Episode 563 – Dreamliner Tour Bus CEO Rich Thomson

In this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Rich Thomson, the founder and CEO of Dreamliner Luxury Coaches, a leading provider of tour buses and logistics in the United States.

Rich’s journey in the industry began in 2020 with just 12 coaches, and he has since expanded Dreamliner to an impressive fleet of over 200 luxury buses, 70 trucks, and 220 trailers.

The company now services more than 50% of major arena and stadium tours across the country, catering to high-profile clients in the entertainment industry, including stars like Morgan Wallen, Billie Eilish, and Beyoncé.

Dreamliner also supplies executive coaches for group meetings and executive trips for Fortune 500 companies including NASCAR, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.

During the interview we talked about what to look for when renting a tour bus, the different types of coaches that are available, the difference between coaches for executives and tour buses, the importance of professional drivers, and much more.

Timcodes:

00:00:00 – Introduction to Dreamliner Luxury Coaches

00:01:34 – Key Considerations When Renting a Coach

00:01:59 – Challenges in Finding Professional Drivers

00:02:32 – Overview of Coach Types

00:02:47 – Differences Between Star Buses and Executive Coaches

00:03:49 – Common Requests from Artists

00:04:51 – Outrageous Requests in the Industry

00:05:36 – Service Areas: U.S. and Canada

00:06:11 – Sustainability in Coach Building

00:06:57 – Perception of New vs. Older Coaches

00:07:38 – Rich’s Journey into the Coach Business

00:09:20 – Lessons Learned and Changing Perspectives

00:10:25 – Social Dynamics in Nashville

00:13:01 – Diverse Clientele Beyond Music

00:14:25 – Differences in Client Demands

00:15:47 – Expansion into Trucking Services

00:17:32 – Coach Sales and Fleet Management

00:19:06 – Incorporating Technology: Starlink

00:19:53 – Logistics Evolution in the Industry

00:20:45 – Future Goals and Diversification

00:23:00 – Importance of Professional Drivers

00:24:44 – Business Approach and Experience

00:26:31 – Final Advice: Going All In

00:27:40 – Closing Remarks

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Rich Thomson and Dreamliner Luxury Coaches at https://www.dreamlinercoaches.com

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