Used buses for sale | Call 516-333-7483 | How do bus shuttles work?

A shuttle bus can either be operated by the local government or privately by an individual or a group of people. Its soul purpose is to transport groups of several people from one point to another, and reduce their walking time. If people in a particular neighborhood walk 15 to 20 minutes everyday to the nearest railway or bus station. Then the smart entrepreneur can start a shuttle service to pick up people from this neighborhood and drop them off at the railway station or bus junction within 5  minutes. The bus service saves the people 15 minutes of walking time in the morning and evening, throughout the year. Because the service helps them save time and energy, they can pay a small fare to the service provider. Thus supporting a startup business and providing employment opportunities to the local youths.

Operators always keenly observe the movement of the population in a particular region. When they see too many people gathering at a spot. They look at it as an opportunity to offer their services. Thus when a spot gathers too many people at a particular time of the day, then its the same time the shuttle bus should visit this spot everyday to get the maximum number of passengers. As a result all shuttle buses operate on fixed schedules. When they visit a particular region at a particular time everyday, people get to know them. As a result, they arrange their schedules accordingly to meet the bus on time. The local municipal body, state or federal government provides shuttle services to people living in distant towns and villages. In this setup a bus arrives at every village or town once every hour or two hours and connects them to other transportation hubs like a railway network or an inter-state bus network. If the village is very far away from a city then the service may be limited to once or twice a day. The frequency of the service is determined by the demand. If a hamlet has less people then the demand will be less as a result the bus service will be less in frequency. However, if a township has thousands of people, then hundreds of people would be demanding a bus service to reach their places of employment every morning as a result the govt body will increase the number of buses visiting this township. Demand leads to profits and money making opportunities. When there is money making opportunity, there is a shuttle bus service. Thus it can be rightfully said that demand triggers all shuttle bus operations. If there are no people available to travel between point A and point B, then why would anybody deploy an expensive bus on this route???

Thus buses are operated only on roadways that have people. It is the demand that fuels the expense of a bus operation and is paid for by the fares collected from the passengers. There have been numerous instances where a business enterprise purchased a shuttle bus to reach out to their customers and increase sales. For example, Shopping Malls in the United States have been providing Shuttle Services on weekends to customers for several decades. Similarly, International Hotels provide pickup and drop off services to guests from the airport and even take them for sight seeing in and around the city. Churches and Casinos operate shuttles in a similar fashion. Group transportation up to 4 people can be fulfilled by a taxi or an Uber like service. Up to 9 passengers can be satisfied by an SUV. But when its more than 10 people, then minibuses come into the picture. When its more than 16 passengers then mid sized buses come into play. When its more than 30 pupil then full sized luxury coach buses are utilized to satisfy the demand.

This is how shuttle buses work;

1. There is a need to transport more than 10 people frequently.

2. Every individual or their organization is ready to pay a fare to cover the costs of bus operations.

3. An individual or a group of them decides to buy the bus and deploy it on the route this group wants to travel frequently.

4. They hire a driver to operate the bus on demand.

By now its obvious how shuttle buses work but many do not know the costs involved in buying them in the first place. Their preowned versions are affordable to people from all walks of life in the USA. First time buyers should always start their experiment with a used bus for sale. Once they become tenured handling a minibus for sale then they can go for their bigger brothers. The bus buying process is long and daunting. After going through all the hassles and paperwork, people just want to take the pleasure in riding them. They can do this only when the second hand bus is in premium condition or else they will have to go through a second round of headache of fixing and repairing the bus many time more frequently than a reconditioned bus. To get the peace of mind, buyers buy from dealerships because theirs are the best buses for sale in the market. 

Major Vehicle Exchange is one such dealership that has sold its mini and mid sized buses to thousands of customers all over the United States for several decades. We keeping buying and reconditioning buses to offer them to our customers all along the Eastern coastline. For more information visit our website because all inventory is always kept up do date on our website or call the CEO Mr. Charles Kaufman at 516-333-7483 today.

https://www.quora.com/How-do-bus-shuttles-work/answer/Charles-Kaufman-8

Used school buses for sale | Call 516-333-7483 | How do people buy used school buses?

There are several ways to source a used school bus for sale. For example they can be purchased from:

1. Auction markets
2. Bus Dealerships
3. Schools
4. Private owners

The first two sellers have their own websites where they list every vehicle for sale with a detailed description and several photos. However, one may have to find ways to get in touch with schools and private owners. In either situation, the world wide internet is the best place to find a used bus for sale. Turn on your computer, visit Google or Bing and simply type in keywords like bus auctions, used buses for sale, second hand school buses for sale etc. It will display more than 100 results of bus dealerships. However, if one wants to purchase from schools or private individuals then the need to search for schools and use keywords like used school buses for sale by owners.

Many buyers are of the opinion that the vehicle can be affordable to buy if purchased directly from the owner. Its true but the fact is sellers are very smart and use unethical methods to make a quick sale. A used bus is just like any other preowned vehicle that will require some superficial repair work. This task of repairing is transferred directly to the buyers shoulders because the seller is selling his vehicle in an as-is condition. If the buyer has a technical background and knows the ins and outs of fixing a vehicle or has a long trusted relationship with a repair shop then chances are he can get the vehicle repaired at a reasonable price. However, if the buyer is new to repair works, then entering this field is like a financial minefield. Many first time buyers avoid all the hassle and go for the premium quality used buses sold by dealerships.

If a buyer is interested in starting a transportation business and wants to know the finer nuances related to the bus industry. Then he should proactively take the task of repairing the vehicle and supervise its progress. It would be great if they have a personal garage that is big enough to hold a long school bus, but they will need equipment too. To make the long journey short, its good to find a repair shop that has the experience of repairing school buses and then dive into the markets in search for buses. Take a look at all the buses are available for sales and make a short list of at least 5 of them. Get all their photos, descriptions and prices together. Compare to find the best deals and speak if the owner or the dealer if they are ready for additional discounts, if any. Once the final price is available on all the vehicles. Then its time to call in a professional third party inspection company to thoroughly inspect the bus in depth. Many buyers would like to trust their eyes to inspect a bus however sellers are smart and most of the problems related to a used bus is hidden from immediate sight. The 3rd party inspection will either cost $100 for a basic checkup or $200 for a more detailed and thorough inspection. Experts advise buyers to take this step seriously and never skip. Since it plays an important role in the buying decision. Ignore this step and the probability of ending with a lemon increases many folds. Hence call in the inspectors and get to know which parts and equipments are defective or may need repairs. When the inspector highlights the problematic parts and regions of a bus. Discuss his reports with the repair shop and get an estimate how much will it cost to get them fixed and also the time factor. Simple repairs can be done by the repair shops. However, more complex repairs may need a part replacement. In this situation, find out where the parts can be sourced from and how much they will cost including shipping?? This will give the buyer and estimate of the total cost of repairing the vehicle even before turning on its engine.

Compare that with the dealership that is ready to sell their used school buses right now. That is fully reconditioned from bumper to bumper. Is certified ready and safe for the roads. The buyer can either choose to wait 3 or 4 months until their repair shop fixes their choice of school bus or they can purchase it right now from the dealership. Usually the dealerships sell their premium quality vehicles 15% to 20% higher than those sold by private individuals. The buyer should try to calculate and figure out if he can get substantial savings by waiting for another 4 months and repairing from a bus repair shop. If the savings are not substantial then the buyer should go for purchasing from the dealerships.

There are several benefits of buying from the dealership apart from getting a premium quality vehicle. Every bus owner has to sell his vehicle after some years. The dealerships are always ready to buy their vehicles back when not needed, provided they were maintained regularly and the owner is ready to sell them at a reasonable price. The owner can simple call the dealership and tell them to tow his bus away. That's how simple the bus disposal process is. On the contrary, if it was purchased as-is from a private individual then the owner will have to list the bus for resale on several online classified sites and wait for several months until he finds the perfect buyer. He may have to pay for listing on classified sites and even for parking the bus when not in use, thus potentially spending hundreds or thousands of dollars until he finds a buyer to buy the bus. The dealerships skip this hassle and buy them right away.

Major Vehicle Exchange is one such dealership that has been selling its shuttle buses to schools and colleges all over the United States for more than 35 years. For more information about our used shuttle buses for sale visit us or call the owner Charles Kaufman at 516-333-7483 today.

https://www.quora.com/How-do-people-buy-used-school-buses/answer/Charles-Kaufman-8

Used Buses For Sale | Call 516-333-7483 | How profitable is purchasing a bus?

How much profit one makes on a bus depends on several factors like the purchasing price, regular maintenance, driver wage, parking fee, insurance, registration and permits. The amount that is paid for driver wage, parking fee, registration and permits will more or less remain the same for almost all buses. However, the amount for purchasing, maintenance, and insurance differs drastically for every bus. For example, insurance companies charge a higher premium for commercial vehicles and a lower premium for those used as private vehicles like a church or a school bus. Insurance is essential for all buses on the road. Thus the monthly premiums have an impact on the profitability of the vehicle. Owners having a long established relationship with Insurance companies are charged lower premiums, whereas new customers are charged higher premiums. Thus keeping the premiums at the lower end will leave more money and profits in the owners pocket.

The drivers wage depends on the type of license they hold. A regular license holder can drive mini buses and will cost less than a commercial license holder. The commercial drivers are needed when the bus has more than 16 seats. Because then they enter the category of mid sized buses. Getting a commercial license is a hassle because its a time consuming process. The owner will have to wait until its issued and when it does, the owner gets stuck with that driver for a long time to come. It involves giving a physical test, two written tests and one driving test. First time buyers should start with minibuses so they get to know the challenges of owning and maintaining a bus. Once they get used to the minibus then it's time to upgrade to longer buses. It's tricky to operate longer buses because they extend 4 to 5 feet beyond the rear tires. These extended portions tend to swing left and right when the bus turns right or left. Thus an inexperienced driver will most likely hit into something or somebody. Smaller sized buses are compact in design hence they can be driven with a regular license. So the bottom line is that the driver of a minibus will demand a lower compensation whereas a commercial license holder will command a higher wage. Thus minibuses will generate more profits than a bigger bus.

Every vehicle requires regular maintenance. Experts suggest performing a regular check up every 6 months. This ensures optimal performance of the vehicle. A well maintained engine will give more miles per gallon of fuel than an engine whose filtration system has not been cleaned for the past 2 years. Such a choked up engine will release more nitrogen and carbons in the atmosphere inviting harsh penalties from pollution control authorities. Thus the owner has two options either to maintain the bus on a regular basis or end up paying fines. Choosing the first option is better because the vehicle will command a higher value at the time of reselling, when it's no longer needed.Thus maintenance impacts performance as well as profitability. Another great advantage of regular maintenance is that it alerts the owner of an impending breakdown. If a part gets worn out, then it will be detected in the inspection and repairing process. Thus avoiding a bigger problem or a potential accident. Just like the saying goes, a stitch in time saves nine. Similarly regular maintenance today saves thousands of dollars in the long term and avoids potential accidents. For example if the entrance step develops a hole due to an advanced level of corrosion and is left unattended then chances are high that the entire step may give away when a heavy weight person tries to step inside the vehicle. There is  an epidemic of obesity in America and such incidents will be more frequent if regular maintenance is avoided. A similar situation arises with tires. Balance loading is a critical factor in keeping a bus in good shape. The tires need to be rotated every 6 months so they all experience the same level of wear and tear. Otherwise every tire will lose its threading at different times of the year, thus requiring a visit to the repair shop more than once. So, maintenance may cost money but it keeps the bus in good operational condition, thus allowing it to transport more people and make more money for the owners.

Finally, we come to pricing which has a big impact on profitability. A new bus will cost more than a used bus. Thus a new bus will take more time to generate Returns on Investment and a used bus. If the newer version generates ROI or profits after 1 year, then a used version will generate it in just 6 months. The reason is that second hand buses cost almost half the price of a new bus. With a budget for one new bus, a buyer can purchase two used buses. Thus when there is a need to make early profits, a buyer should opt for used buses for sale. Whereas if there is a need to display status or prestige then the buyer can opt for a brand new bus. The charter industry and party organizers often buy new buses. Whereas Churches, Schools and Offices opt for used buses for sale.

If a startup entrepreneur wants to start a new transportation business and make instant cash, then he should first figure out where exactly he wants to ride the bus. Check the demand, how many people wait for a bus on that route every morning to reach their places of employment or other destinations. Find out how much fee they are ready to pay for the trip. Are they willing to pay a higher fee for a faster service? if they are in a rush then they will pay a higher fee for speedier transportation. But if they are relaxed then they will most likely avoid a higher fare bus. Start with a minibus that seats 15 people in a single trip. If people in your target location are ready to pay a dollar to get dropped at a nearby location like a Church, Shopping Mall, Cinema, Public Garden, or a beach, then you have found a quick way to make $15 in just a few minutes. Once the fare is determined, check the frequency. The bus should be occupied for almost 10 hours a day. Thus keeping it busy always will ensure the most profits. If the frequency is just limited to one or twice per day on the given route, then its time to find more routes to transport more people. Its important to take a permit from the local department of transportation before riding a big vehicle like a bus on any route. The local transportation department ensures the traffic on any route is at a normal level. They accept applications if they calculate the bus will not cause congestion during that particular time of the day. Similarly, they can reject applications if they realize the vehicle will chock a route or cause traffic jams.

Major Vehicle Exchange is a used mini bus dealership that has sold its 15 seater passenger buses to startup transportation businesses across the United States for more than 35 years. For more information about used buses for sale visit us or give us a call at 516-333-7483 today!

https://www.quora.com/How-profitable-is-purchasing-a-bus/answer/Charles-Kaufman-8

Used buses for sale | Call 516-333-7483 | When are buses not used for public transport?

Its the private sector that uses buses for a wide variety of reasons other than public transportation. In public transportation a bus is given a dedicated route to operate upon throughout the day. Its frequency can be 2 or 3 times everyday depending on the length of the route. The route has several stops either with a fully constructed bus station where travelers can sit as they wait for the bus or a simple board that signals the driver to stop at that particular location. These bus stops are located at key locations on the route where most of the human habitat is concentrated. The bus always arrives on time because its following a daily routine and people wait for the bus at the almost the exact same time every day. When it arrives, they get in and pay a fare that depends on the length of their journey. This is almost the same story with every public transportation bus.

The private sector on the other hand uses a completely different model to use the vehicle depending on their specific requirements. For example a travel enthusiast will use the bus as a recreational vehicle and convert it into a mini home to travel across the USA. A church will use it to transport its congregation whereas a hotel will use it to pickup and drop its guests. Retail businesses in the United States have even started using them as a shop on wheels department, where they can carry their merchandise to different parts of the city on demand to increase their list of buyers and make more sales. Here the bus is not used as a public transportation vehicle but as a shop or a house or a means to transport people belonging to specific institution or business.

1. The shop makes money by selling merchandises to customers.

2. The house owner makes money by either freelancing or working part time and seasonal jobs throughout the journey.

3. The church makes money by the donations and contributions made by devotees.

4. The hotel makes money by filling its rooms with new guests that the bus brings in from the airport and so on.

5. An event company will make money by picking up invitees for marriage celebrations or birthday parties.

So the private sector either uses the bus for personal recreational purposes, to transport members of their organizations, for special occasions or to reach out to customers who will bring in more business for the business. These are the secondary uses of a bus apart from its traditional and primary role of transporting people for a fare.

Irrespective how a bus is used, the fact is that one needs to buy to use it. Hiring can be a temporary solution if the frequency of usage is low. Limited to once or twice in say 6 months. But if the frequency is more then the management heads of the respective organization, institutions or businesses need to rethink their decision on hiring and go for an outright purchase. Even if the frequency is once per month, it will be profitable to buy a second hand bus for sale rather than hiring it. For example the average cost of hiring a minibus in the United States is around $1400 per day. If its hired 12 times in a month, then the cost goes up to $16,800 a year. A business can buy a used bus for sale with that amount and use it for the next 5 years. Thus saving itself thousands of dollars that would otherwise had been wasted on hiring the bus for 4 more years. The difference is huge and substantial. Thus the market for preowned buses for sale in the United States has been increasing year after year since 2006 when the 15 seater van was banned by the National Road Administration.

Once we understand the frequency of usage and the pricing, then its important to understand the mechanics of a used bus for sale. It is just as bad as a used car in the preowned market. One can choose to either buy as-is and take on the hassle of repairing it, which can take up to 3 or 6 months. OR chose to buy them in a "ready to drive" state. With these types, one can simply get into the drivers chair and start riding instantly. Most buyers are interested in these "ready made", "ready to drive" types of buses because they dont have the time or the knowledge and experience of repairing a vehicle as big as a bus. There is a 15% to 20% difference in the price of "as-is" and "ready to drive" buses. But then one would end up spending almost the same amount in repairing an "as-is" bus.

Major Vehicle Exchange is a licensed used bus dealership that has been selling its "ready-to-drive" buses all over North America for well beyond 35 years. We inspect more than 300 vital components of the vehicle to ensure they are in fully working condition. All malfunctioning parts are repaired instantly thus increasing their longevity. Many of our used buses for sale last a life time with their owners provided they are maintained at regular schedules. The functionality of a second hand bus for sale increases manifolds with good practices. Every owner and driver should make these good practices a part of their daily operations to ensure optimal performance by their used bus. There are several good practices but the 3 major ones are;

1. Pre trip inspection

2. Post trip inspection

3. Regular maintenance. 

The first inspection prevents a mid road crisis. The second inspection gives the owner sufficient time to repair the bus before the next trip. Whereas the on schedule regular maintenance work makes sure the entire vehicle is in good standing.

For more information visit Major Vehicle Exchange at our website and call the owner  Charles Kaufman 516-333-7483 today!

https://www.quora.com/Where-are-buses-not-used-for-public-transport/answer/Charles-Kaufman-8

Used Shuttle Buses For Sale | Call 516-333-7483 | How do shuttle buses work?

Buses usually have engine in the front, center or the rear. So when they have the engine in the front they are called as shuttle buses. These are small and compact size buses so they can easily maneuver across the town. Their engine is either a V-8 or a V-10 denoting the number of cylinders and always operate on gasoline. The word shuttle usually means a repeated motion back and forth. Thus shuttle buses are primarily tasked with providing back and forth transportation over small distances. For example an office may provide shuttle services to its employees from the parking lot to the office basement back and forth. Similarly, hotels provide shuttle services to guests from the airport several times in a day. Accordingly churches and casino's use shuttle services to pickup and drop off devotees and customers over the weekends. They travel at fast speeds through narrow streets and easily navigate busy shopping districts and large commercial areas due to their low turning radius. The circulating shuttle connects different key locations picking up and dropping off people all along the route either for a fee that is paid instantly or reimbursed by the institution that has signed up to this service.

Shuttles are very popular in regions that lack public transportation. In semi urban and rural regions. Everybody wants to rush to their places of employment every morning. If the employment center is nearby then they can use their personal vehicles but if its far away then shuttles play a very important role in transporting people to the nearest transportation hub like a railway station or a long distance bus station. For international passengers they even ride up to the airports. Just like a scooter is can carry up to 2 passengers and is used for traveling in nearby areas. A shuttle bus is can carry up to 15 passengers can is used to transport the entire group to near by important locations thus reducing their walk time. If a college building, its library and campus is separated by a walking distance of up to 30 minutes then shuttle can be used at regular intervals to transport students within 5 or 10 minutes.

Thus whenever there is a need to transport a group of people over short distances too often, then shuttles are employed. There are other types too that operate more on a on-demand basis on special occasions like wedding ceremonies, birthday parties, business meetings etc. Such buses are used to provide charter services to clients and customers whenever the need arises. The prices of these services are high accordingly. For example the hourly rate of a mini bus is $150 and bookings for the entire day can go as high as $1200 to $1500. Paying such huge amounts is not feasible for most businesses, organizations and institutions. Thus they decide to purchase the bus for a one time fee. For example if a church hires a bus service ten times a month paying $1500 for the entire day, then it would be better for them to buy the bus for a one time fee of $18,000 to $25,000 and they can keep the vehicle with themselves for the next 3 or even 5 years and use it as much as they can, even on weekends and overnight trips.

Just like a car gives an individual the freedom to travel at will at his or her own convenience. Similarly, a bus gives an entire group of people belonging to the same business, organization or institution to travel together at will and as per their convenience and on demand. Small sized shuttle buses for sale are preferred by most buyers because they seat up to 15 passengers and do not require a commercial license. So anybody can take the drivers seat and start riding with a regular license. This is a boon for group transportation. Imagine a large family of 14 members with 8 adults of which 4 can drive and possess a regular driving license. These 4 people can take turns to drive the bus and travel vast distances on weekends for camping and family picnics.

Traveling in groups is a special experience in itself and no other vehicle makes it possible than a shuttle bus. How long or big these buses will be completely depends on the size of the group. They are generally classified as 15, 21, 31, 47 and 55 seater. Their prices will vary accordingly. The 15 seater does not require a commercial license and is the most affordable. Whereas all the other types need a commercial license which includes one physical test, a written test and two driving tests.

The private funder's of a shuttle service can be businesses, organizations, teams, associations or institutions. Whereas the govt funders can be federal, state, provincial, municipal and local governments. When they operate in high density areas they are usually funded by federal and state govts, whereas in low density rural areas they are funded by municipal and local governments. If they are operating in resorts, hotels and recreational areas then they are most likely funded by private neighborhood associations. A realty agency may use shuttle buses to give its clients a tour of all the properties it has under construction and these are usually funded by the developers.

Major Vehicle Exchange is a used shuttle and commercial bus dealership that has sold its vehicles to thousands of private and public organizations across the United States from more than three decades. We have a long list of satisfied customer and would want you to join our list too. Visit our website to check out all the used shuttle buses for sale in stock and give a call to the CEO Charles Kaufman at 516-333-7483 today!

https://www.quora.com/How-do-shuttle-buses-work/answer/Charles-Kaufman-8