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Hospitality & Leisure

Charter & Tour Buses

Mid-size coaches for tour operators and charter companies: luggage bays, reclining seats and a restroom without the size and cost of a full motorcoach.

Capacity
25–40 passengers
Wheelchair access
Lift available
CDL
Required
Boarding
Coach-style entry; under-floor luggage
Typical chassis
Ford F-550, Ford F-650, Freightliner S2C

Not every charter needs a 56-passenger motorcoach. Wine tours, corporate outings, sports teams, small tour groups and airport transfers are mid-size work: 25 to 40 passengers, real luggage capacity, seats built for hours and a vehicle that costs a fraction of a coach to buy and run.

TESCO's charter and tour line comes from Turtle Top, Glaval and StarTrans (the Odyssey XL, Legacy and Senator HD) on Ford F-550 and Freightliner S2C chassis, with under-floor luggage, a restroom option and interiors from durable tour-grade to executive.

Buyer's guide

What to spec

The decisions that matter for charter & tour buses, the ones a rep will walk through with you before the build sheet.

Mid-size economics

A 33-passenger F-550 coach costs far less than a motorcoach to buy, insure and fuel, and fills more often. Many operators run more mid-size trips than full-coach trips.

Luggage capacity

Under-floor bays on the Odyssey XL and Legacy carry a suitcase per passenger; rear luggage areas on smaller buses carry day-trip gear. Match it to the trips you sell.

Seat comfort

Reclining, high-back seats with footrests, individual reading lights and air vents make a four-hour trip sellable. Cloth or leather is a brand decision.

Restroom

A restroom is a selling point on any trip over ninety minutes and a requirement for some corporate accounts. It costs seats and weight, so decide by route.

Drivers

Every bus in this class needs a CDL driver with a passenger endorsement and DOT medical. Build the driver roster alongside the fleet.

Residual value

Well-maintained mid-size coaches hold value; TESCO buys back and trades tour buses and can lease for operators managing cash flow.

Fits this work

Vehicles that fit this work

The platforms TESCO specs most often for charter & tour buses. Each links to its model or brand page.

Also fits this work: Ford F-650 Bus Larger F-650 coaches for 35–40 passengers.

Questions

Questions we get about charter & tour buses

Mid-size coach or motorcoach?

If most of your trips carry fewer than 40 passengers, the mid-size coach wins on purchase price, fuel, insurance and utilization. Keep the motorcoach for the large-group contracts, or subcontract them.

Can a mid-size coach have a restroom and luggage bays?

Yes. The Odyssey XL, Legacy and Senator HD class on F-550 and Freightliner chassis offer under-floor luggage and a restroom option.

What licensing does the driver need?

A CDL with a passenger endorsement and a DOT medical card. Operators also need DOT operating authority to carry passengers for hire.

Do you buy our old coaches?

Yes. TESCO buys, trades and resells tour and charter buses; a rep can value your current units as part of a fleet upgrade.

Spec it with someone who's built it before

Tell a TESCO rep what your routes look like and they'll come back with a build sheet, a delivery date and a price, whether you buy new, buy pre-owned or lease.