Motorcoach companies attend rally in DC
Area motorcoach companies rally in D.C. to focus attention on the importance of the industry
More than 1,000 motorcoaches from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to raise awareness about the industry and to ask Congress and the White House to extend economic relief to the industry. The rally was organized by the American Bus Association and the American Motorcoach Association.
Among the participants in the rally were several companies from the tri-county region, including: Hagey Coach & Tours of Souderton, Krapf Transportation of West Chester, Klein Transportation Inc. of Douglassville and Werner Coach of Phoenixville.
Motorcoach companies — many of them small businesses — shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, when Pennsylvania ordered non-essential businesses to close.
The trip to Washington, D.C., was the first time a Hagey Coach & Tours bus has moved since March 16. May is normally the busiest month of the year, according to Brian Hagey, general manager of the third generation family-owned company.
Hagey said the company has about 35 full- and part-time employees. All of the drivers are furloughed right now. The company also operates school buses.
He said the industry is not just about pleasure trips.
“The government relies on us during federal and state emergencies. Schools and senior groups use us, and coaches transport the military all year long,” he said. “We are asking for some kind of help — no interest or low interest loans or grant money to help pay bills so we are ready to reopen.”
The motorcoach industry has requested $15 billion in federal grants and loan guarantees, and modifications to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program — $10 billion in grants for operational and payroll assistance and $5 billion in long-term zero percent interest rate loans.
While some aspects of the Federal CARES Act have been available to motorcoach operators, including the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, an estimated $75 billion in stimulus money went directly to airlines and Amtrak, according to the American Bus Association.
“Private motorcoaches are part of the U.S. infrastructure — and an important part of it. We fill in all kinds of gaps in America’s infrastructure, especially in rural communities,” Larry Killingsworth, CEO of the United Motorcoach Association said in a telephone interview Friday.
Krapf Transportation has been in business for 78 years. The company operates 14 motorcoaches, according to Gary Krapf, president of the company. Another part of the company includes public transportation and paratransit (Rover) services. The company also operates Krapf School Bus.
“For our charter side of the business — that is completely lost. We don’t know when it will return,” he said.
“Our motorcoaches are not operating at all and we feel we provide an important link throughout the year. There is a large investment in that equipment and with no revenue, that puts a lot of companies in high debt situations.”
The motorcoaches spent the day May 13 driving loops between the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, many decked out with messages about the role the industry plays in the economy.
Congress was not in session, but Killingsworth said that’s “okay.”
“The fact that congress wasn’t there wasn’t as much the issue as it was being able to galvanize, and make this national statement and then go back and line up local support to influence congress, since they are now structuring CARES Act 2,” Killingsworth added.
According to the American Bus Association, 3,000 motorcoach companies across the country employ 100,000 people. Annual trips generate $237 billion in transportation, travel and tourism revenue. During the pandemic, nearly 36,000 buses have been sitting idle.
Klein Transportation sent two of its 14 motorcoaches to the event, according to Alison Klein Sherman, vice president of finance for the fourth generation family-owned business.
During the pandemic, the company laid off 70 full- and parttime drivers, and has four employees working remotely from their homes.
“Without help from the federal government, I fear many motorcoach operators may never return to the road and passengers will be stranded without access to the nation’s transportation system,” she said in a statement.
The company also operates vehicles used by the Daniel Boone School District.
“The next six weeks will be critical to the future of smaller businesses in the U.S.,” Killingsworth added. “It is critical that congress and the government make some good decisions that are closer to the target of what we need than CARES Act 1 was.”
Like many industries, motorcoach companies are beginning to plan for what the industry might look like when they are able to reopen. Will drivers and passengers be required to wear masks, for example, or will bus capacity be reduced? Krapf said another unknown is whether passengers will want to ride again, and when.
Hagey said hand sanitizer dispensers have been added to every coach, and each night the coaches and building are disinfected.
Krapf said his company has also taken steps to improve the hand sanitizer dispensers the company already had in its coaches and is cleaning equipment on a regular basis.
“The government relies on us during federal and state emergencies. Schools and senior groups use us, and coaches transport the military all year long. We are asking for some kind of help — no interest or low interest loans or grant money to help pay bills so we are ready to reopen.” — Brian Hagey, general manager, Hagey Coach & Tours