Megabus.com and Coach USA Invest Millions in GreenRoad Eco-Driving Technology
- GreenRoad system to be installed in 2,400 buses across the United States
- Program targets fuel consumption reduction and reduced accident rate
- 3,200 bus drivers to benefit from potential $1 million annual Green Driver bonus pool
PARAMUS, N.J., April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Coach USA and megabus.com – the popular city-to-city, express bus company - today announced a multimillion dollar investment in a hi-tech eco-driving system for their bus operations across the United States.
Beginning this month, 3,200 megabus.com and Coach USA drivers will start using the GreenRoad system to help reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions, improve customer comfort and cut the risk of accidents.
Megabus.com and Coach USA are targeting a 3 percent reduction in fuel consumption using the technology, which is being rolled out on its fleet of 2,400 buses. This initiative follows a successful pilot program in the UK in which a 3 percent improvement in fuel efficiency was achieved across UK bus operations.
"We have invested a lot of time and effort in implementing the GreenRoad system on our buses in an ongoing effort to reduce our impact on the environment," said Dale Moser, CEO of Coach USA. "Safety is always our number one priority and this program will not only help to reduce the risk of accidents but will continue to provide a better, eco-friendly customer experience as well."
A key element of the initiative will be a Green Driver incentive program giving employees the chance to earn "green points" for safe, efficient driving that are converted into financial benefits from a potential $1 million annual bonus pool.
The GreenRoad 360 system uses a dashboard traffic lights-style system to provide drivers with real-time feedback on their driving style, including speed, braking, acceleration, lane-handling and turning. Driving decisions are responsible for 90 percent of all accidents and up to 33 percent of fuel spend, according to research by GreenRoad.
"Choosing GreenRoad's Driver Behavior and Fleet Efficiency system is a testament to Coach USA's and megabus.com's commitment to environmentally-responsible and safe driver behavior," said Zeev Braude, CEO at GreenRoad. "In addition, fuel-efficient and safer driving will provide more comfortable journeys to passengers. Changing driver behavior requires the commitment of an entire organization, from senior management to drivers. It is impressive to see how efficiently Coach USA and Megabus are managing this change in their fleet safety culture, based on detailed insights and actionable guidance from the GreenRoad system."
All megabus.com and Coach USA drivers already undertake a Safe, Skilled and Fuel Efficient Driving training program as part of a Certificate of Professional Competence. The GreenRoad system incorporates online reporting, analysis and coaching to help drivers work with their managers to further improve their skills and decision-making for a safer and more pleasant experience for the customer.
Megabus.com and Coach USA also uses GreenRoad's new engine idling solution to further improve fuel performance. It is able to focus on specific vehicles or trips to identify unnecessary idling based on agreed thresholds. The sophisticated system is able to differentiate this from unavoidable idling that occurs at traffic lights and junctions.
Megabus.com, a subsidiary of Coach USA, launched in April 2006 and is one of the largest city-to-city express bus service providers in North America. In addition to affordable fares, megabus.com offers customers state-of-the-art, green-certified double-decker buses with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, restrooms and are wheelchair accessible. Megabus.com equips every bus with three-point lap/shoulder seat belts, providing the top safety standard for megabus.com's 40 million customers in more than 120 cities across North America.
Visit www.megabus.com or www.coachusa.com for additional information about the service, schedules, arrival and departure times and fares.
**NEW** megabus.com high-resolution photos and broadcast-quality video for download:
GREENROAD VIDEO: http://us.megabus.com/greenroad.aspx
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS: http://bit.ly/1cYltRB
B-ROLL VIDEO: http://bit.ly/1wUTlE1
ABOUT MEGABUS.COM
Megabus.com, one of the largest privately funded providers of city-to-city express bus transportation, maintains the highest (Satisfactory) safety compliance rating with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Transportation Safety Exchange (TSX), an independent safety rating organization that provides safety ratings of more than 300,000 passenger and freight carriers, announced in January 2014 that all megabus.com carriers are TSX-approved. Megabus.com is the first carrier group to achieve TSX approval, demonstrating the most stringent safety standards in the industry.
Megabus.com operates service to/from more than 120 major cities in North America from 23 hubs in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Gainesville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, San Francisco, St. Louis, Texas Triangle (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio), Washington, D.C. and Toronto – creating more than 1,000 new, professional jobs during the past eight years.
Since its launch on April 10, 2006, megabus.com has served more than 40 million customers.
Service for megabus.com operates daily. Fares shown are one-way and include all government taxes.
* Watch the video here for safety information.
Megabus.com is a subsidiary of Coach USA, one of the largest transportation companies in North America. Paramus, N.J.-based Coach USA owns and operates a family of 25 local companies in North America, some that have been in business for more than 75 years, which operate scheduled bus routes, motor coach tours, airport transportation services, charters and sightseeing tours.
For the latest news and travel deals, follow megabus.com on Twitter at @megabus and Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/megabus.com.officialpage.
ABOUT COACH USA
Coach USA, Inc., is one of the largest transportation companies in North America, and maintains the highest safety compliance rating (Satisfactory) from the US Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Paramus, N.J.-based Coach USA owns and operates 25 local companies in North America, some that have been in business for more than 75 years, which operate scheduled bus routes, motor coach tours, charters and sightseeing tours. Visit www.coachusa.com for more information.
ABOUT GREENROAD
GreenRoad delivers the future of driving: smarter, safer and more fuel-efficient. It offers the industry's most sophisticated, customizable technology-based programs to maximize driving safety and efficiency, generating immediate cost savings. GreenRoad 360 provides real-time feedback integrated with comprehensive online visibility. It engages drivers on an on-going basis to deliver lasting improvement to driver and fleet performance. The company is headquartered in Redwood City, California, with offices throughout the US and UK, and Israel. For more information, visit http://greenroad.com/.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150420/199839
SOURCE megabus.com
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