[GaryVoshol]

1188 has chartered a bus to Atlanta several times. As far as I know, we tell them when we want to leave and come back, and when we might need the bus while in Atlanta. This year we generally used the bus to go over to the Dome in the morning, but walked back. The bus company gives us a package price. It's up to them to figure out when to transfer drivers (due to max hours behind the wheel) and what the driver does while we're at the competition. We can also call the driver by cell phone when needed. Rates generally are based on miles driven and driver-on-call hours.

The HS Band has also used charters to go to Band Camp. The bus drops the band off at the camp, then picks them up again 3 or 4 days later. One year the company figured the milage at 2x, because the driver would have to take the empty bus back home after drop off, and then come back again at the end. Last year with a different bus company, AFAIK, they just gave a price and didn't explain how they got it.