As the industry faces an unprecedented shortage of drivers, passenger transport companies are opting for Allison fully automatic transmissions to offer drivers comfort and confidence regardless of experience.

PARIS, September 2022 – Allison Transmission, the largest global manufacturer of medium and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions for commercial vehicles, is proud to announce that two French passenger transport companies have selected Allison transmissions to attract and retain drivers. Both Cars Mouchet and Losay Voyages have reported increased driver comfort and confidence, as well as reduced maintenance costs, as a result.

Cars Mouchet, located in Rang in the Doubs, France, has 130 employees and 130 coaches and buses servicing part of the regular regional lines of Bourgogn-Franche-Comté in two departments, as well as school, tourist and employee transport. The company has recently purchased several vehicles, such as the Isuzu Anadolu Grand Toro, equipped with Allison transmissions.

The company chose to move towards a fleet equipped with fully automatic transmissions in part due its service in nearby Switzerland. Its challenging, hilly roads prompted Cars Mouchet to prioritize driver loyalty and attraction.

“Cars Mouchet is in a very competitive area. We quickly realized that the Allison fully automatic transmission meets the demands of all of our drivers, including those with mild disabilities,” said David Mouchet, Operations Manager at Cars Mouchet. “This competitive advantage, especially on complicated journeys, gives our drivers the opportunity to drive with peace of mind. In addition, Allison transmissions allow us to greatly reduce maintenance costs.”

Thanks to uninterrupted gear changes, an Allison fully automatic transmission smoothly delivers more engine power to the wheels, letting the driver focus and easily maneuver the vehicle no matter what task is at hand. Furthermore, the Allison fully automatic transmission is designed to keep service and maintenance to a minimum. An Allison Automatic has no mechanical clutch, so downtime is rarely a concern. The only preventative maintenance consists of routine oil and filter changes, which can be monitored using prognostics.

Losay Voyages, located in Montereau-sur-le-Jard in Seine-et-Marne, France, has 100 employees and a fleet of more than 90 vehicles providing transportation for national and international tourism, local and school lines and extracurricular travel. Losay Voyages leverages the benefits of driving with an Allison fully automatic transmission to aid driver retention and recruiting, which is a key challenge as many drivers are attracted to companies in the inner suburbs of Paris. Once behind the wheel of an Allison fully automatic-equipped vehicle, drivers are more alert, comfortable and in control of the driving experience, leading to increased driver retention. Even experienced drivers benefit from more precise handling, maneuverability and ease of operation.

“The Allison transmission is fundamental to our development. It gives us a competitive advantage in driver appeal and allows us to hire from a larger pool of drivers,” said Xavier Teijeiro, Technical Director of Losay Voyages. “In addition, Allison Transmission plays a major role in controlling our operating costs with our Temsa LD SB 12 and MD7 vehicles. Commercially and socially, these are decisive competitive advantages and help us satisfy our most demanding customers.”

“These two testimonials illustrate that the Allison transmission is as comfortable in very hilly regions as on the congested roads of Île-de-France. Our transmission is a major asset for the attractiveness of drivers, but also for the complete management of the overall costs of the fleet,” said Stéphane Gonnand, Area Sales Manager, Allison Transmission France.