At the heart of the community

The bus isn’t just a highly effective mode of transport, it is integral to the success of the economy,  serving cities, towns and rural areas right across the UK. The local bus service is so much more than simply moving people from A to B, many believe it to be an essential part of everyday life; transporting commuters to work, children to school, consumers to shopping centres – the list goes on.

Timetables vary depending on demand but as a rule, this vital service operates from early morning until late at night, safely delivering its passengers to their respective destinations quickly and affordably.

The argument in favour of bus travel is as strong as it has ever been; it is how local authorities can improve traffic flow, support businesses and reduce pollution. More passengers mean fewer cars on the road, which in turn creates more space for the buses on congested streets and leads to better air quality.

The bus and coach industry continues to evolve, as a sector driven by rigorous standards of service, comfort and safety, customer demands are constantly at the forefront of the fleet manager’s mind. Many operators are implementing upgrades to the fleet to attract new passengers and make the experience of bus travel more appealing, such as air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, CCTV and USB charging points.

At the heart of public transport are partnerships, between bus operators, service providers and local authorities, forming the substructure on which a new successful passenger travel strategy will be built.

Taking a ride on the green side

Influencing factors including clean air zone charges and rising diesel costs have prompted several forward-thinking bus companies to take the bold step of transitioning to an all-electric fleet, thus fully supporting the ideal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

This initiative was originally encouraged by financial assistance via ZEBRA, the zero-emission bus regional areas scheme, funded by the government. However, despite the grant coming to an end, there is clear evidence that bus companies see a greener future, with more and more electric passenger buses being introduced to UK roads. Needless to say, there is a considerable investment required to replace the vehicle stock and to establish a viable electric charge infrastructure at the depot, but the long-term rewards are clear – lower operating costs and a strong eco-friendly brand identity.

Maintaining a clean-cut image

Transportation companies have an obligation to keep their buses and coaches pristine inside and out, to safeguard the health and safety of their passengers. Whether it’s schoolchildren, commuters or shoppers – there are thousands of people using UK bus services every day who justifiably expect a high standard of cleanliness as a minimum.

Whilst most passengers simply sit back and enjoy the journey, some may prefer to drink their morning coffee, eat lunch or savour a snack en route – all of these activities have the potential to cause spills, crumbs and litter, spoiling the appearance of the bus interior.

Meanwhile, the exterior of the bus is continually bombarded with dirt and grime throughout the day, predominantly from exhaust fumes, brake dust, tar, bird droppings and road salt. If not swiftly removed, these contaminants can cause untold damage to paintwork and the bus company’s reputation.

The benefits of installing a water-efficient bus wash at the depot are indisputable; less downtime, clean vehicles, happy customers and respect from the local community.

Service and maintenance

At the wheel

The role of a fleet manager is arguably the most important function in the transportation sector, they are solely responsible for the maintenance of the vehicles and associated equipment, the cleanliness of the fleet, managing complex logistics to satisfy strict timetables and most importantly, the safety of the passengers.

Proactive scheduled maintenance of the buses, fuel dispensers, chargers and wash equipment will minimise fleet downtime and allow managers to rectify any issues identified during the service before they affect operations.

To maintain operational efficiency, fleet controllers rely heavily on advanced management tools that provide detailed analysis of all running costs and how and where savings can be made. Capitalising on real-time, data-driven intelligence can result in spending cuts on maintenance, servicing and fuel. However, the real savings come in the form of man-hours reclaimed by the software handling time-consuming administration tasks, enabling the manager to focus on more important areas of the business, such as ticket sales and company growth.

TSG Fleet is here to help

TSG has over 30 years of experience in the fleet sector, assisting bus company operators to overcome daily challenges by supplying advanced management solutions, dispensing equipment and maintenance packages, tailored to suit site capacity and financial resources.

As the world moves toward a cleaner, more sustainable future, TSG has embraced new energies, such as electricity, gas and hydrogen, whilst continuing to support traditional fuels. This approach will ensure that all bus operators, regardless of energy choice, are provided for now and years to come.

Fleet Fuel Dispensers

TSG recognises that every fleet requires fast, efficient and reliable refuelling equipment to keep the business moving. Both Tokheim and Wayne Fueling Systems are renowned for manufacturing the best dispensers on the market today and TSG can supply, install and maintain them all.

Quantium™ FS

Tokheim Quantium™ FS fuel dispenser offers many possible configurations to suit any fleet installation and is capable of delivering high-speed refuelling.

Quantium™ FS AdBlue®

Tokheim Quantium™ FS AdBlue® dispenser is compact and reliable, built to withstand the corrosive nature of AdBlue® solution.

Century™ 3

Wayne Century™ 3 fuel dispenser is able to deliver fuel at ultra-high flow rates and can handle any size of fleet effectively.

Century™ 3 AdBlue®

Century 3 AdBlue® is manufactured with robust, corrosion-resistant materials and premium components to combat the effects of AdBlue®.

ProFleet LOGmaster

Many fleets have the well-established and very popular DiaLOG fuel management system installed on site and TSG will continue to maintain this product for the foreseeable future. However, this very successful product has been superseded by the innovative ProFleet LOGmaster delivering total depot control via a completely new range of stylish terminals.

Compatible with any make or model of existing equipment, LOGmaster helps fleet operators effectively manage all site equipment, from the energy dispensers and electric vehicle (EV) charge points, right through to vehicle wash facilities.

Fuel LOG

Complete in-depth management of all fuel transactions, offering a multitude of parameters to set restrictions and prevent improper use.

ChargeLOG

ChargeLOG is able to monitor all EV chargers on site, regardless of brand or type, providing unlimited control to depot managers.

GasLOG

Responsibly manage the safe dispensation of compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or hydrogen, even when fuelling takes place overnight.

WashLOG

Enabling clean and swift operation of the bus/coach wash, through a simple programme selection process, user permission settings and automated reports per vehicle.

Kärcher Commercial Wash Solutions

TSG Wash can supply, install and maintain the water-efficient Kärcher TB 50 gantry wash which is capable of cleaning both single and double-decker buses. The three-brush gantry offers a washing height of up to 5.05 metres and a maximum width of 2.9 metres.

Fast and effective, this tailor-made wash solution can handle any number of vehicles with ease, making it the perfect fit for any fleet depot.

Electric vehicle (EV) charge point installation

For those fleet operators wishing to switch to electric buses, TSG Charge can play an active role in the design of the facility, determine the ideal chargers for the fleet and ensure the infrastructure will support business growth. Offering a wide range of charging hardware/software, TSG has the solution for any scale of operation.

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