Church activities are a crucial component of an active ministry. These activities often involve traveling to a location away from the church. This might be going to a service project, a church fun day outing, or a youth ministry opportunity. In all these cases, you will have to determine what type of transportation you will use to get the outing.
You have a few options available. You can have church members carpool in their own vehicles. You can offer transportation on the church bus or van. You can also opt to hire a charter company to handle the transportation. There are several benefits if you are considering a charter company.
1. Comfort while traveling
Charter buses offer comfortable accommodations. Whether you are taking 20 people or 50 people (or more!) on the trip, these buses offer ample space that enables you to relax while you are traveling.
If you are traveling with elderly passengers, adults, teens, or young children, comfortable accommodations while you travel can help to keep the atmosphere positive. Even if the trip is a long one, the people who are traveling aren’t likely to get cranky if they are comfortable while they ride.
Charter bus rental options include air conditioning so you can travel in a comfortable environment without worrying about the southern heat. Cushioned seats and other amenities can also help to keep you and the rest of your group comfortable.
2. Focus on the program
In some churches, the pastoral staff members are the people who hold appropriate drivers’ licenses to transport people in a church bus. While this is a good plan for many programs, it might not be the best if you are going on a mission trip or another service trip that requires you to prayerfully prepare. Some projects require that you prepare the participants on the way to the event.
A charter bus driver can handle the driving duties while the participants in the activity prepare for the job at hand. This means that you are free to do what you need to get ready. You can spend the time praying quietly. You can have a group Bible study on the way to the event. You can pray and discuss the plans for the activity on the way there. On the way home, you can discuss the things you enjoyed about the event or how you can improve the event next time around.
3. Reduce participant fatigue
Drivers and participants should be well rested when they get to the event. This wouldn’t be possible if the event requires considerable travel unless a contracted driver is handling the driving duties. Resting up for the event certainly wouldn’t be possible if the group is carpooling to the event because multiple drivers will have to deal with the stresses of driving and trying to stay together.
Sticking to the itinerary, making sure everyone stays safe, and finding the most appropriate travel routes become the responsibilities of the charter bus company when you hire one to handle the transportation. Since you don’t have to worry about how you are going to get to the destination, you can rest your mind and reduce the fatigue that has likely built up over the planning period for the event.
4. Experienced drivers
When you are planning on taking a church outing, the drivers you use are an important factor. Drivers who transport your church members should be experienced and properly licensed. If you hire a charter bus rental company, the company should have all the necessary permits and documentation to get your group from the pickup point to the activity and back again.
By hiring a charter bus, you have a big advantage over someone who opts to try to find drivers of their own for their buses. The charter bus company is responsible for vetting drivers. They are also responsible for making sure that the proper documentation, permits, and insurance policies are available and valid for the trip. Essentially, this frees up your time so that you can focus on planning and preparing other aspects of the trip.
5. Safety is a priority
For a charter bus rental company, knowing the rules, regulations, and laws pertaining to group travel is vital. All of these rules, regulations, and laws are meant to keep the group on the bus safe throughout the trip. One important factor that must be considered is the fatigue level of the driver. A charter bus driver can often get rest while you are doing the activities at the destination. This reduces the chance that the driver will suffer from fatigue. A rested driver who can focus on the road is a huge safety net for everyone.
If you are planning on hiring a charter bus rental company, you should make your reservations as soon as you find out the dates and details. As the event nears, you can finalize the details and fine tune any details that might need to be altered. This can help you to ensure that you have your spot held for the type of vehicle you desire with the company you want to work with.
Church activities usually involve a large number of participants. While some churches have a bus to use to get people from point A to point B, these buses might be similar to older school buses and not well-suited for some activities. In those cases, or when the church doesn’t have a bus, a charter bus is a wonderful option for getting participants to the activity and back to the church safely and comfortably.
This information is courtesy of Corporate Services International (CSI), a transportation management company that owns and operates its own equipment. CSI specializes in the transportation, movement and shuttling for groups between 12 and 2,000 people, www.csidmc.com.
