A study of the organisation and operating methods of privately owned bus and coach companies is reported. It shows that the industry is a growing one dominated by relatively small companies which play a significant role in providing local road passenger transport. Notable features of private bus and coach companies are their apparently low overheads, the flexibility of their full-time staff and the extent of use of part-time drivers. Peak school contracts form the main basis of their work and many have all their vehicles committed to at least one such contract during peak periods. This peak work is supplemented by a smaller number of works contracts. Off-peak work is more limited and varied, consisting of a mix of other school services, transport of shift workers, social services work, licensed road service operation, various one-off contracts and, in the case of minibus operators, parcel and school meals deliveries. At the weekends and during the summer holidays many operators run day outings or licensed services to the coast or other places of entertainment and interest. Their costing methods lead many private operators to charge comparable prices for both peak and off-peak work. Such methods contrast with that used by many publicly-owned companies which lead to a much higher level of pricing in the peak. (Author/publisher)
Abstract