Crown Coach attributes much of its success to doing business the old fashioned way.  But that doesn't mean the buses have to be old.  For Margaret and Raymond Beebe, Crown's President and Vice President, respectively, upgrading buses is what put their business ahead.
     In Crown's fourth year, they added three new 55 passenger MCIs to their fleet of 47s.  "It was like a springboard for us", says Margaret.  "With the customers that had come back to us over the years, all of a sudden it was like, "We've arrived!" From then on, we bought new coaches.
     "We had a reputation for having the cleanest coaches in our area," adds Raymond "now we also have the newest."
     Crown hopes to turn over its bus inventory every three years.  With employees, though, it is more of a family affair.
     The Beebes brought aboard their son, John Wilson, and daughter, Lori Womack.  "You've heard of 'mom and pop'", says Margaret.  "Well we are 'mom, pop, and the children'"
     John supervises maintenance and safety, making sure any equipment leaving the yard is up to snuff.  Lori handles all of the driver's paperwork, including detailed itineraries and plenty of maps to maintain Crown's emphasis on reliability.
     Busing is in the Beebe blood.  Raymond's father worked for Greyhound for 41 years.  Raymond did likewise for 17 years before temporarily converting to trucks.  "I spent 21 years in trucking, and I always wanted to get back into the bus business" says Raymond.
     He and Margaret started Crown Coach in 1995.  The company has since prospered with it's old-fashioned style of business, stressing dependability and cleanliness and making customers feel at home.
     Of utmost importance for Crown is finding the best drivers.  "We're extremely selective in our hiring process," says Margaret.  The process relies heavily on personal interviews and taking enough time to be sure a candidate will be a worthy representative of the Crown Coach family.
     "Our drivers spend all their time with the customers," says Raymond.  "They're the ones that make the sale; they're the ones that get the repeat business."
     Through involvement with the Tennessee Motorcoach Association (TMA), the Beebes have extended their family statewide and beyond.  Margaret currently serves as President of TMA, which has invited motorcoach operators from surrounding states to become affiliated members.
     This past August, members gathered in Nashville for a driver and mechanic roadeo.  "Its a fun outing where we get to know these people and its amazing what you can learn even in a casual atmosphere." says Margaret.
     In an industry where the rules and regulations are constantly changing, every day is a learning process for the Beebes.  But even as new coaches come and go, the old fashioned family atmosphere at Crown continues to fill each one.
     "When you put a group on a motorcoach, its harmonious." says Margaret.  "There's a comfort level in what we do that you get with no other form of transportation.

Reprinted with permission from METRO MAGAZINE January 2003
 

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