Coaches at Firefly travel approximately 100,000 combined fleet kilometres a week in peak periods, and company policy requires every vehicle is inspected both prior to and following a trip.

With 21-36 departures from Melbourne a week, inspection and maintenance procedures play a dominant role in the company's operations.

"Our mechanics used to have to climb in and out of the pit when they were greasing a vehicle. Now that we have the hoists, our workers' jobs are far less strenuous because they have the freedom and convenience of working on a level surface.

Our highlander coaches are 14.5 metres long and our pits are only 13 metres long. With the pits we can't access the drive train whereas with the hoists this isn't a problem.

Since using the hoists, we have found that we save approximately five hours a week in labour which adds up to an amazing 6.5 working weeks per year.

We have also found that the possible chance of injuries has been reduced in the workshop because the hoists increase safety levels markedly."

Mr Dominic Bono, Maintenance Manager