Behind the Scenes Big News for Peoria Charter and My Upcoming Travels

[@BobFleming-u4m]

No need to apologize, just very happy to see you on here again. Hope this is just the beginning, been missing you!

[@paultauriainen]

It's cool to see inside the Peoria Charter maintenance shop

[@Obieden1]

you'll eventually be at 200 -300buses for fleet, congrats on it growing under you, I hope your company continues to flourish

[@jerryburdick8051]

I am so happy youtube pointed me to both of your channels. I've been binging all weekend. I love your energy, your passion, your humor, and your enthusiasm. And the food is pretty addicting, too. Congratulations to you on your well-deserved success, and best wishes for the future. I'm a fan.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

@@jerryburdick8051 thank you for the kind words. Welcome aboard. Have a good Labor day weekend Jerry!

[@wb926]

wow I was wondering when we would get more great videos from you glad you back .

[@DJBiv788]

Dude, the MAIN factories? That’s really cool!

[@yuri_on_youtube]

Whether operating a motorcoach or a business, you're always bound to encounter a few rough roads, a few delays but you end up finding your way to where you need to be. You're a good guy, James and it shows just how your colleagues are around you when you're the head honcho. I think your genuine pride of the profession and industry is what cultivates that good culture there.

[@elcheapo5302]

Hi James, good to see you again. Congrats again on your promotion!

[@_Jin_Kim_]

wow did not know Albert was an IT geek 🤭ANDDDD a motor coach driver. Young man with many talents! I do enjoy his videos :)

[@captain.john.]

Glad to see you growing. Keep it up...

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Hi James. we missed you online. Hope you had a great summer. Hope you still enjoying your new job. Caroline

[@Dannny29]

No need to fret about lack of content. You're a human being, and you're just going through the change in your work flow. Looking forward to your new content when you get to it! Also as a mechanic, I agree with the new buses even needing work. Also thankful I work with a 100% Prevost fleet so parts are super easy to work with!

[@Ladnass]

Chairs and Birkenstocks, it’s probably getting to be just-about-right!, when it looks like that!!!!👍🏽👍🏽

[@klassvice9752]

Glad to see you back in the KZbin groove! I pray that all is well with you, your family and PCC. Growing pains are normal with big moves like this but things will smooth out soon. Be blessed James!

[@Bus4025]

James, if it works don't fix it!!😂

[@radudeATL]

And we’re back, baby!

[@Stormtrooper_98Trd]

"Im asian i should be good at this" 😂😂😂 love it! Sneaking in a little joke there! Congratulations on your promotion im glad youre back!!

[@daws866]

That's your opinion I think the whole fleet should be MCI

[@businjay]

Hey James. I love yur videos. I have bought and sold hundreds of buses over the years. I also drove a bus at National western stock show for a few weeks every year for 10 years and then I was asked to take over as fleet manager of 100 vehicles and shuttle operations manager with 12 buses for the last 4 years. 14 years total. so I totally understand going from being a driver to being in charge. I really missed driving the last 4 years I was there. I only got to drive for drivers breaks. really put me in a mood. was fun driving that stuff around. all was good tho. Definitely enjoy your videos.

[@RobertM125]

Great to see an update. I figured you were pretty busy with the new role. Did I understand correctly that you are thinking of selling your in-house software to other fleets? If so you will need a good up front support staff. As soon as people pay for software they can become very demanding if they feel something isn't working, need a bug fix, or request new features. You don't want those calls going directly to your programmers. Just a little unsolicited advice from a long time IT guy (who also likes busses).

[@roberoh9574]

Oh also im jealous i love the WWII history also. Love the band of brothers series. Cant get enough of it. In sure you'll enjoy your trip. Cant wait to see the videos. Have a great day keep up the good work. Awesome to see the boss put the company before himself. I get it with the chair. Its comfortable and has sentimental value. Probably the first chair you had when you became a partner in the company there.

[@edau69]

Cool content hope good things happen this fall for you and company.

[@stephanebolduc6501]

Thanks for posting, glad things are settling down for you!

[@patrickr4727]

Great to see you again Thanks for the updates. Looking 👀 forward to the big news.

[@Silent_Kill3r]

I'm thinking about being a bus driver. Thank you, you're the best motor coach youtuber

[@donalddodson7365]

It does get more and more important, as anyone promotes, to carve out time for refreshing your creative juices. Some find it on a golf course, or hiking in Switzerland or driving motor coaches. "Make an appointment with yourself." Blessings.

[@jarrellbabb1344]

We trained on MCI IF drive one those old tanks you can drive anything.

[@richardlindor1960]

Glad to see you are doing well, and anyone who loves this chanel and your work understands and supports you during this transition. You are awesome and wish you nothing but luck and success. Hopefully one day ill be fortunate enough to meet you and possibly go on one of those cool tours of the different companies with you 😁

[@JD-tp4vs]

👍👍👍👍

[@dannycrooks8462]

No need to apologise great to see you back

[@brentcoan5145]

Love your channel !!🚌

[@liamhenry8164]

I believe that 2 type of busses i.e. Provost and MCI are the best bet. MCI has a facility in the suburbs of Chicago and Prevost has many supplies in the US. I would love to see a few busses that have slide outs that can be put on the resale market after use. Unless you drive the busses into the ground.

[@philipsamuels526]

Hey keep the chair and refurbish it.

[@Drdee1]

Sounds like the motorcoach world operates a little like budget airlines - standardise on one manufacturer and negotiate better prices with them, reduce your spare parts stock, have drivers/pilots who can drive/fly all of your fleet flexibly

[@roberoh9574]

Awesome, I am in awe of you living one of my dreams. I always loved buses since a young age like you. 1986-1987 I was either 4 or 5 years old first time dad to me to the bus company he worked for to pick up his check in Bayonne NJ was a company called Domenico Tours. It was love at first site. Fleet of about 120 buses there own terminal that made the New York times called Port Quintstar. Awesomeness. I hear you and completely understand the need to have less different models of buses. I get it more cost effective. I'd have to say MCI being number one. I know a lot of people say Prevost is the Cadillac of the highway so I'd give that #2 I've only ever rode on the older Prevost. My father always said MCI was the best. But everyone has there own taste. I hope your news is good news in September. You're doing awesome. I've said this before but if I lived up there I'd definitely be driving for you. I live in Tennessee and am seriously thinking of starting my own bus company was gonna ask how do I go about getting started. Be my own boss just me and one bus older Pre emissions MCI MC-9 would be awesome to start with. Work up to 102A3 102C3 then newer and newer as I accrue $$$. I'm in a prime spot 1 1/2 -2 hours from the Smokey Mountains. One question I would ask is how good is the emissions system on the bus. Very costly to repair. How long do they last before service and replacement. Does the manufacturer give a warranty on DPF filter longevity or anything like that. That's one of the most costly and has hurt the transportation industry greatly. In my experience with the Emissions/DEF engines is mack and Volvo last the longest. They going 800,000-1,000,000 without need engine rebuild. I think today if you could get Prevost or MCI with Mack or Volvo engine. Allison 6 speed would be the most reliable of today's buses like the work horse you cut your teeth on with Detroit Series 60 MCI DL3 or was it the D4500. But you know what I mean. Hope everything keeps going tough times for everyone in this world today. Keep on Keepin on. Love the content. Oh also does the owners or previous CEO help you still if needed if not I'd say you need a partner or something to help distribute the load/stress. Again wish I was up there or you guys were closer. Lol. Or here's an idea open a third location down here in the tricites Tennessee. I'd love to drive for this company reminds me of Domenico Tours. Pristine condition buses. Very professional drivers. Love it.

[@highwayhobo]

James recover the chair. What about an MCI as a Diesel Electric Hybrid from Edison Motors? You could run cross country and never need a charging station

[@NotAClownOfficial]

Personally I Think VDL is the best coach company so it will be cool to see what they will be doing with Vanhool, Also glad to see you back!!

[@thomasfriedmann8522]

Nice summary. Looking forward to seeing the changes.

[@jasonwuthrich4717]

Saw one the new coaches at O'Hare, wanted to get a closer look but was busy loading for Milwaukee, hoping I can see one again, it looked really sharp

[@daws866]

My preferred bus MCI

[@hollyvasquez2087]

Since El Dorado and NovaBus left the US market and all that's left is New Flyer and Gillig. Gillig doesn't do large orders all in one go, so that leaves New Flyer as the only transit bus maker that would do large orders. My question would be, does VanHool or VDL as their own brand have thought about entering the North American market?

[@richcibelli1445]

Good to see you again J, and glad you are enjoying your new position with the company. Continued Sucess and looking forward to hearing about the changes that wil be taking place!

[@dannycrooks8462]

I used to be a heavy truck mechanic everything breaks I agree with you even if its new it can break with the trucks we ran 2 makes and with the trailers we ran 3 makes and still we had over a million in spare parts and that wasn't a lot to cover all the vehicles my budget was around 30k a week for parts in a bad week you could double that

[@svenswwis436]

Damn right! It's been a while! Keep them coming, Make them as cool as your cross-country journey in an electric bus kind of thing. Very cutting edge. Maybe time to deputize another driver to carry on similar adventures. There has to be someone in your ranks who will do a decent job coming up with content. Delegate Mr. CEO!Ask your audience what they want o see? Like how a bus service deal with fueling and recharging. Thanks James.

[@merrittvillekid]

You guys have an amazing shop and team. If I ever move to the USA I would want to drive for your team

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Hi James again. What my boss Ceri used to do was leave the office and sit in the workshop office and smoke his cigar. His way of relaxing. Also he has bought a wrecker and can have time out driving it. He is concentrating on MAN triaxles and B9 double deckers for school runs.

[@tshava]

😂😂 I judged your chair before you mentioned it. Anyway, its good to see you again mate.

[@NoName-q4i]

He's buying the company 🎉🎉 reduce the chair keep it

[@daws866]

That's why you stick with one bus MCI or prevost

[@UNDERTAKER2621]

❤ Can't wait to hear the good news, brother.Keep doing the good work you're doing

[@ronaldpayne896]

Thanks for the update,looks like big news on the horizon,perhaps Peoria is going public,trading on the TSE?

[@DarnellFernandes]

I'm so glad that you are adjusting to the ceo status. I can't wait to see more videos from you this fall 😊.

[@raygunsforronnie847]

James, good to see you back! My passions and work intersected in ways that weren't always as fulfilling as others, and the more responsibility I had the less I got to do the stuff I enjoyed. The problem with replacing yourself so you can drive or train new drivers or hang out in the shops and see how your units are holding up, is that you then are no longer doing the job you hired yourself to do when you bought PCC, which is to deal with small things so they don't become big things. You are now irreplaceable. Ironic congratulations! As for adopting one brand - in theory you can standardize your training, maintenance, repairs and parts inventories. You then are beholden to a single source of critical components and reimbursement for warranty work done in your shop. What would that do to the overall operations for PCC? How much money/credit would PCC need to overcome such a situation? Does that offset any potential single-brand savings? So two brands? Three? Software - Best wishes on the roll out! The next big surprise involves... maybe... Signature?

[@michaelquillen2679]

Great to see a new video! It's cool to see your shop. Your many models/brands of coaches would be nightmare for me! I worked for a trucking company for a while that only ran Internationals with Detroit diesels. After International said so-long to Detroits, we went to Freightliners with Detroit's. It was all about an inventory of replacement parts. Southwest Airlines follows the same mode with just Boeing 737s. My current job (activity driver for a school) sees us all driving the same kind of bus with the same brand engine. Everything from driver training to parts supply would be better. If I were in your position, I would start transitioning to one brand name of bus and engine combination (but I don't know you/your company's backstory...or the industry's up and downs). Have fun on your future trip!

[@daws866]

I think you guys should restore an MC 9 crusader as the main bus of the company because that bus was the best ever built for its reliability....

[@tonyvlip]

As a dispatcher that works with RBS software, i am excited to see the software system that you have developed... And I love Albert's videos... I also miss being out on the road and his and your videos fulfill that 😁

[@HaydenFay-Farms]

When I saw Peoria Charter Company, I knew I had to watch it, since I know the former president of Peoria Charter

[@charlesrutledge5183]

One thing that will help you guys out. And we did this at the barons bus lines, hear in ohio With parts, streamline your buses to one model it was a little difficult, but once we did that, it was so much easier, And the mechanics will love you.Trust me they will because all the parts are the same at all the garages, one type of bus mci, that's it. We did away with Vanhool pervost, and eagles all of the garages now have the same exact parts for all the buses, MCI the same models. It just works, maybe you gotta try that. As the new CEO look into it Barons Bus did it and it works

[@TravisNewton1]

I thought I was a rare type of bus driver/IT nerd! If you guys are releasing your software, I think I'll definitely check it out. My wife and I are starting a transportation company and the fleet software I'm using really isn't designed for buses. I'd be happy to beta test, too! :)

[@alblua]

One day…one day we’ll be both free and drive a bus trip together 😅

[@michaeldennis1728]

Welcome back, I missed you.

[@edsommers130]

Glad to see another video and looking forward to following you and PCC down the road

[@jaxsonhugh9334]

SWA was absolutely brilliant in only flying 737s so it is a great idea to only use one type of equipment…

[@DanT271]

Good to see you back Boss! We are standing by for more awesome content I agree with you on the bus model continuity makes sense for parts inventory and mechanic/driver training

[@liamhenry8164]

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

[@yitznewton]

My shop was asking me if I wanted to train for dispatcher when one of ours was leaving. There were multiple reasons I didn't, but one was, I didn't want my driving time to get cut back! Can't wait to hear the updates as you roll them out

[@billclements3879]

When you go looking for new buses……. See which company is good as far as replacing parts the quicker and quality all the time…. Day in, day out…. Just like tires on hand plus other factors

[@roryrobinson4947]

Hay James keep up the good work man I love seeing your videos

[@ariceagaandros]

I always wondered if VanHool and Temsa are somehow related to each other. The reason I ask is because I remember driving a Temsa one day, and it was very similar to the VanHool. I know Temsa is a Turkish company but why are they so darn similar to the VanHools?? The bus I was driving had an identical instrument panel and everything was exactly as it would on a VanHool. Even the door opens the same way when mostly every manufacturer has their own style door.

[@Edduh]

Hey James! Big Fan. I was wondering what bus manufacture you're gonna end up with! We are a small family business that just focus on Vanhool but man watching you guys with prevost and other buses is pretty tempting looking at how awesome your buses are.

[@daws866]

If silver eagle was still in business I'll be rooting for them but sadly they're gone

[@daheels5280]

I think it's good that you reduce the make and models on your company. However I imagine you will not go down to a single manufacturer. It is a bit risky to keep only one manufacturer since that would mean that if they close or have a problem with supplying a part or an engine , etc, all your fleet would be grounded. I imagine you already thought of this and will keep at least two manufacturers for your fleet. I'm no bus expert, I'm just a disaster recovery professional and although businesses don't like redundancy as it affects costs, it's a bit of a insurance for when something bad happens to a manufacturer/provider.

[@daws866]

I think you need to keep all the buses MCI

[@daws866]

MCI America

[@daws866]

I mean the MC 9 crusader 2

[@Gurra_Gforce]

Being the CEO hits eyh.. I'm Scandinavian, we like order and function. /was I being racist :) haha. It's Ok. Go on and do the work. Take care of the company. Keep in touch with the drivers, mechanics and the rest of the staff man!

[@robertI153]

What are the latest advances in electric bus development?

[@LionOJr204]

If I were not down here in Florida, I'd send you my resume. Would be great working for your company and you being CEO...🙌🏾✌🏾🤗👍🏾

[@russayres5287]

Make sure you ask VDL if they can supply spare parts for any Vanhool products. You may also want to ask them if they will eventually treat all their North American Vanhool customers the same way they have treated their European ones. The way VDL have treated European operators that had Vanhool vehicles on order during their buy out is totally outrageous and should serve as a warning to North American operators looking to purchase Vanhool products in the future. Caveat Emptor

[@yitznewton]

If you ever need some extra software development hours, I am in that industry also and use some of the same technologies y'all have, I would be thrilled to contribute

[@daws866]

Not the mc9 crusader

[@RipRoaringGarage]

Never get rid of your chair. I still regret giving up my own chair. Im sure theres a James T Kirk to Picard joke in there somewhere lol.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

LOL Yes there definitely is! Hope you are well !

[@RipRoaringGarage]

@@MotorcoachWorld You want the truth or ...lol. Im still around, but VA bs as usual, and staring down the barrel of foreclosure and bankruptcy. But other than that, not bad.

[@seantaft9281]

Hes back

[@JahLove289]

I was just about to cancel you, but because you said don’t, I won’t! LOL.

[@MotorcoachWorld]

lol thanks!

[@dannycrooks8462]

You just need to put the camera 📷 on the coach and just film the trips around the citys

[@davidzelaya2076]

I am a bus operator and work out of San Diego, if I ever leave California I would love to go meet you in person and possibly work for you If you go to VanHool please ask them to stop changing out the cockpit layout on their buses , it’s really annoying We have the 2023 buses and so far I like that layout but have them please stick to one layout

[@robertalexander119]

What is the breakdown of how many MCI's bussed and how many Provost busses?

[@MotorcoachWorld]

26 MCI's, 14 Van Hools, 6 Prevosts, and 2 Mercedes

[@espee9980]

My chair is also really old, I prefer to say it is broken in. MY Questions for VDL is will they make coaches that are more American in style with more room/comfort for passengers.

[@carolinecleaveley-q1r]

Do you find the curved screens on your computer is any better. caroline

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Yes I'm loving the monitor.

[@spexpl]

And are you going to BusWorld in Europe next year?

[@MotorcoachWorld]

@@spexpl probably not. The airfare and hotel is a lot for me. Maybe one year they will sponsor me to go.

[@spexpl]

@@MotorcoachWorld Maybe, because I'm curious about your feelings on the vehicles offered on the EU market for tourist and public transportation. In case you see an offer not just of one brand, e.g. VDL, but just a cross-section of the entire market.

[@rifkyfahrana1141]

thank you for sharing James.. you look tired and that's not a surprise lol. now I understand when you said in the other video 'just because you love buses doesn't mean you you'll also love running a bus company' or something like that.. it might be though job at the beginning but you will adjust yourself eventually. and if I might ask, since VDL now took over Van Hool productions in North America, will there be a chance to introduce other VDL buses in North America? I think the transit bus industries in North America really really needs more competitions to force manufacturers to design better transit buses like in Europe and not something from the 1990s over and over again another question sparked from that DL3. maybe a video idea..? what will happen to retired motorcoaches? I see some are indeed too old for hire. but I think they are still too valuable to be scrapped

[@roll1e76]

I think you'll be going to North Macedonia - that's where Skopje is!

[@danhornstein5125]

Will VDL be bringing their buses to the States through ABC? Will VanHool and VDL stay separate with one parent company like the Volvo Group and Prevost?

[@hufjournallife7218]

No need apologies and it hard to be… try best

[@bhuff123]

Does new software have anything to do with the changes that you talk about taking place in October?

[@daws866]

How's the CEO live going

[@brianmohammed1790]

hey james cool video i have a question for abc van hool your new buses have google maps bult in and auto breakes bult in

[@raphaelszok8561]

Will Van Hool survive?

[@MotorcoachWorld]

Yes I think they will be better off than ever according to the higher ups at ABC.

[@daws866]

No European buses MCI only keep America strong

[@kevinanderson5658]

Vdl & van hool question Why didn't VDL honor existing customers orders who was left out of pocket Van hool is strong brand for luxury quality like Mercedes Benz and is VDL going keep the brand in Europe UK and are bring new models of van hool Also vdl make fantastic coaches and buses I do think perfect fit just want knowhow van hool brand staying