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When longtime industry pro Richard Hausman decided to open Chicago Classic Coach two years ago, he had to make a decision: invest aggressively to acquire coaches and build his business, or allocate resources to equip a maintenance operation, hire technicians and tend to related details. Hausman chose the coaches. And he's still getting all the attentive service his fleet might require, thanks to the Coach Maintenance Agreement he entered into with his local MCI service center. The Coach Maintenance Agreement, or CMA, is much more than a preventative maintenance plan. Hausman's CMA allows Chicago Classic Coach to park its fleet at MCI's Des Plaines service center and enjoy the services of technicians assigned exclusively to that fleet. MCI keeps track of the coaches' mileage, inspecting and maintaining the vehicles according to MCI's service recommendations and responding to drivers' pre- and post-trip inspections. Technicians provide routine repairs as necessary. MCI even washes the coaches, ensuring clean vehicles for every trip. "It's been working out very well," says Hausman, who signed the CMA in March 2006 and has since doubled the size of his fleet. "The biggest benefit is that we don't have to have our own maintenance facility. We don't have to worry about overhead, a staff of mechanics and workmen's compensation. In the long run, it's saving us money." It's an agreement that can benefit almost any operator, says Jerry Cignarella, vice president of MCI Service Centers. Because each CMA is a unique contract, operators can opt for as much or as little service as they want. Operators can opt for something as simple as a schedule of inspections or preventative maintenance, or they can choose a full maintenance plan like that used by Chicago Classic Coach. Cignarella says MCI can even arrange to place trained, MCI-employed technicians and management in the operator's maintenance operaton, if that's what works best for the customer. 'It allows operators to concentrate on their core business," says Cignarella. "They can transfer some or all of the risks [associated with maintenance] to MCI, which already has the tools and expertise in place. It's a win-win situation." Operators interested in exploring a Coach Maintenance Agreement of their own should contact the general manager at their nearest MCI service center. The FYI from MCI editorial staff values your feedback. Please e-mail any suggestions, comments, or ideas for future articles to fyi@mcicoach.com. |
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