Glenwood Boys High chooses Daily

Glenwood Boys High School, in Durban, recently took delivery of three Iveco Daily 26-seater buses from KwaZulu-Natal Iveco. These will be used to transport pupils (from Amanzimtoti, Hillcrest and Durban North) to and from school every day, as well as to transport the sports teams to their various venues.

“Considering how much the buses cost to purchase and operate, and the effort required by the school governing body (SGB) to select the appropriate buses, it makes sense that these vehicles must be in service for as long as possible.

“The previous buses were also Ivecos, which were purchased in 2000. With new technology in the current three units, we should see an increase in the replacement period,” says Andri Barnes, acting principal.

The school has a busy travel schedule, so the buses are always in high demand and continuously on the road. Each bus has a dedicated, trained driver who is responsible for the overall condition of the bus and maintaining an excellent relationship with the pupils to ensure that housekeeping rules on board are adhered to. Driver training is conducted on a regular basis to ensure consistency.

“The safety of the pupils was one of the main reasons for taking this route in purchasing new vehicles. It means that we are in full control of our transport without having to rely on contractors. The maintenance of the buses will be entirely in the hands of the dealer,” Barnes notes.

Rob Young, chairman of the SGB, adds: “We were fortunate to have Craig Drysdale, a long-standing tour operator, on the SGB. He picked up the ball with this project and was able to advise us on the various aspects of this purchase, ensuring that the correct formalities were in place, as this was a major expenditure item for the school.

“Three major bus suppliers were contacted in this regard and the financial package we obtained from Iveco, taking into account the trade-in of the old units, determined the final outcome,” he concludes.