Student Transportation ideas?

[Billfred]

Here are the ways my teams have traveled in the past:

Chesapeake Regional 2008 with 1618 (508 miles): Two minibuses, hired from a car rental company and driven by teachers. (Well, my girlfriend and I took Amtrak up to New York for a few days prior and met them at Union Station...but that doesn't count.) Between people and toolboxes, we about filled up both buses.

Bayou Regional 2009 with 2815 (678 miles): Charter bus, overnight. Everything fit underneath.

Palmetto Regional 2009 with 1618 and 2815 (132 miles): Both teams (same district) split a district activity bus with a district driver. 1618 sent a teacher, two students, and a mentor up the night prior in private transportation to uncrate early Thursday morning. Team items fit in a separate cargo van.

Championship 2009 with 2815 (216 miles): One rented minibus, driven by a district staff member. (Coincidentally, it was one of the buses 1618 took to Chesapeake.) Once again, we rented a cargo van to fit the toolboxes/cart/etc.