View Full Version : Shuttler Question
As both a previous "consumer" of AT shuttles and a "provider" of AT shuttles, I am trying to glean a consensus of how shuttle providers are structuring their businesses and especially fees in this age of high gas, repair, insurance, and vehicle costs. I am mostly interested in what commercial providers (and individuals seeking to supplement a fixed income) who take advance reservations are doing--not so much about trail angels or spontaneous hookups for rides.
I am interested in responses from both "consumers" and "providers".
1) What has been the average per-mile charge during the last 18 months? Or is there some other way of figuring charges?
2) If a driver has to travel quite a distance from his home base to meet you and provide the shuttle, how does he charge for that extra time and mileage?
3) How does a driver get compensated for the return trip, assuming there is not a paying customer going that way who just happens to coincide with your shuttle?
4) What kind(s) of vehicle(s) are for-pay shuttle providers using? How old? What condition? Type of vehicle (sedan, station wagon, SUV, pickup truck, van)?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
generoll
04-18-2007, 07:51
I think that what I have paid in the past was generally around $1/mile one way. I've never had a remote shuttle (shuttler came from somewhere else to pick me up), but I would assume that mileage was figured from portal to portal, i.e. from his base to where he dropped me off.
I never actually asked the fine details, but that's seemed to be the way it worked out and I didn't feel that I had been ripped off. Sometimes the shuttler may round down a bit, but he has wear and tear on his vehicle plus the cost of gas and my convenience so blessings upon him.
Prices for passenger and vehicle shuttles likely vary from region to region.
In this area, 1.50 per mile is average. This is what you will pay to get you or your vehicle from point A to point B. Extra fee may be charged for remote pick up drop off depending on provider and road conditions. This average per mile reflects the remote areas most of the Maine At passes through. Vans, trucks, cars are used depending on road conditions.
Last week I paid $80.00 total for 2 people for a ride from Cloud9 in Hiawassee to the FS42 at Springer. The ride took about 1.5 to 2 hrs one way. I figure they have to drive back so they are in their car for 3 to 4 hrs. They still have to use gas plus the wear and tear on their car to get back home.
Footnotes
04-18-2007, 22:09
Last week I paid $80 on the day before Easter in crappy weather for two people from Fontana Day to Winding stair Gap. Took about 1.5 hours.
I don't charge when I shuttle someone. But I gladly accept any money they offer to cover my charges.
I shuttled Doodah Man last Thursday from the Atlanta Airport to the Amicalola Visitor Center and then to USFS 42 parking lot. He gave me $50, bought breakfast and brought me a quite a few nice pieces of gear that I can use on my SOBO hike in June.
Programbo
04-19-2007, 21:49
I`ve run a couple of local people up to the trail and as long as I break even for the trip (Gas,tolls,lunch) I am happy...With gas currently at $2.90 or so and the milage my Jeep gets I think it costs me like $40 for a round trip from Baltimore to Harpers Ferry (Gas,lunch and tolls if I don`t feel like going thru downtown)...Plus you get to listen to some of my mix CDs..Where else are you gonna hear The Cure, John Denver, Marilyn Manson, The Manhattan Transfer, Das EFX and Clann An Drumma all on the same disk?
Pokey2006
04-20-2007, 04:16
I think it should depend not just on the distance you have to cover, but the difficulty of the terrain. Going 5 miles up a dirt, mountain road is different than 5 miles down the highway.
I was actually just in Shenandoah, and tossed out the idea of getting a shuttle for that very reason -- it would be a total pain just to get to my starting out point. The shuttle from A to B isn't the problem, it's getting the shuttle to "A" to begin with.
Maybe you can figure out a fair cost from your starting out point to "point A." Then have a per mile cost from that point. You could stagger your costs, depending on the difficulty. Say, Thornton Gap is fairly cheap. Then, Big Meadows is a little more expensive. And the next gap down even more expensive. Etc.
I`ve run a couple of local people up to the trail and as long as I break even for the trip (Gas,tolls,lunch) I am happy...With gas currently at $2.90 or so and the milage my Jeep gets I think it costs me like $40 for a round trip from Baltimore to Harpers Ferry (Gas,lunch and tolls if I don`t feel like going thru downtown)...Plus you get to listen to some of my mix CDs..Where else are you gonna hear The Cure, John Denver, Marilyn Manson, The Manhattan Transfer, Das EFX and Clann An Drumma all on the same disk?
Those local people are very fortunate to have connected with you.
I think it should depend not just on the distance you have to cover, but the difficulty of the terrain. Going 5 miles up a dirt, mountain road is different than 5 miles down the highway.
I was actually just in Shenandoah, and tossed out the idea of getting a shuttle for that very reason -- it would be a total pain just to get to my starting out point. The shuttle from A to B isn't the problem, it's getting the shuttle to "A" to begin with.
Maybe you can figure out a fair cost from your starting out point to "point A." Then have a per mile cost from that point. You could stagger your costs, depending on the difficulty. Say, Thornton Gap is fairly cheap. Then, Big Meadows is a little more expensive. And the next gap down even more expensive. Etc.
After studying the situation here, speaking with other shuttle providers, and through a number of private e-mails prompted by this thread, I think I have a plan. The whole purpose of this series of questions was to gather info on CURRENT shuttle standards as it applies to for-profit services so I could advise a friend who wants to get into the business. (Though I may help him occasionally, I have NO desire to get into the business again myself as I have an unrelated business that consumes many hours each day.)
The consensus seems to be that the current rate for a "typical" shuttle is about $1.25 to $1.50/mile. For some that's it. For others, they charge something extra (maybe a modest flat fee, maybe some other way of figuring a modest amount) when appropriate to get from home to the meet point, and back home again after the shuttle. Among providers, even some of those who don't charge like this acknowledge that they should, and perhaps will at some time in the future.
It has also become apparent that most for-profit shuttle providers deal overwhelmingly with section hikers who are often on their vacations, and not so much thru-hikers. The exceptions might be in Georgia generally, or among those shuttlers who combine shuttles with a hostel stay. (No hostel in the works in my friend's case.)
Among consumers, opinions have varied widely. Some believe shuttles should cost $1/mile or hopefully much less, and/or offered on a break-even basis. Others acknowledge those who provide shuttles on a regular basis as an income producer deserve to make a fair profit. I used to be in the first group when I did a lot of shuttles myself and was happy to do so at the time, but it became obvious after just two seasons that this was not a recipe for longevity if I was going to dedicate a big chunk of my life to shuttling hikers around. In those two years I put over 75,000 miles on my truck, and when it came time to repair it or replace it I had nothing in the cookie jar--not smart! I REALLY admire those who have found peace with the concept of providing low-cost or break-even shuttles, but don't think that will work in my friend's case.
Anyway, we've tentatively come up with what I think may be a fair compromise. He is based in Luray, near Thornton Gap (as I am) and would "cover" an area between Harpers Ferry and Reeds Gap south of SNP. For most shuttles within this range, he would charge $1.50 per mile for the shuttle itself (pickup point to dropoff point), and 50 cents per mile for any extra driving required before and after that "revenue producer" just to stay ahead of expenses. Then, round-down to the next lowest $10 point (an $87 shuttle under this formula would become $80). It is conceivable that in many cases, in this area at least, the 50-cent mileage will be longer than the $1.50 mileage.
Obviously, there are certain trips that would just not be feasible financially or time-wise under this scenario and those prospects might be referred to someone who could help them more efficiently. As an example, the 26-mile trip between Loft Mt. and Rockfish Gap would be almost all 50-cent mileage from and to Luray. Someone in Waynesboro ought to do that trip. But someone coming from Loft Mt. to Elkwallow would be in my friend's sweet spot.
Further, I've gotten the impression that one must be flexible in this business, and there is no one-size-fits-all way to determine charges. I'm sure that can happen.
Lastly, there is another issue several providers mention as their #1 concern: late hikers or even the occasional no-show. It's been very educational, as I've learned three important ways to minimize these from experienced providers. 1) Always meet hikers at the beginning of their hike (often at their vehicle) so you can drive them to their hike start point and they can hike back to their vehicle. 2) Insist that the hiker call at a predetermined time or place just before their shuttle to confirm their estimated arrival time; this time/place should be far enough out to allow the provider to get to the rendezvous point on time him or herself. 3) If the hiker has a cell phone, ask that they leave it on between the time of the call and the meet-up, as the provider will do likewise, so as to be able to stay in touch in case of last-minue glitches.
I hope the WB community will continue to contribute to this discussion, and specifically comment upon our tentative plan. It might indeed be a good one or a lousy one; it might indeed be one others may want to consider or perhaps not.