OK new year, new president, new bus company w/buses & drivers, new head aches!

[Busted Knuckle]

OK I have been literally going bonkers around here since November when I borrowed that '05 Setra S417 HDH.
Well to make a long story short I'm just plain spoiled, or the whole dang family is certifiably nuts! I stomped, jumped up and down, held my breath, rolled on the floor screaming  hollering, & kicking (only in largely populated public places), and even threatened to stop eating until I wilted away to nothing until they agreed to go out on a limb with me and buy out the other bus company!
OK well it took quite a while to get dad on board, but I think I finally got to him when I refused to meet them @ Joe's Steak House (our favorite local establishment!) on my way home from a service call @ the other company changing out a starter in the freezing cold rain. I think that was when dad saw how bad I really wanted these buses and would do what it took to get them!

OK here's what we bought!
(1) 1995 Setra S215 HDH 60 Series, Allison B500 in great shape with a BRAND NEW starter! (I know 100%)
(2) 2005 Setra S417 HDH(s) identical w/consecutive serial #'s 60 Series, Allison B500's awesome premium seating, kick A** rockin' premium Blaupunkt sound system that rocks the buses!  And of course that awesome Setra styling and ride!
We also acquired existing contracts, company name, phone #'s, the ex-owner will stay on board with us for at least a yr as driver and commissioned salesman, all drivers will stay on board with us, and of course now I we have many new headaches to go with the new and very large payments on these new toys! We really think we got an awesome deal (or we would not have done it), but we sure hope or new president is right about people needing spend $ to boost our economy! Because we have spent way more than we normally do (we usually pay cash, or mostly cash with a small # of low payments!), but we are inthis for the duration oneway or the other!

Now on top of that during the transition period we got hit with a major ice storm that knocked out power, phones, internet and cell phones for almost a week! So here we sat with all these new things going on and no way to communicate with ANYONE!

So with all the bad going on with Libby, Doug & Jamie, Sonnie's wife Patti and everywhere else it really has put a damper on my enthusiasm about this.
I am still excited as a kid at Christmas time, but it just kinda melts the snow knowing that others are not doing well!
  BK 

[bobofthenorth]

Congratulations Bryce.  Don't ever apologise for being successful or having good news to share.  Its true that some others are hitting a rough patch but that will always be the case.  The more people you know, the more likely you will be to know somebody who is in trouble.  Its human to feel guilty for being successful but we shouldn't.  Now where's the pictures???

[VanTare]

BK I had the opportunity to go aboard one of the new s417 Setra owned by Arrow from Phoenix that is one fine bus and I understand the stars like it also Hemphill had 2 coverted to entertainer coach and plan on doing more now since Setra will sell a shell now.Good luck  on your new adventure in these economic times.   



David

[Busted Knuckle]

I will post pictures as soon as I can! I am trying to get all the buses together for a "new fleet shot" but that is not working out to well! (which is not bad either, because if they are all sitting here then they ain't making $!) I do have one of the '05's and the "new '95" here today and I'll see if I can't get a few shots of them even though the '05 is filthy as it just came in from running on nasty roads!
Also I thought I would give an update as to what we have now days!
(1) '85 MCI 96A3 6V92/740 (still in service but for sale)
(1) '86 MCI 102A3 6V92/740 (out of service broke frame/for sale or conversion project for mom & dad)
(1) '89 Setra S215 HDH 8V92 DDEC/748 (out of service as parts bus or my conversion project)
(1) '90 Setra S215 HDH 8V92 DDEC/748 (soon to be back in service w/rebuilt engine, new interior, & paint)
(1) '95 Setra S215 HDH 60 Series/B500
(1) '95 Setra S217 HDH 60 Series/B500
(2) '05 Setra S417 HDH(s) 60 Series/B500

Pictures soon! I promise!  BK  

PS don't believe Cody I might still haul sorority girls and such, but it is not a clothing optional service (yet anyway) and the driver will not have that option! He will always be required to wear a uniform!

[wvanative]

BK, Glad to hear you are expanding, LOL I've been expanding for years now. But the bad news about expansion is you'll have to buy new britches at some point. Don't ask me how I know about that little fact. Glad to hear you guys are leading the way, and bucking the tide of others who are downsizing and laying off people. The entire bus family wishes your whole family great success.

Dean
WVanative

[buswarrior]

Get out there and sell those charters!

Find the niche in your neighbourhood and go after it like a rabid fox.

Get all the school stuff wrapped up tight.

Sell like the bus industry has never seen before.

Old methods will give you old results, and these times are not the times for old results.....

Good to hear of those taking chances and making employment in these dark days!
Best of Luck!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[BigDougInOregon]

OK I have been literally going bonkers around here since November when I borrowed that '05 Setra S417 HDH.
Well to make a long story short I'm just plain spoiled, or the whole dang family is certifiably nuts! I stomped, jumped up and down, help my breath, rolled on the floor screaming  hollering, & kicking (only in largely populated public places), and even threatened to stop eating until I wilted away to nothing until they agreed to go out on a limb with me and buy out the other bus company!
OK well it took quite a while to get dad on board, but I think I finally got to him when I refused to meet them @ Joe's Steak House (our favorite local establishment!) on my way home from a service call @ the other company changing out a starter in the freezing cold rain. I think that was when dad saw how bad I really wanted these buses and would do what it took to get them!

OK here's what we bought!
(1) 1995 Setra S215 HDH 60 Series, Allison B500 in great shape with a BRAND NEW starter! (I know 100%)
(2) 2005 Setra S417 HDH(s) identical w/consecutive serial #'s 60 Series, Allison B500's awesome premium seating, kick A** rockin' premium Blaupunkt sound system that rocks the buses!  And of course that awesome Setra styling and ride!
We also acquired existing contracts, company name, phone #'s, the ex-owner will stay on board with us for at least a yr as driver and commissioned salesman, all drivers will stay on board with us, and of course now I we have many new headaches to go with the new and very large payments on these new toys!

We really think we got an awesome deal (or we would not have done it), but we sure hope or new president is right about people needing spend $ to boost our economy! Because we have spent way more than we normally do (we usually pay cash, or mostly cash with a small # of low payments!), but we are inthis for the duration oneway or the other!

Now on top of that during the transition period we got hit with a major ice storm that knocked out power, phones, internet and cell phones for almost a week! So here we sat with all these new things going on and no way to communicate with ANYONE!

So with all the bad going on with Libby, Doug & Jamie, Sonnie's wife Patti and everywhere else it really has put a damper on my enthusiasm about this.
I am still excited as a kid at Christmas time, but it just kinda melts the snow knowing that others are not doing well!
  BK 

Man, don't let the trials and tribulations of others spoil your joy.  Bad things happen to good people, that is just the way it is.  I think I can speak for everyone when I say that we all wish the best for others, including good folks like you in business.  Be excited!  It is good to see that all the while bad things are happening to good folks, good things are happening as well.  Should renew all of our faith that God cares enough for each of to allow us to go through trials.

Nothing wrong with being successful or having money.  The wrong is in not using the success, talents and money we have to glorify God (however you feel that is best accomplished).  I guarantee you God will reward you for stepping out in faith.

God Bless,

Doug

[Chopper Scott]

Congrats BK for sure. Also remember that you are helping others by keeping them employed. A lot of times business's are bought out and folks that have been loyally there for a long time are now looking for jobs. I also went through buying out my partner of 14 years the first of the year and was somewhat concerned due to the economy. But that also allowed me to become partners with my son who has brought in a bunch of new customers. Now it is a family business much as your's is. Best of  luck. I'm sure you will do really well. Later

[Hi yo silver]

And NBC thought that lady having eight babies was big news...HA!
Hey, I've  got an idea.  Just pose one of those sorority girls in front of one of the old dirty buses and post the picture.  I'll bet nobody complains about the dirt!  Besides, nobody else has posted a picture of a dirty one.  CONGRATS!

Dennis

Or, maybe you could pose the bus with some of those pretty horses and fast women...

[Sojourner]

Glad you have up graded to limit down time.

Glad your back on BB after the horrible ice storm.

Just keep doing as you were about keeping the fleet busy.

Never count on so call trillion dollar stimulus plan (spending plan) or you & I will be bankrupt to paid it off for rest our life.

Keep looking up.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[Eagle]

BK it is amazing what can happen with a new president with new ideas in such a short time just by thinking of a stimulus package look what you have accomplished.  Whats next Greyhound?
Good luck.

[bubbaqgal]

Congratulations Bryce!   Sounds like things are going well. Just drive those buses down to me and I'll have 'em clean for you in no time.   

[Busted Knuckle]

Thanks everybody for the congrats, kudos and so on! I just hope we can make it with the HUGE payments that came with those two beauties! (they are all 3 nice, but I love the '05's!) And as always the older buses are jealous and 2 have already started acting up and making more head aches for me!

Congratulations Bryce!   Sounds like things are going well. Just drive those buses down to me and I'll have 'em clean for you in no time.   

Cat that is a great & generous offer, but I'm afraid it would be very costly and they would be dirty on the outside by the time I got them home!  (but I will show the offer to Chuckie next time he wants to play the I'll get to them when I want to game! He already has a problem with me telling him "I wish CAT was here to show you how to properly clean a bus right where it only needs done once" and "I never had to inspect CAT's work!" LOL!)
  BK 

[bubbaqgal]

Awwww, how sweet.  Send him down here with some Spray Power and a bus and I'll give him lessons.  LOL   While you are at it, fill the bays up with Spray Power for me.  We can't get it here. 

[belfert]

Awwww, how sweet.  Send him down here with some Spray Power and a bus and I'll give him lessons.  LOL   While you are at it, fill the bays up with Spray Power for me.  We can't get it here. 

I thought Walmart sells Spray Power?  I bought a small spray bottle of the stuff at either Walmart or Menards.