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The NFL Super Bowl easily ranks as one of the biggest motorcoach events of the year and a tremendous opportunity for operators in the industry. As hundreds of coaches arrive this week in Atlanta, Ga., for Super Bowl LIII, and begin maneuvering from hotels to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the various parking and staging areas miles away, customers breathe easily knowing the Prevost Customer Support team has their back in the event of a breakdown.
Prevost will be standing by and on-call within the vicinity of the Super Bowl venue throughout this week, January 30-February 4, with three specially-stocked service vans and technicians on-hand for light repairs and emergency assistance, as needed.
“We have anticipated our customers’ most typical needs in such occasions,” says Prevost Customer Support Manager, Southeast Region Eric DeGeorge, who is based in Winter Garden, Fla. “We will have enough parts and tools on hand to get an operator up and running and out of the way in an emergency.”
DeGeorge and his team also have a plan for backup techs if necessary, and can rely on help from several Volvo Truck Service Centers in the greater-Atlanta area, if situations requiring heavier maintenance arise. Additionally, he says that Southeastern Coach Lines is partnering with Prevost throughout Super Bowl week to store the pre-shipped cache of spare parts and offer a temporary base for the service vans.
Prevost Customer Support advises customers requesting emergency service to first contact Prevost Action Service System PASS at 1-800-463-7738 to reach DeGeorge to dispatch a van and technician.
“We invite coach companies with service programs of their own to go through Prevost Pass as well,” says DeGeorge. “We are asking everyone not to try to contact our technicians in Atlanta directly.”
Service Network Director, Randy Castillo, says this assistance is in conjunction with the mission of Prevost’s specially-branded fleet of more than 55 service vans strategically dispersed throughout the network of 15 Prevost Parts & Service Centers across the US and Canada.
“Prevost regards this mobile service component as vital to our commitment to provide customers excellent and expedient service where it’s needed most,” says Prevost Business Development Manager Craig Heaton. “Having our mobile service fleet always at the ready allows us to greatly expand the coverage of our service network.”
Visit prevostcar.com for more information.
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“Chuck’s success has been the result of managing multiple acquisitions and business start‐ups, in addition to his day to day responsibilities as CEO of Mears transportation. Chuck brings additional knowledge that will align with our growth and further improve customer service,” stated Dane.
Carns commented on his recent appointment, stating, “I am grateful to the Mears organization and the many talented people I have worked with and for over the years. Now I am looking forward to the next chapter of my career and being able to bring my experience to an organization with the level of customer service that ABC provides.”
This appointment coincides with Roman Cornell being named President and Chief Commercial Officer of ABC Companies.
“As we continue to grow and expand into new markets, we are building an experience base across several key positions within our organization. These changes to our senior leadership ensure ABC has the breadth of experience and proven results to lead our success into the future,” stated Roman.
“Ongoing succession planning across ABC Companies ensures continuity of service to customers and our employees,” added Dane.
Other members of the Cornell family continue to hold key roles within the organization as well. Vice President ‐ Strategic Accounts Ashley Cornell continues to be responsible for several key customers in the West and Northwest, including rapidly growing employee shuttle programs. Also, Ryhan Cornell is an account manager in the Southeast Region, overseeing several key accounts and ensuring quality customer service.
“These leadership changes, along with the active role of several Cornell family members, ensures that our growth will never be at the expense of the core values instilled in us by my father, Clarence ‘Clancy’ Cornell. Making our customers successful, makes ABC successful, and I look forward to what our senior management team will bring to the future,” concluded Dane.
Visit abc‐companies.com for more information.
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The peer-judged award recognized Norfolk, Neb.-based Arrow for a sustainability philosophy that begins with a strict maintenance schedule for its fleet of 236 motorcoaches, supported by an idle-free education program that rewards drivers. Its fleet of mostly newer model coaches with advance engine technology also advances fuel saving and lower emission goals.
Arrow’s green practices extend throughout its business. It became the first motorcoach operator to adopt a digital signature for all customer agreements on its path to a paperless office. At the same time, Arrow’s software designers are developing an app to make all administrative functions digital and accessible on mobile phones and laptop computers.
“IT is creating coding to have our booking, accounting, and electronic logging device (ELD) systems work through our own app,” said Arrow COO Luke Busskohl. Busskohl and his brother Alex, director of corporate operations and marketing specialist, represent Arrow’s fourth generation of family leadership.
Arrow has built an exclusive clientele, including tour companies and NFL, NBA, NCAA, and Major League Baseball franchises. The company also operates a luxury entertainment coach division that leases to top entertainment companies, including concert tours by Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Jason Derulo, Luke Bryan, and more.
In all of its operating regions, Arrow maintenance teams use environmentally safe oil change (ESOC) machines and coolant recovery machines to safely drain and dispose of those fluids. They also gather scrap medal including copper and aluminum, which regularly are separated and recycled.
To make all this work, training is critical. For the past three years, Arrow has partnered with the University of Vermont (UVM) Certification for Sustainable Transportation Program to help all drivers and technicians earn e-Rating driving certificates. Additionally, Arrow’s drivers are required to take a new course every quarter through the MCI Academy Learning Management System (LMS) that offers more than 450 courses online and available 24/7.
Finally, all Arrow Stage coaches are set with a maximum speed of 68 miles per hour and run on verified low-rolling resistance tires with pressure monitors to deliver even greater fuel savings and emissions reductions. Arrow is also considering adding a solar-powered auxiliary power unit (APU) to each coach’s HVAC system to heat and cool interiors without running the engine.
“We use an ‘ownership thinking’ rewards program that offers incentives to employees if they meet certain goals,” said Busskohl. “In 2018, our goal was to reduce idle time. With our investment in driver and staff education along with an initiative to limit idling in our yards and lots during pre-trip inspections, we showed a 25 percent decrease in idling for the year.”
Alex Busskohl adds, “We’re very honored to receive this award because we realize that green practices are not only good for the environment, but for the bottom line. Everything counts in our opinion. Our clients and passengers appreciate the reliability of our coaches and we consider green practices an important part of our marketing plan.”
MCI Vice President of New Coach Sales Patricia Ziska says Arrow Stages’ unified program of green practices in driving, mechanical upkeep, recycling programs, and office operations is helping set new standards in the motorcoach industry.
“We’re proud to present this award to Arrow Stage Lines because they’re innovators in their business and green policies drive everything they do with the full participation of employees and staff. They set a very high standard.”
Visit arrowstagelines.com or mcicoach.com for more information.
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