Motor coach industry takes financial hit

A transportation company on the Coast is celebrating ten years in business in 2020, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, that celebration comes with millions of dollars in lost revenue seemingly overnight.

A transportation company on the- coast is- celebrating 10 years in busines- in 2020, but due to the - coronavirus - pandemic, that celebration come- - - - with millions of dollars in los- revenue seemingly overnight.- now, they're asking for some- relief as they try to stay- afloat during and after covid-- 19.

- news 25's lindsey goodwin went- to long beach today and - has the story.- - lindsey goodwin: "back in march- president trump signed a $2 - trillion dollar federal stimulu- bill to bring some- relief, in part, to - travel-related companies like - - - - airlines and hotels affected by- the coronavirus.- but now a major component of th- travel industry says congress - really- missed the bus."- jeremiah morman, owner lakeland- tours long beach: "there are- things such as the- ppp and the eidl loans but thos- are simply bandaids, like tryin- to put a bandaid- on a broken leg."

- at the height of what's usually- their busy season, lakeland - tours charter bus company sits- with a full parking lot...and - empty bus seats as the- coronavirus pandemic- essentially put them out of - business... jeremiah: "all- throughout the year we have a - diverse set of business,- schools,- churches, sporting teams..."- but owner jeremiah morman says- their lack of business- could also have a trickle down- - - - effect to residents on the gulf- coast in the midst of hurricane- season.

- jeremiah: "the motor coach- industry is essentially the - backbone of the - emergency evacuation apparatus.- in katrina, people were asking- where are the busses- and how long is it gonna take - for them to get here?

If we wer- faced with a hurricane- katrina type threat right now,- the answer would be there are n- busses and none are - coming."- - - - so wednesday thousands of motor- coach companies - across the country head to- washington dc to ask congress - for 15 billion dollars for the- motor coach industry.

- - - - jeremiah: "i have sent several- letters to our congressional- leadership, to our- senators and our representative- there in washington, i've got - responses, and i- - - - do believe they're gonna do the- right thing and do what's best- for our industry.

- in long beach, lindsey goodwin- - - -