Route Reviews and efficiencies
The very nature of home to school and social services transport means that an efficient network of routes can soon become less efficient as clients leave and new clients start. It is often simplest to provide additional transport to undertake new journeys, rather than re-schedule existing vehicles. This inevitably incurs additional costs and may reduce passenger loadings on other vehicles. Whilst contractors will readily request increased contract prices if the total mileage increases, in cases when mileages reduce, corresponding reductions in contract price are not as easily negotiated.
Regular clean sheet reviews of transport provision can assist in ensuring that the most efficient and cost effective route planning and vehicle occupancy rates are achieved. Improving the balance between minibuses and taxis in the scheduling process will often realise significant savings, and including a review of the needs assessment and risk assessment for every client will ensure that the appropriate level of transport and passenger assistant provision is made.
TAS uses a proven selection of computer assisted scheduling systems; geographical information systems and other IT tools to improve route scheduling, and have shown how investment in proper resources to schedule routes can deliver major savings in the overall cost of the service. Our range of services now includes a desk-top re-scheduling facility for home to school and social services transport. This service has been developed in response to work undertaken for the London Borough of Ealing, and allies the practical skills of our scheduling experts to a basic software package to ensure that passenger needs are met in the most cost effective way practical.
Initial results indicate a 40% saving in number of vehicles required, partly through the introduction of double-running. Not only has the prime objective of savings been achieved but an opportunity has also been created for investment in improved vehicle specifications and passenger comfort.