Mini-van operators need to be more organized
05.APR.11
Editor: The min-vans operation is a very importance service to the country. Thus, it is to their advantage to operate as a business and businesses are there to make profit. Many vans operate at a loss for various reasons: among them is poor management and accountability.{{more}}
The mini-vans association must get together and operate as a unified entity and with professionalism. It is with this in mind that I offer my two cents for serious consideration. Passengers must have confidence in the driver and conductor on each mini-van. failure to do so can jeopardize the business. The speed at which some vans travel is cause for concern and also the loud music played on many occasions is annoying. Therefore, care should be taken in the way the vans travel and the loudness of the music played should be addressed.
I strongly recommend a system of pay as you enter. I know at first there will be resistance, but here is where the mini-vans need to cooperate and the association to educate the travelling public. Many do not realize that a passenger is not insured for injuries while travelling in the van until he/she has paid the required fare. Besides that, it minimizes the time taken up to collect the fare upon arriving at the destination.
Also, it will cut back on the many persons who, when they arrive at their destination, will either say âI donât have any moneyâ and walk away without paying, or simply will short pay the conductor. Once the passenger pays his/her fare the van is responsible for such passenger until he/she arrives at the destination.
Most vans are licensed for 18 passengers. A conductor is not a passenger; it is my understanding that it is illegal for a passenger van to operate without a licensed conductor. It means that since each van has to carry a conductor, it has to either carry the maximum of 17 passengers, along with a conductor seated, or that the conductor has to stand up if the van has 18 passengers. Some conductors sometime sit on the back rest behind the front seat and in front of a passenger; in most cases that passenger sitting in front of the conductor has to open his/her legs to allow the conductorâs foot to be there. In some cases passengers do not like it, and refuse to sit there; as a result the van may have to travel with a maximum of 17 passengers even though it is licensed and pays insurance for 18 passengers. There are some police officers who will give a ticket to the either the driver or the conductor for overload when the conductor is not seated; this is unfair.
Thus, I call upon the mini-vans association to be organized and not just come together to call for raises in fare but to address these aforementioned problems. But they need to unite and operate as a unit with professionalism. More can be said of the operations of the mini-vans but I leave that for another time. It is my hope that these recommendations will be taken seriously. Thank you.
Kennard King
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