Service the Mainstay of Coaching
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' IT has been said that the future of the haulage side of the road-transport industry depends upon service to the public, but this assertion applies with equal, if not greater, force to the passenger branch. The opening of the coaching season is drawing close, and operators are preparing for a period of acute competition, whia is likely to be brought about by the lowering of fares and the improvement of travel facilities on the part of the railways.
Coach operators, on the other hand, are strictly. limited in their opportunities of meeting competition by reducing fares, even if they wished to adopt such tactics, whilst multitudinous conditions prevent any extensive increase in facilities, and some, indeed, endanger the convenience of the public. Almost the only, course of development open to the coach operator must, therefore, be that of improving service within the limits prescribed by the Traffic Commissioners.
There are many ways in which, with a little ingenuity on the part of the operator, the public . may be impressed with his efforts to afford satis faction. Close attention to the details of the organization of a coaching business will consolidate the position of the proprietor in the public favour.
In the matter of service, the task of the publicservice-vehicle owner is considerably facilitated by the excellence of the design and construction of the modern coach, and it is the duty of the operator to maintain his machines in a manner worthy of their quality. The standard of maintenance has risen considerably during the past two or three years, but there is still room for improvement in certain quarters. Vehicle maintenance is one of the mainstays of efficient service, and too ranch emphasis cannot be laid upon this point, from the economic aspect as well as from the standpoint of goodwill.
During the forthcoming season a drive should be made by all coach operators to perfect their service to the public, and this endeavour might well be featured in all publicity matter, thus forming a national campaign.