Shuttle Bus Capacity Planner — Match Your Shuttle to Your Rental Volume

Your Operation

Rental Slots Per Hour

Average Group Size (people)

Shuttle Seat Capacity

Shuttle Trip Time (minutes, one way)

Loading/Unloading Time (minutes)

Shuttle Plan

Shuttles Needed

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Round Trips Per Hour (per shuttle) —

Max Customers Per Hour —

Bottleneck Analysis —

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How It Works

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Enter Your Shuttle Details

Input your rental volume per hour, average group size, shuttle capacity, and the time it takes for a round trip including loading.

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See Your Shuttle Needs

The calculator figures out how many shuttles you need to keep up with your rental slots without making customers wait.

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Spot Bottlenecks

Get a bottleneck analysis that warns you if your shuttle capacity is too close to your customer volume.

Coordinate Shuttles and Bookings with Reservety

Reservety lets you set capacity limits per time slot so your shuttle never gets overwhelmed. Customers book online and you control the flow.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate shuttle needs for a kayak or tubing operation?

Count the number of rental groups you launch per hour, multiply by the average group size to get total customers per hour. Then figure out how many round trips one shuttle can make per hour (drive time both ways plus loading and unloading). Divide total customers by the number of people one shuttle can move per hour. This calculator does all of that for you.

What is the biggest shuttle bottleneck for rental businesses?

Loading and unloading time is the hidden bottleneck most operators underestimate. A 14-seat shuttle that takes 5 minutes to load and 5 minutes to unload adds 10 minutes to every round trip. If your drive is 15 minutes each way, your round trip is 40 minutes, meaning each shuttle only makes 1 trip per hour. Double the loading time and you may need twice the shuttles.

Should I buy or rent a shuttle bus for my rental operation?

If you run shuttles more than 3-4 months per year, buying usually makes sense. A used 14-passenger shuttle runs $15,000-$30,000 and lasts 5-10 years. Renting a shuttle costs $200-$400/day, which adds up fast during peak season. Factor in insurance, fuel, and a CDL-certified driver when calculating your total shuttle costs.