NEW BRITAIN, Conn. — Passenger transportation company DATTCO Inc. has put a new initiative in place to ensure a clean and safe return to travel for its passengers and employees.

The Clean Care Certified initiative is built on four pillars: a commitment to thorough cleaning; use of technology to keep passengers safe; protective procedures for employees and passengers; and creating confidence in riding the company’s vehicles, according to a news release from DATTCO.

As outlined in the initiative, DATTCO’s charter vehicles and those providing commuter, transit, scheduled casino, and contract shuttle services, will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using Environmental Protection Agency-registered cleaning products following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, and with electrostatic spray technology, before and after each trip. Additional attention will be given to high-touch areas periodically throughout the duration of trips.

DATTCO is working on a similar initiative specific to school buses and plans to release it soon.

DATTCO’s vehicles have always been equipped with state-of-the-art technology to keep clean air flowing into the vehicle and to remove potentially harmful particles, according to the company. HVAC systems filter recirculated air to remove respiratory droplets and bacteria, completely exchanging cabin air with fresh air every 10 minutes.

A series of new driver procedures have been put in place for their own protection as well as the protection of passengers. They cover baggage handling, passenger boarding, cleaning procedures during trips, and include wearing face masks at all times.

“We are working closely with customers to design an onboard experience that is appropriate for their group while maintaining a safe atmosphere for everyone,” said Denis Lyons, DATTCO’s vice president of Coach and Tour. “We hope the procedures we’ve put in place will assure our customers that it is safe to travel by motorcoach and they can feel confident about booking travel with us.”

Don DeVivo, DATTCO’s president, and American Bus Association’s (ABA’s) chairman of the board, serves as co-chair of an ABA task force comprised of industry leaders who recently developed a comprehensive set of sample policies to promote cleanliness and safety for post-pandemic travel aboard motorcoaches. DATTCO’s policies were born of this national recommendation.

“DATTCO has made, and will continue to make, significant investments in cleaning equipment and other protections to help ensure a safe environment,” DeVivo said. “As changes develop, we will continue to comply with guidance provided by industry experts, as well as the CDC, and local governments. We welcome our passengers back; we cannot wait to be back on the road with you.”