Type of Transportation

When travelling between cities and for short distances, buses are the way to go. They are a convenient mode of transportation that enables a group to travel together with hours of enjoyment. However, what type of bus should be used? What are the differences? How many hours is a bus driver allowed to drive? These and other such questions, are the types of questions that are asked, and the answers are important to getting the best trip possible.

School Bus/ Modified School Bus

There are different types of buses. The first type is a school bus. They are a good and inexpensive mode of transportation for short distances. These type of buses are mainly built for use on secondary roads and residential streets. Their comfort is limited so that is why students normally only stay in the bus for a short period (15 min. to 1 hour).An improvement on the school bus is a modified school bus, which is a school bus with some of the comforts of a coach. The great majority of these buses are still built on the frame of a school bus, so the suspension, ventilation, visibility and general comfort is more like a school bus then a coach. But the seat and leg room normally are much better and some may also have a bit of luggage space. It is an improvement on the school bus, but still a school bus.

Semi-Coach/Coach

The next type of bus is a semi-coach. The majority of these buses have a modified frame that looks more like a coach and will have more luggage space and even sometimes a video and washroom. Their suspension is definitely better and will give the passenger an overall better ride for any longer distances (1.5 to 2.5 hours). However, the top of the line bus is, by far, the motor coach. Even the lowest end coach can surpass the quality of the best semi-coach. For longer distances (anything longer than 1 hour), they are by far the most inexpensive mode of transportation
per person for the best quality ride. You can find seats that recline, a toilette, entertainment systems (DVD/VCR and microphone), ventilation systems (air conditioning or heating), luggage space and better visibility for the passenger. Now
that is a ride!

Quality

There are different types of quality for coaches and school buses. It is important to make certain that the company used is a reputable one and will give a good quality bus.You do not want to be on a bus that has a high frequency breakdown rate. Questions that can be asked are how old is the bus, what is the model type, does the driver have experience driving with students, or is he familiar with the destination that he is going to? These are all questions that are important to be answered so your trip will run smoothly.

Bus Laws

There are also many laws that affect the bus driver. One that is very important is that the driver is only allowed to drive a certain number of hours per day. In Canada, it is 12 hours of driving and 15 hours on duty. ‘On duty’means when the bus driver gets into the bus in the morning at his terminal, where he will normally need about 30 minutes to get ready (for he needs to inspect his bus first), and then he will drive to your departure point. This means that bus driver may already have been logged on duty for 1 hour or more when he arrives.After your trip, the bus driver will need to return to the terminal where he will need the same amount of time. This is why it is so important that the driver stays within his hours, because otherwise he can get fatigued and that could cause an accident. In parts of the United States, the driver can only be on duty for 12 hours with 10 hours of driving. A proper itinerary will take these driver restrictions into consideration.

Group Size

With a small group under 25, it may be more cost effective to use a different mode of transportation (i.e. Taxi, train, public transportation, etc.). But with a group of 25 or more, a bus will generally be more cost efficient per person. A knowledgeable tour company will be able to advise you as to the best method of transportation for your group.

Since transportation represents such a large part of the cost of a trip, you need to make sure that you maximise the cost verses the quality of what you will need while on the trip. To be able to understand all the different variables regarding your transportation, you need to take into consideration all the factors that were mention above. An experienced tour company will be able to save you money and time, as well as maximising the usage of your transportation so that your trip will be the best that it can be.

BACK TO TOP