There are several new minivan conversions on the market, which could potentially reduce operating costs and still meet most of the demand for specialised transportation. Transportation Management Services, Inc., has considered the use of these vehicles for its turn-key operations and has recently purchased a used minivan for test purposes. The use of these vehicles in both rural and urban environments is evaluated in this paper. Primary focus is on operational issues such as ability to meet demand, passenger and driver acceptance, operating characteristics (fuel consumption, brake life, etc.), and productivity. The evaluation is conducted from a private operator's perspective and, therefore, is biased toward the financial considerations of low cost, low maintenance, high productivity, and good return for dollars invested. A subjective view is provided by the managers who used the vehicle.
Abstract