How It Works
The Basic Principle
Coach Hire Exchange (CHX) works by giving operators who have jobs they would like assistance with, a really simple but effective means of sharing the details of those jobs with a large number of other operators.
Jobs can be quickly and easily posted to a central database of jobs. Other operators can then look at those jobs and offer to help where they can.
CHX is the first ever service of its kind to be made available free of charge to every operator in the country.
Post Your Passenger Recovery Requests
CHX has been designed to help operators find immediate assistance in the event of a breakdown, or any other situation where passengers need to be picked by and transported as soon as possible.
To make posting a new passenger recovery request as quick as possible, the only input details required are the pick-up point, destination, number of passengers and any further requirements.
Additionally, as CHX is fully integrated with Google Maps Platform, both the pick-up point and destination can be located on a map and automatically geocoded within just a few seconds.
Post Jobs You Need to Contract Out to Another Operator
CHX is also designed to help operators contract out jobs they already have in their diary. The need to do this can arise for many different reasons including multi-vehicle requirements, last minute client instructions, surplus work and vehicle utilisation efficiency.
The input details required are the pick-up date and time, pick-up point, destination, back date and time, any further requirements and the number of vehicles with a type and seating capacity.
As above, the pick-up point and destination can be located on a map and automatically geocoded within just a few seconds.
Post Your Mechanical Assistance Requests
In addition to its ability to handle jobs, CHX allows operators to post mechanical assistance requests. The response to requests can be from other operators using CHX, or from specialist breakdown and recovery service providers who are also allowed to register on CHX.
The input details required are simply the location of the vehicle and a brief description of the assistance required.
As above, the location of the vehicle can be located on a map and automatically geocoded within just a few seconds.
Advertize Your Available Vehicles and Empty Legs
CHX can also help operators to earn valuable additional income from their available vehicles and empty legs.
The input details for an available vehicle are the date and time the vehicle is available from, the location of the vehicle and the date and time is it available to.
The input details for an empty leg are the start date and time, the start location, the finish location, the finish date and time and any comments.
As above, both available vehicles and empty legs can be located on a map and automatically geocoded within just a few seconds.
Immediate 24/7 Emails
Every second counts when passengers are stranded at the side of the road, so it is essential other operators are made aware of what has happened at the earliest possible opportunity.
The instant a new job is posted, CHX sends out emails to all other operators. This process is fully automated so as to ensure operators are able to respond literally within just a few seconds of a job being posted.
Operators can control the receipt of emails for urgent and non-urgent jobs separately. They can also elect to only receive emails for jobs that are within a chosen distance of their base. In addition, operators can elect to receive both daily and weekly job digests by email.
Operators can control the receipt of emails for mechanical assistance requests separately. They can also elect to only receive emails for requests that are within a chosen distance of their base.
CHX doesn’t send out emails for available vehicles and empty legs, but the details of these can be viewed at any time on the CHX website.
View All Jobs Posted by Other Operators
A list of all available jobs and mechanical assistance requests can be viewed by any operator at any time on the CHX website. Jobs are listed in date order and clicking on a job will drill down to its full details. If the job has been geocoded then a map showing the pick-up point, destination and route can be displayed with a single click.
Available vehicles and empty legs are listed separately and can also be viewed by any operator at any time on the CHX website. As with jobs, clicking on a vehicle will drill down to its full details and map view.
View Contact Details for Other Operators
Along with the details of the job itself, other operators can see the contact name, company name, phone number and email address of the operator who posted it. The same details are also available on mechanical assistance requests, available vehicles and empty legs.
Direct Operator-to-Operator Communication
CHX provides an easy to use built-in mechanism for operators to make and accept job offers. Emails are sent out automatically for all offers and acceptances.
Operators who prefer to pick up the phone or send an email are free to work that way too.
