Be part of something amazing

Geoff Cross, then aged 17, takes the leap and starts Central Buses with one vehicle, operating an hourly bus service on Route 7 between Perry Common and Birmingham.

Having spent significant costs on printed destination blinds and being unable to find a cost-effective electronic solution, Central Buses directors, in partnership with a supplier in the Far East, developed and produced a prototype electronic LED Destination Display for its own fleet. The prototype was quickly proven, with a further order to another half a dozen units placed shortly after to allow the full fleet to be retrofitted.

A business plan was developed to sell the displays to other UK bus and coach operators under the trading name Centrad (Central Trading). The LED Displays would launched at approximately half of the price of the alternative systems on the market at that time.

Centrad started trading with a soft launch in the Coach and Bus Week magazine. Its first customers included A2Z Travel, D&G Buses, GHA Coaches, Andy bus, Helms Coaches, and North Birmingham Busways.

Centrad exhibited at the Coach & Bus Live exhibition at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre for the first time.

Central Buses’ insurance premiums started to dramatically increase, primarily because of several cash for crash’ incidents on route 98 between Small Health and Ward End. These claims proved increasingly difficult to defend. Centrad started to develop an onboard CCTV system.

Centrad launched its four-camera digital CCTV system, having been extensively tested and trialled on the Central Buses fleet.

Centrad relocated to new premises along with the Central Buses business – an 11,500 square foot warehouse facility just outside Birmingham City Centre.

Centrad launches its 8 and 16 camera systems along with its initial ‘Centrad Live’ solution for remote video playback and download.

Central Buses wins ‘Bus Operator of the Year’ at the Route One Awards.

Central Buses wins ‘Bus Operator of the Year’ at the Route One Awards for the second year running.

The 31-vehicle Central Buses operation is sold to Rotala PLC to allow the directors to focus on the growing Centrad business.

Centrad continues to grow with the gain of significant accounts, including Malcolm Logistics, British Airways, and the Post Office.

Centrad acquires freehold office space in Amber Business Village, Tamworth.

Centrad launches Centrack – its advanced tracking platform for fleet operators who require extensive reporting.

In response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Centrad launches an onboard temperature check system for bus and coach operators.

Centrad doubles sales turnover, despite the pandemic, as further significant accounts join the Centrad family, and demand for HGV safety technology increases with the introduction of the ‘Direct Vision Standard’ in London from March 2021

Centab is launched – Centrad’s industry-leading multipurpose vehicle tablet featuring a range of mobile applications, including Vehicle Check for driver walkaround checks.

Centrad releases its range of ‘AI’ camera solutions, providing proactive real-time alerts to fleet managers of any high-risk driving behaviour, including mobile phone usage, distraction, smoking, and driver fatigue.

Cenhub is launched – Centrad’s brand-new video telematics and fleet management platform. In addition, Centrad further expands its development team enabling all development to be done in house, including integration to third party solutions.