Fallon’s Bus Services runs a variety of services in Victoria’s north-east. More than half of its fleet are MAN chassis due to the expanding partnership between the two companies.
Fallon’s Bus Services has been ordering MAN Truck & Bus chassis for nearly a decade.
The family-owned operator was established in 1962 in Gippsland and now runs a range of services in north-east Victorian regions.
After starting off with a couple of local Bedford school buses, Fallon’s now has more than 110 vehicles driving a range of charter, school and route services. More than 35 of the chassis in its fleet come courtesy of MAN.
It all began when Fallon’s made an acquisition.
“Our first experience with MAN was when we took over Fall’s Creek Coach Service near Mount Beauty,” Fallon’s Bus Services key principal told ABC. “With that acquisition we took on three MAN buses in two school vehicles and a coach.
“All three were big 18-tonne chassis. We realised the MAN chassis performed really well in the conditions we operated in.”
The Fallon’s family business says the safety factor of the MAN’s heavy chassis has been paramount for the operator.
Since the initial purchase of these second-hand MANs, Fallon’s purchased its very first new MAN IC18.360 chassis in 2010 and it has been consistently buying MAN chassis ever since.
“We initially signed a deal for four chassis with Coach Design bodies for our school bus replacement program,” Fallon’s Bus Services says. “We started off with four and now we’re upwards of 35, ranging from a smaller 10.8-metre chassis all the way through to the flagship Lion’s CO26.510 chassis.”
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Fallon’s key principal says the company’s favourite chassis over its time of operating is the 18-tonne 360hp model, which has since become the CO19.360 product.
“You can’t compare anything to the big three-axle CO26.510 unit either,” Fallon’s says. “It’s all above and beyond in safety, reliability, fuel economy and passenger comfort – the Lion’s chassis is in a league of its own.”
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Fallon’s Bus Services says the key feature of the MAN chassis that helps it stand out is its safety on board. The company says operating costs and reliability for the customer have always been crucial throughout the years, alongside the personal service the company has received.
MAN Bus regional sales manager Mark Nichols says the developing relationship between the two companies has been wonderful. Nichols says a bodybuilder has also been important in forging the connection.
“Fallon’s has been such a loyal customer – it’s not about selling the buses upfront, it’s about what you do after,” Nichols told ABC. “They’ve changed a lot over the years from Euro 4 chassis through to Euro 6. We’re lucky we have the relationship with Coach Design too – it’s cemented our partnership.”
Nichols says MAN will continue to provide the best service it can to help Fallon’s to continue growing. The operator’s regional requirements means the electric vehicle transition may not immediately be on the cards, but it won’t stop the pair from continuing to flourish.
Fallon’s says it has found no faults with the MAN chassis. Currently the operator has another four MAN chassis on order. Fallon’s key principal says the company is excited to continue expanding with MAN in the coming years.
“We’re for sure expanding and growing with MAN,” Fallon’s says. “We’ve got more MAN chassis in build now and it’ll just keep on snowballing.
“Having recently acquired other companies, around 60 per cent of our fleet are MAN chassis and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”