JR Group, the local Volvo bus dealer, says it plans to train Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) staff how to care and maintain the interior of the buses in the fleet of the state-run bus company.

This move follows an Observer report that at least 10 per cent of the JUTC fleet had fallen into a state of disrepair, a condition which the local dealer insists resulted from improper maintenance. And with the company expected to receive 50 new Volvo buses over the next three months, steps were being taken to ensure that these units do not suffer a similar fate.

In fact, the local dealer said the buses would not develop gaping holes and leaky roofs if they were maintained according to the manufacturer’s standard, as properly maintained Volvo buses should have a lifespan of between 18- 20 years.

“The buses will lose their floor boarding and fall apart if they are not being maintained as required,” said Rennie Wellington, managing director of the JR Group.

He told the Observer that the flooring of the buses were made from marine plyboard, which is covered with a type of rubber casing which has a fire protection wall.

As such, he said water should not be allowed to settle for any extended period of time in the buses as it would seep under the rubber lining, causing the boards to rot over time.

“The buses need to be vacuumed and swept, then wiped with a mop and sprayed with aerosol to keep it fresh. That is all it needs on a daily basis,” Wellington said.

“Once per month they can be power washed, but this must be done when the bus is at an angle for the water to run out,” he added.

Wellington, who has the contract to maintain the JUTC luxury express buses, pointed to the marked difference between a six-year-old express bus when compared to those in the regular fleet.

A tour of both buses by the Observer revealed how well kept the interior of the express bus was compared to one of the regular buses.

In an earlier interview, Desmond Creary, JUTC senior vice president of operations, admitted that while “normal wear and tear” contributed to the state of some of the buses, the company was behind on maintenance, because it was cash-strapped.

Of the 500 buses currently in the system, Creary said 350 were on the road daily. Of that number, 10 per cent had fallen into a state of disrepair.

He said, however, that things would improve with the arrival of the new Volvo buses, as the company was putting together a major maintenance programme.

Wellington, in the meantime, said his company would be helping to train the team as to the required standard for maintaining the fleet so as to prevent the new buses coming into the system from falling into disrepair.

“Here (JR Group) we train our mechanics to do everything and they are sent abroad to learn and to keep abreast of what is happening,” Wellington said.

This was confirmed by senior mechanic Christopher Mendez who told the Observer that he recently returned from Belgium and Holland where he spent time learning about the complexities of the new luxury buses soon to arrive in the island.

He said also that he has travelled extensively to other countries to keep abreast of his trade.

All of the new buses will come equipped with cameras, while at least four will be furnished with a toilet.

Wellington, in the meantime, said the drivers must be properly trained so they can utilise the buses to the maximum.

“They should know all the features of the buses so if a light comes on the dashboard they will know what is wrong,” he said.

Overloading of the buses can also contribute to the rapid state of disrepair, according to Wellington, who noted that extra weight on the axle than what it was built for will definitely drive the buses into ruin.

“This is why it is important not to have more people standing in the buses other than the stipulated amount,” he said.

The grooming team, to be put in place, Wellington explained, would not only be responsible for cleaning the interior but ensuring that there are no loose bolts or seats.

He said the buses within the fleet should have a major overhauling of engine, transmission and interior every six years if they are to last as long under this climatic condition.

Under this new arrangement, Wellington said the 50 new buses, many of which will be luxury coaches, should have a much longer lifespan than those of its model which are already in the system

“The travelling public will be seeing some changes soon,” said Wellington.

But even as Wellington is committed to assisting the bus company to maintain its fleet, he said the JUTC would not have the necessary funding in place to finance proper maintenance work if continued to compete with illegal operators.

“No bus company can survive when you have so many parallel users,” Wellington said, adding that when this happens the company would always be strapped for cash to buy spare parts.