In New Zealand, operator Tranzit Group has taken its own in-house approach to servicing its diverse range of buses and coaches
It’s not just manufacturers and suppliers that are working on improving servicing and maintenance technology.
As New Zealand’s largest family-owned bus and coach company, Tranzit Group has 10 workshops located in the nation’s North Island, with another one in the South Island. This array of sites focused on servicing allows it to invest heavily in maintenance and vehicle monitoring technology for its growing fleet of zero-emissions buses and current diesel buses.
Whether it be one of its first battery electric buses introduced into its fleet in 2018 or on the Euro 6 diesel double decker Repower bus that was turned into a fully electric vehicle, the operator is intent on finding efficient ways to service its diverse vehicle range.
Tranzit Group’s workshops bring specialist diesel mechanical, panel beating, auto electrician and electric bus skills to the business, enabling Tranzit to keep the majority of repairs and maintenance in-house. Its workshop team is also tasked with managing workloads across a fleet of more than 2000 vehicles to meet deadlines and keep the operator’s vehicles running.
As Tranzit’s national fleet manager Daryn Murphy says, the workshop teams do everything from steel work fabrication, panel beating and spray painting to using the latest diagnostic equipment to work on the company’s growing fleet of battery electric buses and charging infrastructure.
“There are engines to rebuild, faults to diagnose and basic servicing, such as Certificates of Fitness (COFs) to complete, as well as the opportunity to work on a diverse vehicle fleet from vans through to double deck electric buses,” Murphy told ABC.
“From time to time, we’ve also done classic car restoration providing a useful skill set and marine engineering, working on boats’ mechanical and electrical systems.
Tranzit mechanic Joseph works on one of the company’s urban buses – Photo: Mike Heydon/ JET Productions |
“It’s an exciting career and full of variety.”
Murphy would know that last line better than anyone else. He originally joined Tranzit as an apprentice. Now, he helps support several apprentices who are also learning the trade.
Tranzit’s servicing team includes 14 mechanics, panel beaters, auto electricians and electric vehicle electricians who work alongside one panel apprentice and two diesel apprentices in keeping Tranzit’s wheels turning in its main Masterton workshop.
In Wellington, eight qualified mechanics and four apprentices work across Tranzit’s four workshops. These workshops are dedicated to servicing 240 Euro 6 diesel buses, 42 electric buses and a number of touring coaches that vary in age.
They use the latest diagnostic equipment to diagnose engine faults including Jaltest, Mercedes Xentry, Scania SDP 3 and Cummins Insite, among others. The team is educated on the latest in telematics to keep an eye on temperature, revs, preventative maintenance and ensuring best safety practices.
Wellington-based workshop supervisor Luke Aschebrock says since Tranzit introduced electric buses to its fleet in 2018, it has become a necessity to be upskilled and remain ahead of the curve.
“As government contracts work towards decarbonisation and zero-emissions in public transport, Tranzit has always been ahead of the curve and part of this has seen our team having to be upskilled to work on our growing fleet of electric buses,” he told ABC.
The majority of Tranzit’s workshop team hold their Class 2 and Class 4 driver’s license to assist during breakdowns, while Tranzit’s Lower Hutt depot also has a special sky lift to assist the team to work under heavy vehicles.
“Many of us have completed the MITO New Zealand Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Levels 5 and 4),” Aschebrock says.
“This keeps us relevant and helps us offer a clear career path for those keen on learning on the job while also helping us all head towards zero-emissions.”