Cowtown Charters Talks About Bus Companies

The following list of frequently asked questions (FAQ's) is provided to assist you in getting rapid answers to the most commonly asked questions we receive. Needless to say, we are happy to answer any questions you may have and urge you to contact us via email or phone should you have additional questions not found here or if you would like additional information to the answers provided on this page.

1. Do you supply your own insurance?

Yes, COWTOWN BUS CHARTERS, INC. is licensed and insured in all 48 contiguous states, and Canada and Alaska. Trip Accidental/Medical Insurance and Trip Interruption Cancellation Insurance are also available at additional cost upon request.

Yes, the drivers are employees of COWTOWN BUS CHARTERS, INC. Cowtown operators have an average experience level of over 16 years each. Cowtown drivers work exclusively in private charter service. Our drivers are uniformed, well trained and courteous.

Under DOT regulations, carriers are required to ensure their drivers are fully qualified. All of our drivers hold a current Commercial Driver’s License with a passenger endorsement, undergo a complete physical, and hold a valid medical certificate. We do random drug testing of our drivers, which is in compliance with DOT regulations. There are limits on how long a driver may drive, basically no more than 10 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty. Cowtown requires 10 hours off to ensure the utmost in safety. We take these limitations into consideration when helping you plan your long trips. Our operators are required to have 3 years minimum of driving experience. For more information on the Department of Transportation standards click here.

Yes, we have executive city coaches that are equipped with wheelchair lifts. Cowtown is proud to provide 57 passenger inter-city coaches with wheelchair accessibility. Please let us know if you have any special needs.

Every charter is special and has many options and variables. Especially planning a long road trip, there are many specifics that most don’t even consider. Therefore, we prefer that you contact us directly or you may fill out our charter request form with some specifics and we will be happy to contact you. Click here for the charter request form.

7. What are some of the important things I should know charter company before I choose one?

We urge our prospective clients to ask the following questions of their prospective bus charter company, whether they select Cowtown Charters or not:

Does your bus company perform all it’s own maintenance?
Does your bus company have full time professional drivers who work only for them?
Are you guaranteed the bus you order or better?
Does your price hold firm as long as the conditions don’t change?
What are the cancellation policies of the bus company?
What is their procedure in the event of breakdown?
Does your bus company understand and follow Federal Transportation Safety Standards?
Does your bus company ask enough questions to ensure your needs are met?
Is your bus company locally owned and thus have your best interests at heart?

Coolers that can be secured in a seat or other non-walkway are welcome. No glass bottles are permitted, cans only, please. Alcoholic beverages are acceptable with advance notice (a damage deposit may be required).

Safety: Coaches are driven by professional, fully-qualified and tested drivers. Coaches are required to pass federal safety and inspection criteria. Interstate motor carriers must have operating authority issued by the Federal Highway Admin. Insurance Liability of $5 million is required of interstate passenger carriers. Most highway fatalities (64%) occurred in automobiles.

Idling: Coach idling is necessary. On average, air braking systems need a minimum of five minutes idling time to build air pressure and 15 minutes to reach proper cabin climate (air conditioning or heating) for expected passenger comfort.

Environment: A 55-seat coach alleviates 27 automobiles (2 person occupancy) from highway traffic. A commerical coach, fueled by a diesel engine, consumes 1,328 BTU's, 33% less than an automobile (4,040 BTU's) per passenger mile.

Expenditures: The average multi-day tour expenditure by passengers on a coach is $6,000 to $8,500 per day (38 to 55-seat coaches). 10.3 million people took multi-day tours; 12.7 million took one day tours in 1995.

Revenue: The group tour industry generated $10 billion in direct expenditures in North America in 1995. The tour industry generates $887 million in local and state government revenues.

Jobs: The group tour business creates 184,469 full time equivalent jobs; nearly $4.43 billion in wages, salaries and proprietary income.

In contracting for bus service, you assume that the trip will be a safe one. You should. Bus transportation is the safest on the highway.

However, analysis of the serious higway accidents that do involve buses often point to driver fatigue as a major cause of the mishap. Economic, consumer and scheduling demands often drive this problem.

Driver fatigue can produce deadly results. Studies prove that drivers who suffer from fatigue experience:

reduced altertness to conditions around the vehicle
distractions by irrelevant stimuli which interfere with their concentration
lapses of attention
slower reaction time to critical situations
adverse effects on memory, reasoning, communicating, decision making and an increased number of operating errors.

Cowtown requires 10 hours off to ensure the utmost in safety. We take these limitations into consideration when helping you plan your long trips.