Question 1

Should I quote a motorcoach trip by the hour or by the mile?

Accepted Answer

Many operators use hours with a minimum for local and same-day work, and miles with a daily minimum for long one-way and multi-day trips. Charter Route price lists hold both, so each quote follows the rule you set for that kind of trip, not the habit of whoever builds it.

Question 2

How do deposits work for schools and churches?

Accepted Answer

Set a deposit percentage on your price list. When the group accepts, the deposit is requested at once and the balance date comes from the payment schedule. Card and bank payments go through your own Stripe account; checks and purchase order payments are recorded on the trip.

Question 3

Can one trip use more than one coach?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A trip can carry several vehicles, for example two 56-passenger coaches for a 100-student band trip, and each vehicle is assigned to its own driver on the dispatch board.

Question 4

Do customers sign a contract?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Send the contract from the accepted quote; the group leader reads and signs it online, and you keep exactly what they signed, including your cancellation and conduct terms.

Question 5

We quote in spreadsheets today. How hard is it to move over?

Accepted Answer

Start with your price list: vehicle types, hourly and mileage rates, minimums and fees. Add your customers, then quote new trips in Charter Route while existing trips finish in the spreadsheet. The demo account shows the whole flow with sample data.

Charter bus and motorcoach software