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We're rather proud of our Run Cutting and Crew Scheduling products. We've worked with both Bus/Rail Fixed Route and Paratransit operator scheduling. Whether we start with street-level Service Planning, or begin with completed and blocked system headways, we focus on both cost and human factors. Overtime, guarantee, full-time vs. part-time ratios, and other dollar-related items are all pure cost issues. We've discovered that, when we meld components of traditional manual run cutting concepts with the speed of computers, we can improve the quality of the drivers' work life. We call this "Human Factor Run Cutting." It means that we evaluate each assignment, applying the test - "Could we work this assignment safely?" Does it provide for enough rest? Does it minimize spread time? Does it keep the driver on the same sleep schedule and minimize fatigue? Does it attempt to keep drivers on the same or similar routes, minimizing the learning curve and ensuring service consistency? Does it provide enough variety to satisfy other drivers, who thrive on variety? Recently, our process competed head-to-head with a computerized run cut. One division of a very large transit system is operated by a private contractor. The transit system performed a run cut with a new computerized package. We used our process. The result? We beat the computer in overall total costs, consistency of operator assignments, and, most importantly, consistency of work hours. We absolutely insist on letting drivers develop and maintain a sleep pattern - avoiding the fatigue problems and costs that plague other modes. From small operators to 100+ bus garages, our procedures have saved money and improved the quality of the drivers' work life.
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Access the Arthur N. Gaudet & Associates, Inc. Home Page at Runcutter.Com Send mail to runcutter@runcutter.com with questions or comments.
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