News: Customer Service/Care
Kiwi bus drivers receive customer service training
13 December 2007
Friendly service has the same effect the world over - it improves relationships with clients and gives a boost to companies.
Bus drivers in Auckland, New Zealand are receiving customer service training as part of a wider bid to persuade more people to use public transport, the New Zealand Herald reports.
The Auckland Regional Transport Authority has come up with a plan to introduce a common customer service standard across all bus operators that it pays subsidies to.
Measures mooted for the 2008 to 2011 period include free tickets to make up for bad service, free biscuits for passengers and customer service training that will hopefully reduce the number of "grumpy" drivers.
In fact, this training has already begun at two bus companies, NZ Bus and Ritchies Transport, and covers greetings, smiles and clothing.
Other schemes include giving older students in Auckland larger discounts on public transportation. It is hoped that this will boost public transport passenger numbers by 250,000 per year.
