Customers of ABC Transport have commended the Management for ensuring a smooth operation during the Christmas period. ABC Transport has been known to put in place adequate measures to cushion the demands which normally arise from handling passengers and cargo operations during high traffic periods. It, however, did not anticipate the upsurge of passengers that occurred towards the last quarters of the year 2005. With the crisis that struck the aviation industry and its immediate impact on the road transport sector, most luxury bus operators were besieged by unexpected commuters.

ABC Transport has always been known for its pro-active service policies, its attention to details, and its foresight. All these have exceptionally marked out the Company as a veritable key player in the road transport sector of the Nigerian economy. It came as no surprise then that the Company was able to cope with the unusual flood of travelers during this festive period of Christmas and New Year. To the outsider, it looks quite puzzling how ABC Transport could still provide quality service and meet its customers’ expectations, without high frequency of complaints and dissatisfaction.

ABC Transport has always remained one of the promoters of Safe Driving in the auto industry. Every year the Company sets aside a week known as the Safety Week. This week is part of the measures inherent in its annual Accident-Free Campaign, whereby the driving crew, Maintenance and the entire Operations Staff, are further sensitized and instructed on the need to be more safety-conscious during high traffic on the expressways. Simply put, the important objective of the Safety Week is to create a more safety-conscious drivers, attendants, and staff, with a view to preventing road mishap (occasioned by enormous carriage of both goods and persons) during peak periods, especially Christmas. Thus, all the driving crews were educated towards meeting unexpected demands from both passengers and cargo.

Weeks to this period, ABC Transport organized a Pre-Peak Conference which prepared the minds of most of the key operational and frontline staff towards withstanding whatever rain of pressures likely to set in. As the saying goes, failure to plan is planning to fail.

Furthermore, in order to ensure effective carriage of goods, notably waybills and bulk items, five new trucks, made up of Mercedes and Mitsubishi models, with substantial handling facilities, were procured by the Cargo Unit of ABC Transport to augment the existing fleet, and deployed to its requisite locations nationwide. This enabled the Company to manage the increased economic activities in the country during this period.

Also important of mention was the innovative introduction of advanced booking. Passengers were advised to purchase their tickets a week before traveling in order to reduce wanton rush and stampede at the various ABC Transport terminals. The average customer was thus encouraged to enjoy more time and convenience because s/he was saved the hassles of struggling with other numerous customers for a ticket.

Usually, the Child Fare rebate is suspended during festive periods as the case had been the past years. However, this was not so for 2005. Parents and their children still enjoyed this premium customer-friendly, value-added feature. And what is more? Every under-twelve-year-old passenger was rewarded with an instant thank-you gift.

There were few intermittent incidents of delayed departure which occurred due to certain logistics. This was actually caused by some of the derelict routes or roads ABC Transport’s buses were compelled to pass through, in their turn-back or re-deploying of buses to awaiting terminals.

As a matter of fact, ABC Transport recorded no accident during this hectic period, even with the tumult on the highways, even with the dread of such deteriorating expressways. Thanks to the prudence and foresight employed by the Management to ensure that esteemed customers of the Company were not let down. Thanks, also, to a well-mapped out safety plan of action.

2006 has rolled in. The Company seems evidently poised to embrace the challenges of a new year, a new year that is dependent on the erratic interplay of politics and economics, which more often than not, sometimes undermine the worth of good plans. Mr. Frank Nneji, the Managing Director of ABC Transport, has urged customers to continue to GO ABC because “ABC Transport is better ready to take coach operations to a higher level.” In 2006, the Company is re-positioned to bring in more innovative services.

Uchenna G. Okagu
Head, Corporate Services and Marketing
Associated Bus Company Limited
Km 5, MCC Road, Umuoba-Uratta, Owerri, Imo State
Tel: 08033313120, 08037097100
email: info@abctransport.com
website: http://www.abctransport.com