Two years is barely a heartbeat in the Australasian bus and coach industry — the sector moves so quickly that it’s only a mere moment for most businesses to be able to simply find their footing.
For many entering the space, it could take two years to draft a business plan, two years to finally work out the logistics, two years to make that first sale.
- Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to receive the latest news and classifieds from Australasia’s bus and coach industry
- Don’t miss a second and subscribe to our monthly ABC magazine
Yet servicing and finishing business Bus Service Solutions (BSS) has defied every conventional timeline, transforming from a simple idea to a respected industry partner in just 24 months.
Born from a conversation between three industry veterans who saw a gaping hole in the market, the trio created a business that could truly meet the complex needs of bus and coach operators.
“I had been working for Irizar for more than eight years by the time I helped come up with the idea for BSS,” BSS co-founder and commercial director Anderson Souza told ABC.
“I met Jonathan and then Thiago, and with our combined experience in the industry, we were able to pinpoint what we felt were pain points within the industry.
“That’s how BSS was born. We wanted to create a one-stop-shop for operators and bus manufacturers where they could come and get all of their work done.”
Wanting to save operators the hassle of jumping around to different businesses for a variety of needs, BSS offers a diverse range of services, including smash repairs, paintwork (full resprays), body modifications, Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), seat installation, wheelchair complete kits and local content fitments, ensuring that each bus operates at its best in terms of both performance and appearance.
“We have two main divisions at BSS. One is we offer smash repair services where we are working with the main insurance companies to get buses back on the road,” Souza says.
“And second is our service division. This is where we do pretty much everything else like modifications, inspections and panel beating – anything that the customer wants.”
In addition to these services, BSS provides custom-built products like bull bars, belt safety systems, bus toilets, bunks and destination panels, along with other specialised solutions that address the unique needs of the bus industry.
“We developed our own toilet that is able to fit any bus, regardless of whether it is imported or locally made,” he says.
“That’s what we want to do – create products and offer services that are universal and suit a diverse range of vehicles.”
At the heart of BSS’s innovative approach lies its BSS Belt Safety System, a belt checking solution that aids operators in aligning with passenger safety compliance. With the federal government unveiling a new Australian Design Rule (ADR) that will require seatbelt wearing monitoring technology to be fitted to Australian buses and coaches, this new technology could provide the perfect solution to meet these new requirements.
“Our system is completely different to everything the market is currently offering,” Souza says.
“The system is incredibly simple and doesn’t require as much labour as some of the others. Designed to meet stringent government regulations around belt check systems, this proprietary technology requires minimal operational effort while delivering maximum safety assurance.
“The system is currently undergoing testing.”
In its effort to become a one-stop-shop for operators, the company also manages three separate divisions that offer more specialised services for customers: Inova Bus Services, BSS Moves and BSS Parts.
Inova Bus Services focuses on seat installation for industry-leading brands like Sege Seats Australia and StyleRide, while BSS Moves specialises in vehicle collection from the wharf and local and interstate movements.
BSS Parts offers a growing range of local content products, including the BSS Bull Bar, BSS Belt Safety System and the company’s other products.
Despite the company’s young history, BSS already maintains strong, daily partnerships with leading bus manufacturers including Irizar, BCI, Higer, Volgren, Custom Denning, BLK, Yutong and others, both directly and through its customers.
The company also collaborates with renowned international OEMs such as Scania, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and MAN, offering tailored solutions that cater to the needs of both local and international bodybuilders.
This close collaboration with top-tier manufacturers has allowed BSS to establish itself at the forefront of the industry in a short space of time, consistently delivering top-quality products and services that exceed customer expectations.
One BSS customer is bus charter company Driver Bus Lines. Always taking great pride in the appearance of its fleet of 145 commercial buses and its 20 preserved Driver Classics’ buses, trucks and cars, the charter company recently reached out to BSS to help with some projects.
Planning to restore an old 1984 Eagle Model 10, with colouring as a tribute to industry legend Russell Penfold, Driver Group Australia owner and director Gary Driver says the BSS team went above and beyond.
“To complete the Eagle Model 10 in a timely manner, we needed to find a body shop that could carry out the restoration task while meeting or exceeding our required standard,” Driver told ABC.
“Anderson led the project from start to finish, with him encouraging me to visit on-site and monitor the progress. He was responsive to my requests and met all my objectives.
“I was extremely pleased with the quality and standard of the work that BSS did and would have no hesitation in recommending BSS. All of this was at a price that was fair and most reasonable.
“The shine on the Eagle’s paint work is a must see!”
Souza says the success of BSS is in its experienced team, boasting employees with decades of experience under their belts.
“This wealth of expertise ensures that every product and service meet safety standards while also providing long-lasting reliability for customers,” he says.
“One issue we are facing at the moment is recruiting more employees with these skill sets. That is why we have set up our training program.”
Souza believes that the success of a business relies heavily on the team, which is why BSS is investing in the training and upskilling of current and prospective employees.
“We want to replicate what we are doing in Melbourne in Queensland, and then eventually nationwide,” he says.
“Employing skilled technicians who have the customer’s best interests at heart is the way to do that.”
BSS has grown from a 500sqm premise to a nearly 4,000sqm space in just two years, boasting a staggering 600 per cent growth.
The company is actively exploring key partnerships in Queensland to strengthen its service capabilities and bring its industry-leading expertise closer to bus operators and manufacturers in the region.
This strategic expansion aligns with BSS’s mission to support the bus industry with innovative solutions, ensuring fleets across Australia receive top-tier service and products. It may be a newcomer to the local sector, but BSS is already proving it should be respected as an emerging presence for Australasian bus and coach companies.
“We have the space and capability to continue growing in a sustainable way,” Souza says.
“We will continue to grow our reputation, work with our partners and try out our hands in another state.”