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Piedmont Coach Lines: Our company began in 1952 as part of Piedmont Coach Lines, which was owned by Ken Chilton of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Ken built a network of bus companies across the state, with facilities in Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Jacksonville, Greenville and Fayetteville, North Carolina. The Jacksonville location was strategically selected due to its proximity to Camp Lejeune, one of the largest military bases in the nation. The company prospered in Jacksonville, lead by its Manager, Virginia Owens, who remains as Manager in Jacksonville today. In 1988, the company built an outstanding office and maintenance facility just off Western Boulevard to support the growing business. Soon, the red-white-and-blue livery of Piedmont Coach Lines became a familiar site in the coastal region of North Carolina. Company founder, Ken Chilton, passed away in December of 2004.
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America Charters / Coach USA: In 1998, nearing retirement, Ken Chilton sold his company to America Charters / Coach USA of Charlotte. Coach USA soon became the largest motorcoach operator in the United States. The sale brought fleet changes, new computer systems and another new paint scheme to our Jacksonville fleet. In 2000, Coach USA was acquired by the Stagecoach Group plc of Perth, Scotland, but continued to operate as Coach USA. In the wake of September 11, 2001, amid the recession and confusion of the time, Stagecoach made a decision to sell most of its operating companies in the United States.
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American Coach Lines: In October of 2003, the Southeast Division of Coach USA was sold by Stagecoach to Lincolnshire Management, Inc., and was renamed American Coach Lines, Inc. At about the same time, our location in Jacksonville became a satellite operation of Southern Coach Company of Durham (also an American Coach Lines Company). The association with Southern Coach Company has allowed Jacksonville to share accounting and other functions while promoting growth and expansion. Since joining American Coach Lines, we have added additional motorcoaches, upgraded our existing vehicles, and now proudly display the American Coach livery on our entire fleet!
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Military Movements: American Coach Lines has been an approved US Military Traffic Command carrier since our inception in 1988. In 2006, we won the Military's prestigeous "SDDC Quality Service Award" for superior service to the military. American Coach Lines of Jacksonville was sited for extrodinary on-time performance and service flexibility.
Schools, Colleges and Universities: American Coach has maintained an outstanding safety record, and as a result, has been able to establish and maintain an excellent relationship with the many public and private schools in the coastal region. The company is certified as required by the North Carolina Public School System to transport public school children. We also do a significant amount of work with the areas colleges and universities, including the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and East Carolina University in Greenville.
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American Coach of Jacksonville - Today: We are proud to be part of THREE great organizations ... Southern Coach Company (one of North Carolina's most respected charter carriers); American Coach Lines, (the largest charter bus operator in the southeastern United States); AND CoachAmerica (the largest charter bus operator in the Nation). The combined resources of these three organizations helps assure you of the finest services available, an unmatched maintenance network, and more reasons than ever to book your next trip with American Coach Lines of Jacksonville, NC!
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For reservations or assistance call (910) 577-4422 or USA Toll-Free (800) 232-5477
or Email us at jaxnc.info@coachamerica.com
Copyright © 2007 - Southern Coach Company - All rights reserved - Last Revised June 2007
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