Keurmerk busbedijf

	General Information
	Year in, year out, the overall quality and safety of leisure and business travel on Dutch coaches keep on rising. That's the work of SKB, the Dutch Coach Companies Standards Foundation. SKB is dedicated to enhancing the quality on the operational and service sides of its recognised coach companies. Added guarantees A Dutch coach company which displays the SKB quality emblem offers its customer added guarantees. These safeguards cover aspects like coach safety and comfort, plus the professionalism and service-skills of the drivers, strict compliance with driving and rest periods and industry social regulations. And, obviously, all these coach operators are properly insured.
	Customers first A dedicated, long-term strategy is crucial if you aim to boost quality. Companies with the SKB quality emblem have ongoing investment programmes to enhance the quality of personnel and equipment. And seamless commitment is mandatory for the company and employees at all levels.
SKB,	the Dutch Coach Companies Standards Foundation
	Concerned quality This seamless concern for quality earns SKB recognised companies the right to call themselves specialists in coach travel. For the passenger it spells top service when travelling for pleasure or profit, leisure or business. Safety, comfort and service are paramount at companies with the SKB quality emblem. The SKB quality emblem was established some years back to Give passengers greater insights into the quality aspects of coach travel. The SKB Foundation also acts as an independent quality watchdog. Working together Organisations involved in SKB include the Dutch Tour Operators Association (ANVR), the Dutch Automotive Industry Association (RAI), and the Royal Dutch Road Transport Employers Association (KNV). SKB also has close contacts with consumer bodies.
	Service and monitoring in practice
	Checks Quality standards are upheld thanks to a regular programme of checks. This programme is carried out jointly with several independent public and private sector organisations. These include the Dutch National Vehicle Inspectorate, the Dutch National Road TrafficService, the STO foundation which monitors compliance with industry-wide labour agreements, SKB's Training Working Party, and the insurance community. Recognition All applications for the SKB quality emblem are assessed by an independent committee. None of the members has links with coach companies. Standards for the quality emblem are set annually by the foundation's managing board. The board also evaluates, reviews, and where appropriate alters, extends and reinforces the standards annually. The SKB emblem of quality for Dutch coach companies is valid for one year. During that period there are stringent, regular checks on quality. An extension for the next year is only granted if overall reporting is positive. Any company which fails to comply with the tough demands loses its SKB quality emblem.
	Quality demands behind the SKB emblem
	These are the criteria for securing the SKB quality emblem :
	Proof of employees' professional qualifications (legally required papers, appropriate trade diplomas and any additional qualifications required for the SKB quality emblem). Customer-friendliness is paramount for passenger attendants.
	Demonstrable safety and comfort of vehicles. Regular Technical audits by the National Road Traffic Service ensure the expert maintenance of coaches with the SKB sticker. Investment in safety is a priority and a coach is a quality product par excellence.
	Driving and rest periods must comply with legal regulations. Obviously, the same applies to all laws and rules on passenger transportation. The Dutch National Traffic Inspectorate conducts compliance audits, on the road and at the individual company. These regulations mean that drivers stay rested and alert - that's something coach passengers have a right to know.
	Holland has a very effective system of joint labour agreements, between employers and employees in a given industry, This 'CAO' sets out wages, conditions etcetera, and has a direct impact on employee welfare and performance. All SKB approved companies must observe the CAO to the letter. Compliance is monitored by a dedicated independent body, the 'STO' foundation.
	All SKB coach operators must be comprehensively insured against mishaps. Cover must include liability claims for the 'transport' and 'travel organisation' aspects.
	Knowing quality when you see it
	It's easy to recognise an SKB approved coach company. Every coach has a numbered sticker next to the entrance door. The year on the sticker is the year for which the SKB quality emblem is valid. What's more, all approved operators carry the SKB shield, and are issued with a certificate carrying the SKB logo. Both of these also have the year clearly marked.