Missing Scheduled Trips Policy Examples

Understanding What Type of Policy You Need

It is possible to create multi-period fixed duration policies that take into consideration activity over more than one period. Multi-period cases look for infractions accumulated within specific months. They have a case lifespan, which defines how many months into the past the system should check for information about prior sanctions. If the case lifespan is >1, the case remains open for the defined number of months (for example, if the case life span is 5, then the case remains open for 5 months). If all of the months pass without reaching the defined thresholds again within a single month, then the case is closed.

Let's look at two examples of a multi-period infractions-based policy where the case life span is three months.

Both examples assume that a client has an open case and has reached an infraction threshold qualifying for a sanction:

• If a client has been clean for two months, and then incurs more infractions, the new infractions are added to the case and the case is kept open at least another three months.

  The new sanction level is determined as the lesser of what is justified by the number of infractions in the current period or one level higher than what was previously imposed during the defined case life span (that is, within the last three months).

• If a client goes three months without incurring enough infractions to reach any sanction level, the case is closed. If the client later incurs more infractions, a new case is opened and if a sanction threshold is reached the sanction starts over with a level 1 warning letter.

All of the examples offered here assume that clients will be penalized two points for a no-show or cancel at door, and one point for a late cancel.

Example 1: Fixed-Duration Points-Based Policy Based on Suspensions

In this policy, the severity of the suspension depends on the number of previous suspensions in the period.

A defined number of points accumulated in a defined period triggers a response. The sanction level depends on how many points are incurred and how many suspensions have previously been imposed on the client. Different thresholds can be assigned for each sanction level.

In this example, thresholds are the same for each sanction level: three (or more) points accumulated within a quarter trigger a response. The defined sanction levels are warning, second warning, first suspension (three days), second suspension (seven days), and three or more suspensions (fourteen days).

While infraction points are counted within the quarter, previous suspensions are counted within the lookback horizon (or from the policy’s start date).

Any accumulated points are no longer valid at the start of each new quarter. In each new quarter, sanctions start over with a warning letter. However, if the client gets to a violation stage, the suspension is one level above the highest suspension level applied to the client within the past year (lookback horizon of 4 quarters).

This would be set up as a fixed duration suspension-based policy based on quarters, with a lookback horizon of four quarters.

Example 2: Fixed-Duration Percentage Points-Based Policy Based on Infractions

In this policy, the severity of the suspension depends on the number of infraction points coupled with the overall percentage of missing scheduled trips. Different thresholds must be assigned for each sanction level.

In this example, point thresholds are the same for each sanction level: three (or more) points accumulated within a quarter allows a response to be triggered.

The defined sanction levels are warning (achieved with a threshold value of 5%), second warning (achieved with a threshold value of 10%), first suspension of three days (achieved with a threshold value of 15%), second suspension of seven days (achieved with a threshold value of 20%), and three or more suspensions of fourteen days (achieved by again reaching a threshold value of 20% or greater).

Cases are promoted to the next applicable level (that is, within the same stage), not the greatest applicable level (that is, the highest stage).

This would be set up as a fixed duration infractions-based policy based on quarters.

Example 3: Multi-Period Percentage Points-Based Policy

In this policy, the severity of the suspension is based on the highest sanction level achieved in the last six months. Multi-period policies are infractions-based and use month-long time periods. Multiple sanctions can be accumulated in a one-month period.

A defined number of points accumulated in a defined period after achieving a defined percentage of missing scheduled trips triggers a response.

This would be set up as a fixed duration multi-period infraction-based policy with a case life span of six months.

Example 4: Flag Periods Percentage Points-Based Policy

In this policy, the severity of the suspension is based on the number of previous periods in which the client met a minimum infraction level.

Achieving a defined missing scheduled trips percentage threshold in a defined flag period that also meets a defined number of accumulated points triggers a response. The sanction level depends on how many periods in the defined lookback horizon have been flagged as meeting the defined thresholds. Different thresholds can be assigned for each sanction level. Trapeze recommends using consecutive Threshold Value (#)s when creating flag periods-based policies.

In this example, thresholds are the same for each sanction level: three (or more) points accumulated within a month where a missing scheduled trips percentage of 10% or higher is achieved triggers a response.

The defined sanction levels are warning, second warning, first suspension (three days), second suspension (seven days), and three or more suspensions (fourteen days).

This would be set up as a flag-period policy based on months, with a lookback horizon of six periods.

Example 5: Rolling Window Points-Based Policy

In this policy, the severity of the suspension is based on the number of points accumulated within the defined Rolling Window Duration.

In this example, thresholds are based on accumulating one point or three points within a 30-day period. The defined sanction levels are warning, second warning, first suspension (three days), second suspension (seven days), and three or more suspensions (fourteen days).

This would be set up as a 30-day rolling window infractions-based policy.