8 Things to Know About Renting a Charter Bus

When your team has an out-of-town match, you want them to travel in style. Standard school busses make do for short trips, but they leave much to be desired in the way of comfort for longer treks.

Going commercial is the best bet for a smooth ride and stylish arrival. Before you get on the phone, here are eight things you should know about renting a charter bus.

1. Check Their Reputation

When game day arrives, you need your players focused — not frazzled, wondering when their ride is going to show. Price is only one factor when renting a charter bus. When the championship is on the line, you need a company you can trust.

Before you rent a charter bus, ensure you do your research online and offline by reading reviews and checking with others who used the same service. They should have close to 100% on-time percentage — weather affects any transportation, but reputable companies know how to factor that into the equation.

2. Verse Yourself on Accident Procedures

You don’t want to think about an accident, but life happens. If your driver clips another car, though, the law dictates that they must stay at the scene until they exchange all relevant insurance information, even if there’s no apparent damage. You should be able to locate reports of previous incidents online when researching company reputation. Still, you should prepare with the venue and opposing team-coach contact information to contact them regarding delays.

What happens if a player gets hurt on the road? While it’s unlikely to occur, you should always carry a first-aid kit on the bus. If possible, have your school’s athletic director travel with you to expedite medical care for injured athletes, at least until first responders arrive.

3. Explore Your Options

Now for the fun part. You have a lot of options when it comes to renting your charter bus. Today’s models come packed with tons of luxuries, including things like TVs and video players.

Think long and hard about what your first instinct might scream is fluff. Work those video screens to rehearse before the game. By watching recordings of earlier matches, you can pump players up by showing them how they have grown while reminding them of past game-changing errors to avoid this time.

4. Consider the Distance

Your charter bus company probably also has models with heated and reclining seats that let you catch a snooze. If you made it to state and have a 3-hour trip staring you in the face one-way, such amenities make sense — especially if your players have to report to class the next day.

One additional factor to check is the restroom. Not all charter busses have them, but they can make things far less uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing while easing the long lines upon arrival at the venue somewhat. Ensure your team knows proper hygiene procedures to follow for using the facility in transit, especially with COVID-19’s threat lingering.

5. Plan for Accessibility

You might not automatically consider accessibility — after all, your squad of healthy soccer players is your first concern. However, parent chaperones and other spectators might need such amenities.

Ensure your rented charter bus offers a wheelchair lift. If you can’t find such a model, please inform those who might want to ride along so that they can make alternative arrangements.

6. Check for Prohibited Items

Your players are good kids, but even the most upstanding citizens occasionally pull a fast one. Find out what items your charter bus company prohibits and distribute the list so that players know what to leave behind. 

Unlike public transportation, you won’t run into any issues with bringing all your athletic equipment on a charter bus. However, you should leave any sharp objects authorities could consider weapons at home.

7. Clarify Food and Drink Rules

Please don’t automatically assume goodies are okay. You don’t want to get hit with a surprise cleaning bill two weeks after your match.

Clarify food and drink rules with your charter company before departure. Many have no problem with most food and drink but might prohibit items like gum that can create troublesome messes.

8. Get Creative With Financing

You might be able to afford a better charter bus than you think. Do you have to stay within your school’s budget limits if you have interested parents willing to chip in? They might if it means the difference between enjoying a comfortable ride versus a bone-jarring jaunt.

Check your state resources, too. Every state offers various grant programs and some might provide funds for travel. Unearthing such a source of cash scores you high marks with administrators.

Rent the Ideal Charter Bus With These 8 Tips

Your team deserves comfort when hitting the road. Learn how to rent the perfect charter bus for your next athletic event with the above tips.

Author Bio:

Oscar Collins is the managing editor at Modded. He writes about cars, fitness, the outdoors and more. Follow @TModded on Twitter for more articles from the Modded team.