The 2018 J4500 features new airline-inspired ceiling lights and aisle puck lights that illuminate the roomier cabin which also features new parcel racks that blend with the front cap of the vehicle.
Both Mid-American’s new J4500 coaches feature optional Amaya A 220 black leather diamond seating for 56 passengers.
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Both Mid-American’s new J4500 coaches feature optional Amaya A 220 black leather diamond seating for 56 passengers.
Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc., announced that Washington, Mo.’s Mid-American Coaches added one 2017 MCI J4500 and one 2018 MCI J4500, featuring limo-style seating and upgrades throughout.
For 2018, MCI introduces unprecedented interior ambience in its industry-leading J4500 model. Starting with a completely redesigned cabin with best-in-class legroom, a larger lavatory, and an updated driver cockpit featuring a high-definition instrument panel with on-screen diagnostic capabilities, Mid-American went for the best.
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The 2018 J4500 also features new airline-inspired ceiling lights and aisle puck lights that illuminate the roomier cabin which also features new parcel racks that blend with the front cap of the vehicle.
It will be a colorful ride, too. Mid-American chose the optional programmable RGB (Red, Green and Blue) lighting package that lights up the interior and the spiral stairway entry in multiple color selections appropriate for customer branding.
Both Mid-American’s new J4500 coaches feature optional Amaya A 220 black leather diamond seating for 56 passengers. Amaya workers hand-stitch the diamond pattern on the leather to assure symmetry and quality. The limo-inspired interior also includes cup holders, individual-seat power outlets, and Wi-Fi.
“We’re very deliberate in the way we operate our fleet,” said Dennis Jones, Mid-American VP, who runs the company with his brother Roger. “We haven’t purchased new equipment since 2009. It’s the right time, and it’s the first time we’re going with limo-style seating.”
Jones’ parents purchased Mid-American in 1957, and grew the business from six Flexible and GM buses to a newer model fleet operating five scheduled service round trips from Washington to St. Louis every day, along with other commuter service routes. When Jones and his brother took over the leadership, they began to build the tour and charter side.
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Today, Mid-American’s motorcoaches serve St. Louis, Kansas City, Jefferson City, Springfield, and Branson, carrying teams to sporting events and groups on day trips or weeks-long vacations to the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S. and Canada. Mid-American also plans its own trips throughout the year with many selling out within weeks of their announcements.
Premiums remain elevated. Underwriting scrutiny is intense. And claims costs continue to rise at historic levels. Behind those numbers lies a complex mix of legal, medical, and cultural forces reshaping the commercial landscape.
The company said it has remained the most widely purchased model in the new coach market across the US and Canada, according to historical data from the Motorcoach Builders Survey conducted by the American Bus Association
A phased approach to technology, in-house capabilities, and workforce investment is helping transportation leaders break the reactive cycle and build more resilient, revenue-focused operations.
The company's flagship H3-45 is also the best-selling 45-foot motorcoach in North America, according to vehicle registration data from S&P Global Mobility (Polk).
METRO’s Executive Editor Alex Roman spoke with Mueller about the opening event, the company’s progress since launching in late 2022, and the road ahead.
METRO Executive Editor Alex Roman presented the award to the operation’s President/CEO Scott Parsons at the United Motorcoach Association’s EXPO in Birmingham, Alabama.
