Can We Get Some Smoke Signals Up in Here? Two Tin Cans and a Piece of String?

I think we can all agree that communication is not DeCamp's strong suit. Company-customer, driver-customer, driver-driver -- DeCamp sucks at all of them. There's no reason why that should be, of course, other than this: as a company, they don't care enough to communicate well. That's it. It's not for lack of proper technology or the funds to invest. DeCamp could start communicating better, be more transparent, today, with zero investment beyond what they're already spending. If they wanted to.

This morning, my (late) bus made its way down Mt. Hebron toward Grove. As our driver slowed at Park Street, we could see the entrance to Grove was blocked off for tree trimming or road construction or PSE&G repairs or whatever. We paused for a bit, the driver pondering his next steps. Then we turned on Park, made our way sloooowly down that lovely avenue, and turned left on Haddon Place. Once on Grove, we headed back toward Mt. Hebron and, beyond, the Rte. 3 on-ramp...only to find it wasn't just the Mt. Hebron-Grove intersection blocked off. It was all of Grove Street beyond Mt. Hebron.

So we turned back up Mt. Hebron -- chugging, chugging, seemingly almost stalling at one point -- to Valley, where we made a right and eventually -- a half-hour from the time I was picked up -- joined Rte. 3.

Why was our driver clueless about the disruption on Grove? Why did DeCamp's dispatchers not know about it? (I'm assuming they didn't know, though perhaps I shouldn't make that assumption.) Why didn't another driver radio ahead -- to the office, to the other drivers -- to let everyone know what was going on?

Oh, and did I mention the bus was SRO:

Comments

[Joanne]

So funny that I saw your bus go down our street today at a blazing speed (Haddon)...I just shook my head (being an ex-DeCamper myself). I took to driving to Allwood to take NJ Transit and my life took a turn for the better. I don't want you to do that though, because I would miss your blog!

[Chapin Clark]

Everyone says Allwood is the way to go. I just may follow you.

[A. M]

Trying taking a scheduled bus at 6:35 on a monday and arriving the same time on tuesday to find that said bus dosent run anymore!! oh thats right, they make changes to 3 buses overnight - not really, someone FORGOT to put up the sign with the scheudle changes.

[MBT Online]

It's so nice to have you do all of the research for us. It makes our decision making so much easier!! Thanks.