Safety & Driver Training
New World’s driver training program is acknowledged by industry experts as the example for the nation. It’s a huge responsibility and a great privilege to become captain of a $500,000 vehicle and to have 57 lives depending on your expertise for their safety and enjoyment. Not everyone is right for the job. It’s important to us to be sure our drivers are up to the challenge.
New World has long offered one of the most complete driver selection and training programs in the Washington area. Our onsite training facility, complete with one of the only privately-owned motorcoach driving simulators in the nation, has ensured that our drivers will be among the safest and best-prepared professionals on the road.
Every New World driver must undergo an exhaustive background check prior to acceptance in the classroom training curriculum. Even drivers with experience at other coach companies, or on other types of large vehicles, must go through our training program before they work for New World. Six weeks of classroom instruction - including closely-monitored time on the simulator, and then on our modern fleet of coaches - allow New World candidates to demonstrate their driving skills long before they welcome their first passenger.
In 2007, New World will upgrade our current driver simulator to a Trans Sim VS IV driver simulation system, with multiple screens and even more realistic video scenarios. The fact is, today's motorcoaches are increasingly becoming technological marvels, closer to airliners than automobiles. Each new technology -- anti-lock brakes, global positioning systems, fully-computerized engines and transmissions -- gives a coach its unique set of handling characteristics and safety advantages. In the airline business, pilots must, by law, be certified on individual equipment. We believe that this is an excellent approach.
Our simulator allows us to precisely configure the driver's experience to the specific vehicle he or she will be driving. It also allows us to subject the driver to "real world" situations that would be impossible or so dangerous that they could never be intentionally re-created on the highway: wet and icy roads, impaired drivers, or mechanical malfunctions at highway speeds, for instance. Simulator training also allows us to learn much about a driver's judgment and his or her ability to deal with unexpected circumstances. Our simulator is far more than a computer game; it's an integral part of New World's commitment to safety. We prepare our drivers in every way we can, because they will be expected to take good care of our customers in those vehicles.
New World drivers are also selected and trained for their "people" skills. Whether they're serving for only a few hours in a Washington convention shuttle, or accompanying a travel group on a 14-day tour of America, every driver of ours must demonstrate the ability to deliver a pleasant experience. And our classroom training includes a special focus on customer service and satisfaction. Safety is always first - but fun is never forgotten.
Only a small fraction of those who enter New World training will successfully complete it to join our corps of drivers. But their success means that they've achieved a select level of professionalism. And the training never stops. All New World drivers are re-tested periodically, and receive refreshers any time we – or you - think it’s called for.
Whether it’s safety training, security briefings, or special instruction on passenger comfort and enjoyment, you won't find a motorcoach company that's made a greater commitment of resources and attitude to driver training than New World. The more you know about our business, the more confident we are that New World will be your choice of carriers. |
