Bus transport carries two kinds of obligations at the same time. To passengers, that the bus is at the stop at the time stated in the timetable. To the regulations, that there is a proper record of crew working hours and a valid trip order. PratiMe covers both sides from the same system, without entering data twice.
For scheduled line services, the data has a second use as well. When you can see over several months how long a given route actually takes at different times of day, the timetable stops being an estimate and becomes a document based on measurement. The solution covers both scheduled line services and charter transport, with the same set of data.
Timetable compliance
Delays are usually not reported, but only noticed through passenger complaints. Comparing actual passing times with the timetable shows which routes are regularly late and on which section time is lost, so the timetable can be adjusted to match actual conditions.
In the report by route you see:
- deviation from the timetable at each stop
- sections where the most time is lost
- departures that are regularly late
- dwell time at stops
The trip order as a legal obligation
For buses used to provide transport, a trip order is a legal requirement, and even an order that exists but is not filled out, signed and certified as prescribed can result in a fine. Since the route, departure and arrival times and mileage are recorded anyway, the order is filled in from that data instead of from memory.
What this solves:
- mileage and times are not copied by hand
- the 30-day deadline is not missed unnoticed
- records of issued orders stay in order
- the data is available for inspection whenever needed
We explained in detail who must issue a trip order and how large the fines are in the article Trip order: which vehicles it is mandatory for, and which it is not.
Tachograph and crew working hours
Buses above the prescribed weight also come with tachograph obligations: downloading data from the driver card at least every 28 days and from the tachograph's memory at least every 90 days. Remote download removes the need for the vehicle to come to the depot for a read-out.
The system keeps track of:
- when each card was last downloaded
- when the deadline expires for a given vehicle
- where data is missing from the records
- that downloaded files are stored in their original form
We wrote about the deadlines in the article Deadlines for tachograph data download: 28 and 90 days.
Fuel consumption and driving style per route
On the same route, with the same bus, the difference in fuel consumption between two drivers can be significant. When consumption is viewed by route and by driver, the differences stop being a matter of impression and become a training topic.
The comparison view shows:
- consumption by route and by driver
- engine idling time at stops
- harsh braking and acceleration
- speeding by road section
Frequently asked questions
Does a bus need a trip order?
For buses used to provide transport, a trip order is a legal requirement. Even an order that exists but is not filled out, signed and certified as prescribed can result in a fine.
How is timetable compliance tracked?
Actual passing times are compared with the timetable at each stop, showing which routes are regularly late and on which section time is lost.
Does the system also cover the tachograph?
Yes. Data from the driver card and from the tachograph's memory can be downloaded remotely, within the prescribed deadlines of 28 and 90 days, without the vehicle having to come to the depot.
Can fuel consumption be compared between drivers on the same route?
Yes, and it is the most useful kind of comparison. The same route and the same bus remove all other differences, leaving only the difference in driving style.
