Alfa Coaches, the coach operating division of Alfa Travel, says it has reduced driver infringements by more than 50% and achieved Earned Recognition status since introducing TruTac and the CPT’s branded software products.
With its fleet of Mercedes-Benz coaches serving many popular coastal resorts of the UK, Alfa Travel has a string of industry accreditations and awards to its name and as such is determined to keep raising its standards. “We have always strived to be the best at what we do,” said Operations Director Paul Bull, “and key to our success is an ongoing commitment to maintaining and improving a high standard of safety and service for our customers.”
Alfa Coaches turned to TruTac just over five years ago in a bid to improve fleet efficiency and tighten the compliance-related procedures required to achieve Earned Recognition status. As the company is a member of the CPT, it found that TruTac’s CPT Tacho Analysis and CPT Daily Checks products were the perfect fit.
“The cloud-based, all-in-one, system provides us with clear visibility and tight control across the fleet, which has improved driver debriefing processes (and driver education) and successfully reduced infringements. In 2018, infringements per duty were running at 2.5%. Now, we are seeing an average of 1.1%.
“Plus,” added Paul, “we have instant access to clear and concise compliance data, including manager and driver dashboards with KPI (Key Performance Indicator) reporting – all of which have ticked the requisite boxes on our way to achieving Earned Recognition status in November 2021.”
Developed by TruTac in partnership with the CPT, the Tacho Analysis software package includes complete web-based digital and analogue tachograph analysis, supporting EU and GB domestic drivers’ hours rules. It is designed specifically for PSV drivers and includes Working Time Directive regulations.
To further improve day-to-day fleet and O-licence management, Alfa Coaches recently added CPT Fleet Management to its suite of compliance software for vehicle and workshop control. Paul said the advantages very soon became apparent. “CPT Fleet has fast become an integral part of our fleet maintenance and vehicle management system,” he enthused, “and in just a few months has helped to get a grip on a raft of essential procedures including maintenance monitoring and schedules, safety inspections, maintenance document control and audit checks.”
Paul pointed out that since the CPT Fleet Management software seamlessly integrates with CPT Daily Checks, it enables instant cross-reference to mobile based defect reports and maintenance calendars with a full audit trail for end-to-end defect reporting. The system also provides real-time visibility of the vital information for each vehicle’s DVLA data and O-licence information. “I’ve said it before,” concluded Paul, “TruTac’s systems are paperless, tamperproof and secure. We would have struggled to gain Earned Recognition accreditation without them and going forward, there’s no question we have the right partner to help ensure the highest operational standards and guaranteed compliance control.”
