Transport UK London Bus is adopting Targa Telematics’ Car Sharing solution to streamline vehicle management.

The digital tech will enhance efficiency, driver accountability and security across ferry vehicles

The new technology will enhance operational efficiency, driver accountability and security across the company’s ferry vehicles, used for driver changeovers across different depots.

Transport UK London Bus, which operates bus services on behalf of Transport for London (TfL), is using Targa’s Car Sharing solution to enable secure and keyless vehicle access for authorised drivers. It’s being rolled out across an 80-strong ferry vehicle fleet of different makes, models and ages, distributed across four of the six depots managed by the company.

Installation has been successfully completed on 68 vehicles, with the Twickenham and Beddington depots now fully operational. The rollout at the Southall and Hayes depots is underway and should be completed by the end of April 2026.

Targa Telematics’ suite of services replaces the need for physical key cabinets. By restricting access to authorised personnel only and providing audit visibility, the digital system eliminates operational disruptions caused by lost or unreturned keys, delivering increased fleet utilisation and reducing costs.

Driver authentication is completed using individual Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards scanned on a dashboard-mounted reader, which de-immobilises the vehicle and automatically records the start of each new driver’s session. A formal logout process at the end of each journey ensures traceability and sustained vehicle availability.

David Cutts, managing director at Transport UK London Bus, said the innovative IT-based solution was bringing major benefits to colleagues and passengers.

“Ensuring our drivers reach their changeover points on time is an essential part of providing a reliable bus service. Following a successful proof of concept trial, we are very pleased to partner with Targa Telematics, who have created a safe and seamless system for our people to access ferry vehicles, an increasing number of which, like our buses, are zero-emission.”

Chris Horbowyj, UK commercial director at Targa Telematics, said driver changeovers were a critical but often unseen part of urban bus operations.

“By digitising access to ferry vehicles and removing the operational risks associated with physical key management, our Car Sharing solution will drive greater efficiency, accountability and service continuity. The partnership demonstrates how advanced digital mobility solutions can strengthen operational resilience within complex public transport environments, significantly improving fleet management.”