Mid-Size Coaches: You Asked. We Delivered.
When Kirby Schoen hits the road as sales and marketing director for Indian Trails, it’s usually in his own vehicle. But recently he took a four-day trip across Lower Michigan in one of our new Temsa motorcoaches, introducing it to charter customers like you.
On the trip, Kirby and a driver visited about a dozen current and prospective charter group customers a day. “We made appointments, pulled up to the door, and invited them to jump on board so we could show off the features of our newest coaches and answer any questions.”
The addition of four mid-size, 34-passenger coaches to Indian Trails’ charter fleet was the result of an in-depth analysis of customer requests. We found that many wanted coaches that could carry smaller groups on longer trips. They wanted coaches with most of the same amenities as our full-size 56-passenger models.
When Smaller is Better
“For example, college athletic departments with teams in sports like lacrosse and track and field were looking for more options to transport smaller groups,” Kirby notes. “Features such as free WiFi internet access are important to student athletes who need to study while traveling.”
Mid-size coaches are also desirable to tour operators who may not be able to fill a large coach to capacity for trips to certain destinations, he adds, especially since smaller coaches also offer operational cost-savings that can be passed along to their tourist clientele.
The new buses arrived in mid-December, and were ready to roll by early January. The response was immediate and positive. “We’re already booked for March and April,” says Kirby.
One aspect of Indian Trails that stands out from other charter bus companies is a fleet that’s newer and larger.
Still Loaded with Features
The new mid-size coaches, like their larger siblings, are equipped with state-of-the-art features such as charging outlets for electronic devices, DVD players with color monitors, reclining seats, individual climate controls and reading lights, cup holders, overhead parcel racks, a wireless public address system, and plenty of room below deck to store luggage.
Indian Trails is always on the forefront of comfort, technology and safety features in the transportation business,” says Kirby. “For instance, customers we visited with the new coaches were impressed by the comfort of the seats, which actually offer as much legroom as our full-size motorcoaches, as well as with the large on-board restroom.”
Each new Temsa is equipped with two kinds of advanced GPS technology—one for efficient navigation, the other to enable us to track the vehicle’s exact location at any time.
The coaches also received an enthusiastic thumbs-up from our drivers and mechanics, who tested a demo vehicle in advance. “The reactions were all very positive. The drivers especially love the easy maneuverability of these coaches.”