Transportation Charter Services (TCS): Heading In All Directions With Multiple Locations, Great Staff & Quality Equipment

Transportation Charter Services (TCS) provides charter work and group transportation from its headquarters in Orange, CA, and branch divisions and main service areas located in other parts of the U.S. and Canada. Shown, left to right, are brothers Kevin Fischer, vice president of operations; and, Terry Fischer, president. (Photo courtesy of TCS)
By Harrell Kerkhoff, Busline Magazine Editor
With multiple locations and a large inventory of equipment, Transportation Charter Services (TCS) continues its push forward in Southern California and beyond. In business since 1984, TCS provides charter bus and group transportation services to a wide variety of clients from its headquarters in Orange, CA, and branch divisions based in San Diego, CA, Calgary, AB, and Nashville, TN. Other main service areas for the company include Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, AZ, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
“Our service region is large — focusing on Southern and Northern California, other areas of the United States and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta,” TCS President Terry Fischer said, during a recent interview. “We visit a lot of very exciting locations, such as national parks, sports and concert venues and other destinations in high demand.
“One obvious benefit to being headquartered in the LA market is that Los Angeles serves as a gateway for all types of transposition-related business. That includes inbound and outbound air travel and international customers. There is a lot of demand for travel to, and from, Southern California. We do our best to service such a large need.”
The center of operations for TCS is in Orange, a city in Orange County of 136,000-plus residents located within the southern region of the Los Angeles metro area. The headquarters features two acres of land which is home to a three-bay, full-service maintenance facility, administrative offices and a 1.8 acre satellite yard close by with enough parking for a growing fleet of vehicles.
Company acquisitions over the years have helped TCS expand beyond its Southern California roots. For example, the company purchased the well-established Royal Coach Tours in 2023. The business is based in Northern California, with other locations that include Las Vegas and Phoenix.
“We continue to maintain that company under the Royal Coach brand,” Fischer said. “There is a lot of available crossover work between (TCS and Royal Coach Tours) as well as a strong synergy. The move has helped us expand our footprint into Northern California and beyond.
“Prior to this purchase, we acquired Polynesian Adventure, located in Hawaii, in October 2017. We operate approximately 165 vehicles on the islands of Oahu, where we are headquartered, Maui, The Big Island (also known as Hawaii), and Kauai. Since purchasing PolyAd we have realized a number of synergies with customers, along with other operational efficiencies.
“There are always advantages when purchasing another business. That includes added growth, new customer bases, better synergy and improved efficiency. The challenge is not implementing change too quickly after the transaction, as sudden change can make employees feel uncomfortable. Rather, it’s important that everyone involved with the transition understands why certain changes are being made, helping with the buy-in process.”
Fischer added: “A lot of times after the purchase of a well-run organization we have found it’s not always necessary to change a business, so that it operates like TCS, but rather learn from what has made the company a success over the years, and then change some of our own processes in response. That is one of the advantages to acquisitions — you can learn what makes other companies successful.”
Along with acquisitions, TCS officials have increased sales efforts and implemented greater initiatives over the years, helping lead the company to further growth.
“It’s about aggressively chasing after work, adding contacts and contracts, and then expanding the fleet as needed. We have also recently entered the entertainer coach business,” Fischer said.
A Fleet Full Of Options
Involved in various capacities of the transportation field for the past 38 years, Fischer purchased TCS in 2011 when the business had a fleet of 18 vehicles. Today, that fleet has grown to 107 units. However, one thing about TCS has not changed since Fischer’s purchase. The company continues to focus on charter work throughout the western United States and beyond. Such work includes casino, wedding, and sports-related transportation; cruise ship transfers; corporate, production crew, school, construction crew, convention, college, ski trip, and church travel; and emergency evacuation services.
TCS also provides many transportation options to famous national parks, such as those found in the western United States. That includes Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.
Using a fleet that involves school buses, vans, minibuses, and mid-size and full-size charter coaches, TCS frequently provides groups with custom travel experiences. Currently, the company’s vehicles are spread across its different locations.
When it comes to equipment, one supplier partnership that continues to strengthen for TCS is its relationship with bus/motorcoach manufacturer TEMSA. The relationship has resulted in the operation of 10 TEMSA TS35 vehicles by TCS, used for shuttle contracts. TCS also operates the larger TEMSA TS45 motorcoaches.
“We, including our mechanics, have been very happy with how our TEMSA vehicles have performed. They have been impressive, virtually flawless, super reliable and are overall great pieces of equipment,” Fischer said. “We have been especially pleased with the air conditioning systems of these vehicles, especially while traveling through area deserts in the summer months. The outside temperature can reach 120-plus degrees, but the inside of our TEMSA vehicles remains comfortable. Overall, our TEMSAs have been rock solid.”
TCS passengers enjoy the latest amenities while traveling in the various vehicles provided by the company. That includes access to 110 outlets, allowing passengers to charge their electronic devices — such as smartphones, laptops and tablets — while on the road. Comfortable seating options are also a high priority when it comes to meeting the needs of TCS customers.
“We do our best to provide the ‘creature comforts’ of home while traveling,” Fischer said. “A lot of technology that used to be considered cutting-edge and advanced, such as 110 outlets, is now standard for most transportation providers. Despite this, we stay abreast to new passenger needs and desires as it pertains to future travel.”
Keeping an eye on changes involving alternative fuel technology is also a high priority at TCS. That includes the possible use of electric vehicles in the years ahead. Challenges for motorcoach operators when it comes to electric buses/coaches, however, are many, according to Fischer.
“The main obstacle right now involves the infrastructure needed to operate electric equipment, which we continue to monitor. The range that today’s electric buses/coaches can operate between charges is also a concern,” he said. “Many of our trips take place in remote areas and require long-distance travel. The lack of charging options in many of those areas is a problem for charter operators.
“Also, we require equipment used for charter work to feature a large area of underfloor luggage capacity, which is another concern when looking to purchase electric buses/coaches.”
One advantage to having facilities in place within different geographies, such as the case with TCS, is that those locations can provide a “home base” when company vehicles are on the road.
“All of our locations are full-service operations, meaning we have mechanics and the infrastructure in place to take care of issues that may develop during a trip,” Fischer said. “That could also help in the future if we decide to start using electric vehicles and need places to install chargers.
“We have been fortunate to employ a strong crew of mechanics and other employees who help keep our vehicles in top shape and on the road. Overall, we employ approximately 170 people who work within our different locations, with the Orange facility being the largest.”
Although the search for qualified people to hire has been a challenge for many bus/coach operators over the past several years, Fischer reported recent efforts at TCS to keep a solid employee base in place have proved successful.
“It was still a little tough during certain times in 2023 to find new hires, but we have since been able to satisfy our current needs for drivers and other employees,” Fischer said. “I feel such fears have subsided for many companies.”
When it comes to finding qualified drivers, Fischer looks for candidates who are multidimensional — that is, they are very capable of safely operating a large vehicle in all types of travel scenarios but are also focused on providing superior customer service.
“There is a lot of pressure involved to operating a vehicle full of passengers. You must be safe, but at the same time, this is also a hospitality business. It’s important that drivers are good ambassadors for our company,” Fischer explained. “We want drivers who will properly represent our company’s brand.
“There are people who love to drive for a living, but with this industry you also have to be a people person — and it may not be the right fit for everyone.”
TCS does not require past bus driving experience when it comes to hiring drivers. Rather, company representatives are willing to train people the “TCS way” of operating a bus/coach, with a strong focus placed on safety, proper driving techniques, and customer service.
“Even when we hire a driver with past experience, that person is still required to go through our orientation program,” Fischer said. “It’s important new hires understand the TCS way to doing things. We want everybody to be reading from the same playbook.”
New Year, New Opportunities
Along with relying on the company’s stylish black vehicles to serve as moving billboards up and down interstates, highways and byways — all the while featuring distinguishing bright green and sliver logos and markings — TCS officials seek different ways to market the transportation provider’s many services.
“That includes participating in travel-related tradeshows and improving our online presence,” Fischer said. “We place a significant focus on search engine optimization in an effort to grow our name within the transportation sector.”
Such action has been beneficial for TCS and many other private bus/motorcoach operators who are reporting ridership number improvements since the dark days of the COVID pandemic.
“Our business was slow coming out of the pandemic but then increased greatly, starting in late 2022/early 2023. Since then, the market has softened a bit, but we are still busy,” Fischer said. “I think one reason business has slowed is that more equipment and drivers are available now within the industry, compared to a year or so ago, which is helping transportation companies better meet demand.”
As for lessons learned from the pandemic experience, Fischer stressed the importance of looking over a company’s various business segments ahead of time and then seek out protections. The idea is to properly protect the transportation provider if, and when, major service disruptions take place in the future.
“I don’t think most companies had real plans in place to protect themselves from something like the pandemic. Due to its very nature, the pandemic stopped a lot of transportation providers in their tracks,” Fischer said. “What we have all now learned, as a company and as an industry, is that there are certain market segments that are very susceptible to service disruptions, such as what the pandemic brought. That includes group travel and the tourism business. Other segments, however, are more likely to remain in operation — at least partially, during major travel stoppages.
“I feel the main lesson learned from the pandemic experience is to properly understand your company’s mix of business going forward — and then plan accordingly.”
Looking at the start of 2025 and beyond, Fischer said his company’s main goal is the same each year — to do the best work possible when it comes to transporting people to wherever they want to go.
“Our main hope at the start of every year is that the travel market remains strong and that we do as well, if not better, in the year ahead as we did the previous year,” Fischer said. “We are always striving to be the best that we can, and to grow our company’s brand.”
A Life Well Traveled
Terry Fischer has spent nearly four decades in the bus business. In fact, he grew up in it thanks to his father operating a transportation business long ago in Alberta. Over the years, Fischer has worked within the industry as a driver and mechanic before gaining experience in key managerial roles involving safety and training, operations, sales, and business development.
Today at TCS, Terry Fischer is joined by his wife, Kathryn Fischer, who is vice president of sales; his brother, Kevin Fischer, who is vice president of operations; Kevin’s wife, Tracey Fischer, who works in maintenance administration; and Terry’s nephews, Kyle Fischer, who is a service manager; and Connor Fischer, who works as a heavy-duty mechanic at the company’s Calgary location.
Having spent his working career in bus/coach transportation, Terry Fischer remains a big proponent of the industry as a career choice. In particular, he sees the industry as providing a great ‘second act’ for many people.
“There are current employees at TCS, for example, who have been involved in accounting, banking and a variety of other fields and wanted something else to do after retirement. Many have become drivers. They have found transportation to be a great second career, providing not only a meaningful job but allowing them to visit great destinations and work with all types of wonderful people,” Fischer said. “Also, there is a lot of responsibility and professionalism required to operating a bus/coach, which often fits in well with people who have successfully worked for years in other fields.”
Visit tcsbus.com.