Chinese-Built Coach Launched in U.S. Prisoners Continuing to Ride Unescorted on Intercity Lines
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August 1, 2009 Consumer marketing campaign adopted by operators DENVER — The grass roots The operators were joined by effort to develop a nationwide con- representatives from the industry’s sumer marketing campaign aimed three largest coach suppliers, the at promoting motorcoach travel industry’s two largest trade associ- took a major leap forward here last ations, and executives from a lead- month with the adoption of key ing operator marketing group and campaign elements. a major destination — all of whom More than two-dozen coach had contributed to the partnership operators from across the U.S., set up to develop the marketing who had contributed at least $2,000 campaign. each to help launch an industry- After viewing competing con- Industry marketing campaign will use catch phrases, bus wraps and bold graphics to target specific audiences. wide marketing drive, traveled here sumer advertising and awareness tors and associates voted by a 90+ with bold graphics to grab atten- gan designed to amuse, intrigue and to aid in the selection of a slogan, campaigns created for the industry percent margin to adopt a campaign tion, and adopts a newly coined build consumer familiarity with the catch phrases, graphics and other by a group of branding, advertising that uses catchy phrases displayed word as the basis for a unique slo- CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 essential campaign elements. and design specialists, the opera- c Chinese-built coach launched in U.S. Texas moves to work out SANTA ANA, Calif. — U.S. bus and coach operators have a evacuation, driver issues new motorcoach to consider, one AUSTIN, TEXAS — The bad who called it a “step in the right with a price tag that will make it feelings that flared between Texas direction” and expressed hope hard to ignore. state government and motorcoach such steps will spread to other A California company that spe- operators — who complained they states that use motorcoach opera- cializes in importing and modify- were not paid on a timely basis for tors to transport residents during ing foreign-made automobiles to the evacuation of thousands of emergencies. meet U.S. safety and emissions hurricane-threatened Texas resi- Last year, dozens of operators standards has begun importing mo- The Ankai motorcoach is being distributed by a California company that dents last year — appear to be on from throughout the country com- torcoaches from eastern China and specializes in automotive imports. the mend. plained they had to wait for months converting them for sale in the U.S. Texas officials say they have to be paid for the transportation G&K Automotive Conversion Ankai Automobile Co. Ltd., which Daimler bus brands. Anhui Ankai set aside special funds to help pay work they did in Texas for hurri- has set up a subsidiary, Greenkraft says it’s the only authorized partner proudly highlights its connection to for emergency transportation ex- canes Ike and Gustav. Inc., that’s bringing in the 45-foot of Daimler AG in the Asia-Pacific Daimler and Setra on its website, coaches, installing Cummins and region. touting the partnership with Daim- penses during this year’s storm Additionally, many of their Allison power trains, and distribut- The coaches Anhui Ankai ler/Setra and its coaches’ “techni- season and have taken other steps drivers returned home with alarm- ing them from its 140,000-square- builds in China are based on Setra cal heredity from Germany.” to avoid a repeat of billing issues ing stories of how they were mis- foot facility in Santa Ana. designs and technology, and mar- Anhui Ankai coaches marketed and mistreatment of drivers. treated by the state, including The coach is called the Ankai, keted with a Setra nameplate. in the U.S. are being sold under the The action was applauded by being turned away from food lines, and it’s manufactured by Anhui Setra, of course, is one of three CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 c motorcoach industry executives CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 c Prisoners continuing to ride unescorted on intercity lines MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. trust and disregarded public safety. In ’05, investigators for the San has transferred more than 89,000 tion of cocaine. Fitzen, known as Bureau of Prisons’ practice of trans- The issue of federal inmates Diego TV outlet weren’t able to prisoners unescorted during the “Shadow” and a member of a biker ferring federal inmates unescorted being sent cross country unescorted find out how widespread the prac- past three years. gang, slipped off a bus in Las on intercity buses has surfaced on line-run buses surfaced four tice was or how many prisoners had And at least 178 inmates es- Vegas in 2004 and escaped. again with investigations by a tele- years in a report by a San Diego decided to use their solo bus rides caped, failing to report to the pris- U.S. Marshals have yet to ap- vision station here and in Dallas. television station. (See June 15, as an opportunity to escape. on where they were being sent. prehend him and consider him The new reports featured a U.S. 2005 Bus & Motorcoach News.) This time, however, reporters One of the most notorious es- armed and dangerous. Senator, city police chief, bus pas- At the time, Greyhound Lines were able to uncover those capes during this decade was that In 2005, the Bureau of Prisons sengers and spokespersons for bus complained about the practice and numbers. of Dwayne Fitzen, who had been told Greyhound it allowed for une- companies criticizing the practice, wrote to the Bureau of Prisons, ask- The Minneapolis station found sentenced to 24 years in federal scorted prison transfers because it saying it was an abuse of the public ing that it be halted. It wasn’t. that the federal Bureau of Prisons prison for conspiracy and distribu- CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 c Bus & Motorcoach News INDUSTRY NEWS August 1, 2009 3 NTA announces revisions Greyhound revenue drops but profits remain ABERDEEN, Scotland — operating model, we have success- job reductions, which are continu- Greyhound Lines remains profit- fully reduced services to match de- ing, the company said. to China inbound program able and continues to generate cash mand and protect revenue per mile Last year, FirstGroup cut Grey- LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Na- Additionally, the criteria in- despite a steep slide in revenue dur- (at Greyhound),” FirstGroup said hound mileage by 7.6 percent and tional Tour Association has an- clude a special rule that says any ing the three months ended June in a statement released at its annual trimmed jobs. nounced changes to the China In- shopping activities must be done 30, its Scottish-based parent com- meeting here. For its school bus operation, bound Program, including new without coercion at reputable shop- pany announced last month. In addition to taking “swift ac- FirstGroup said it had achieved a requirements for tour operators that ping facilities with quality FirstGroup PLC, which owns tion” to reduce overhead at Grey- contract retention rate of more than participate to the program, to assure products. Greyhound and is the largest oper- hound, FirstGroup said it also had 95 percent during the current bid Chinese group leisure travelers to “To remain an approved opera- ator of private school buses in identified “further opportunity for season, and it was seeking more the U.S. “have a safe and quality va- tor with the China Inbound Pro- North America, said the weak U.S. cost reduction.” contracts. cation experience.” gram, all participating companies economy and increased unemploy- Early this past spring, First- FirstGroup’s operations in the The changes were announced must reapply to affirm they meet ment had resulted in Greyhound Group announced a companywide United Kingdom turned in a “solid after a fatal motorcoach crash Jan. these new criteria.” revenues dropping 20 percent dur- cost reduction program designed to performance” despite the weak 30, that killed six Chinese group The NTA has developed a doc- ing the April-June period from save 200 million pounds, or rough- economy. The U.K. bus division re- leisure travelers on a highway about ument outlining “best practices” for year-ago levels. ly $326 million. Much of the sav- ported passenger revenue growth 30 miles south of Hoover Dam in working with the China inbound “By utilizing the highly flexible ings was to be achieved through of 4.2 percent during the quarter. Arizona. market, including details in six “As the Chinese group leisure areas of activity — tour operator travel market continues to grow in and supplier qualifications; itiner- the United States, NTA and its part- aries and visitor experience; tour ners felt it was important to take pricing and tour advertising; pay- next steps in improving the visitor ment, refunds and deposits; crisis experience,” said NTA President management; and continuing Lisa Simon. education. The new criteria for participat- The January crash that killed ing in the program is backed by the the six Chinese travelers and in- China National Tourism Adminis- jured nine others is still under in- tration and the U.S. Department of vestigation. State investigators sus- Commerce, she said. pect the driver was impaired by NTA’s China Inbound Program drugs or alcohol at the time of the was created to assist NTA tour op- incident. erators in working with Chinese The United Motorcoach Asso- travel agencies to organize and ciation, a travel partner with NTA, market packaged group leisure welcomed the changes. tours to the United States. “This makes perfect sense,” NTA said that among the new said Victor Parra, president and criteria, participants are required to CEO of the United Motorcoach use suppliers and contractors that Association.