Industry Insights

2022 Motorcoach Industry Size and Scope

  • 2 min read
An infographic sharing key talking points from the 2023 Motorcoach Census, which examines the motorcoach industry in 2022. The image has a white background with a blue box in the middle, which has road follow an ‘S’ shape to create two sections: The Good, and The Bad. The Good includes that: 1. The overall number of passenger miles traveled by motorcoach carriers increased by 60% above levels during the COVID-19 period; 2.) Resurgence of tour and charter operations: The number of miles traveled per motorcoach more than doubled between 2020 and 2022; and 3.) The charger segment is doing very well: 52% of all day trips were performed on chartered coaches, and 49% of overnight trips. The Bad includes that: 1.) Some of North America’s largest operators have closed since the COVID-19 shutdowns: Orange Belt Stages, Bieber Transportation Group, Limoliner, and Silverado Stages; 2.) There are 343 fewer operators in the United States, nearly 20%. The number increased slightly in Canada, and other operators picked up the pieces of Greyhound Canada, which closed last year; and 3.) Employment per coach was up from 2020-2022, but down considerably from pre-COVID levels. In 2017 the number of full-time employees per coach was 2.9, in 2020 it was 1.6, and in 2022 it was 1.9.

Executive Summary

About the Report

The 2022 Motorcoach Census explores the size and activity of the motorcoach transportation service industry in the U.S. and Canada in the calendar year 2022. In 2022, the motorcoach industry in the United States and Canada consisted of 1,566 companies that operated 27,630 motorcoaches. In the United States, 1,374 companies operated 24,792 motorcoaches, and in Canada 192 companies operated 2,838 motorcoaches. 

Key Highlights

  • Motorcoach companies offer a diverse variety of services. In 2022, about 96.0% of motorcoach companies provided charter service. Additionally:
  • Most companies (88.8%) were small and operated fewer than 25 motorcoaches. These firms operated 9,788 motorcoaches and accounted for 32.8% of motorcoach mileage.
    • Mid-sized companies that operated 25 to 99 motorcoaches ran 6,526 motorcoaches, accounting for 27.3% of the industry’s motorcoach mileage. 
    • Large companies that operated over 100 motorcoaches accounted for 41.0% of the industry’s fleet and 40.0% of the industry’s motorcoach mileage.
  • The motorcoach industry provided jobs to 52,366 people in 2022. On average, a motorcoach company provided 33 jobs or 1.9 jobs per motorcoach.
    • Small companies that operated fewer than 25 motorcoaches accounted for 44.3% of motorcoach industry jobs. 
    • Mid-sized companies that operated between 25 and 99 motorcoaches provided for 24.2% of motorcoach industry jobs. 
    • Large companies that operated more than 100 motorcoaches provided for 31.5% of motorcoach industry jobs.
  • On average, a motorcoach provided 1.1 million passenger miles, employed 1.9 people, and traveled 44,519 miles.

Citation

How to Cite This Report: American Bus Association. (2023). 2022 Motorcoach Census. Retrieved from https://www.buses.org/aba-foundation-research-summary/motorcoach-census-industry-size-and-scope-research-2022/.

Report Author: John Dunham & Associates.

Sponsored by: American Bus Association Foundation.

Contact information: For inquiries, email research@buses.org or call (202) 218-7227.

Methodology

Several sources of information were used to construct the estimates of industry size and activity in this study. Names of potential motorcoach carriers were assembled using information from prior censuses, the American Bus Association Foundation, Data Axle, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the United Motorcoach Association. Information about the potential motorcoach carriers, and the motorcoaches that they operated, was collected through a survey. The survey questionnaire was distributed to potential motorcoach carriers. A total of 272 usable survey responses from motorcoach carriers were returned to John Dunham & Associates.

Additional Motorcoach Census Reports and Resources

Access these additional Motorcoach Census reports and resources: