Overview
What is this feature used for? Use Vehicle Locations to designate parking locations of revenue vehicles, and indicate availability for service, on the Yard Map. This information informs dispatch so they can tell operators where vehicles are parked. Login to ETMS > navigate to the Launch Dispatch Card in Operations, then open Vehicle Locations.
Pullout Efficiencies
This process assists with pullout efficiencies for dispatch, vehicle operators and your maintenance team. If vehicles are parked in known locations in the yard and ready for use, it saves everyone time- hop in, login, pretrip, and pullout! When vehicles are entered on the map grids, they automatically populate in Operations for dispatch reference, too; so dispatch can quickly tell vehicle operators where the vehicle is parked in the yard from the Operations area.
Things to Consider
Designate staff, such as bus hostlers, to manage using the Vehicle Locations area, for midday pull ins and pullouts, and needed vehicle swaps; for consistency in use of the tools and to ensure dispatch is aware of any updates throughout the day. It is very helpful for your team if you develop a standard for your practice ( SOP), to ensure consistency and will support better communications. Review this example SOP: Pullout/ Pullin SOP and this one for dispatch: Dispatch Pullout/ Pullin SOP
Workflow Connections
After vehicles are added to your yard map(s), they automatically populate in Operations.
- Enter vehicle locations and availability on yard map(s) using the vehicle Locations tab
- Information feeds into Operations for dispatch reference
- Dispatch reviews yard map to assist in vehicle to operator assignments
- Dispatch can also use the Extraboard grid to reference and assign vehicles to pieces of work on the Pullout tab, in addition to managing extraboard operators available for work assignment (drag and drop)
- When vehicle operator logs in and pulls out, the yard map will update to reflect the assignment (vehicle drops off yard map as available)
TIP: Some agencies prefer to use ruggedized tablets. Bus hostlers, or other dedicated staff, can walk the yard and enter updates throughout the day as needed for pull ins and pull outs.
Interacting with the Map Grids
When you begin using the grids, the initial status that displays depends on the grid you are working in. For example, a map dedicated to maintenance, will prepopulate a status of Maintenance, initial status on the main map will default to available. In the Vehicle # field, select a vehicle from the drop-down list or type the vehicle number. In the Status field, select Available, Maintenance, or Offsite, then select Add Vehicle to save the location/ status inputs.
Dispatch View
To use this feature, if there is only one dispatcher monitoring service on the road, keep the high-level menu open to avoid losing sight of important communications, such as EAs. Press 'No' when this prompt displays:
To add a vehicle to a location, click the location in the grid. This displays a popup window as shown below.
Maintenance View
If the vehicle you added was already located elsewhere on the grid, myAvail updates the location based on most recent inputs/ moves the vehicle to the new location. Did you add an incorrect vehicle? Simply click in the field to update the vehicle Id ( or status), then press Add Vehicle.
Alternate Map Locations: To view a different yard map, select the yard map you want to view in the drop-down list in the lower right-hand corner.
After every change you make, myAvail displays 'Saving Changes' and a 'Changes Saved' confirmation in the lower, right-hand corner.
Related SOPs
Maintenance Pullout/ Pullin SOP