standards for the scheme, having all implemented Freeway’s Earned Recognition compliant software and apps across their operations.
The 6 month pilot sees CT Plus – the sole representative for London buses – Reading and Yellow Buses join transport operators such as Sainsbury’s, DPD and Wincanton, together with hauliers and service companies. Coach operators selected for the pilot are Lucketts Group, Barnes Coaches, Allenby Coach Hire and Stanley Travel.
“Having successfully deployed Freeway’s software to eliminate paper reporting we are already well down the digital path,“ says Steve Perks, Group Engineering Director of HCT. “To report our performance and compliance to the DVSA digitally is a natural progression. With Freeway we already produce all our reports digitally and with the system now configured for Earned Recognition, the required DVSA reports will be generated completely automatically.”
“We welcome the DVSA initiative on digital reporting and we are pleased to be able to represent the London bus sector during the Earned Recognition pilot. Once the scheme is rolled out there will be some important benefits for the bus and coach industry that will make managing compliance easier and more efficient” adds Perks.
Reading Buses first engaged with the DVSA and Earned Recognition last year when they invited the DVSA to give a talk at their headquarters in Reading as part of the Freeway User Group meeting. The DVSA answered questions about the Earned Recognition scheme and explained the 5 KPI measures, which include the provision of completed and signed off safety inspection records, driver defects reports and actions, plus MOT initial pass rates.
“We’re pleased to have been selected as one of the pilot operators for the Earned Recognition scheme. Freeway is central to our workshop processes and our KPI reporting to DVSA flows straight out of this. It’s great recognition for ourselves and our suppliers at the highest level of our industry.” John Bickerton, Head of Engineering and Innovation, Reading Buses.