Thrasher adds Setra S 417s for Mercedes Benz contract
The purchase from MCI follows the operators' 2013 win on a four-year contract to provide transportation services to the Daimler division’s Brand Immersion Experience, a program that will bring some 26,000 Mercedes employees to the plant in Vance, Ala., and other Birmingham-area locations by 2017.
The Birmingham, Ala.-based tour and charter operator Thrasher Brothers Trailways recently purchased four new Setra S 417 luxury coaches from MCI to serve one of the oldest global names in Alabama’s manufacturing explosion: Mercedes Benz.
The purchase follows Thrasher Brothers’ 2013 win on a four-year contract to provide transportation services to the Daimler division’s Brand Immersion Experience, a program that will bring some 26,000 Mercedes employees to the plant in Vance, Ala., and other Birmingham-area locations by 2017.
The coaches offer the signature luxury for which Setra is known, offering features such as power outlets at every seat, along with wood-grain flooring and other high-end aesthetic touches.
Setra joined the Daimler family of brands in 1995. MCI acquired Setra’s North American distribution rights in July 2012 and supports Setra coaches with an extensive parts and service network, featuring house-managed tech support and trained Setra technicians who work to help operators achieve maximum coach uptime.
In addition, the Pottsville, Penn.-based R&J Transportation added a brand-new MCI J4500, featuring state-of-the-art REI entertainment system, Wi-Fi, a wheelchair lift and a low-emission Detroit Diesel engine.
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.
The new facility, spanning more than 43,000 square feet, includes pre-delivery inspection, a large repair, maintenance, and service center, an administrative building, and a dedicated training and delivery center for customers and service partners.
The company will feature a fully equipped 2026 Van Hool CX45 alongside an interactive virtual showroom highlighting the company’s latest vehicle, service, parts, and support solutions.
The survey, produced by the ABA’s research arm, the American Bus Association Foundation, reports quarterly on data collected from surveys of major motorcoach manufacturers that sell vehicles in the US and Canada.
