• Capital Motor Lines has two locations in Alabama and one in Georgia
• Colonial Trailways has one location in Alabama
• Our companies operate a current fleet of 65 full size motorcoaches
• Our companies , combined , employ approximately 80 Full Time and 85 Part Time positions
Capital Motor Lines DBA Capital Trailways and Colonial Trailways are both motorcoach companies which operate in the charter and tour industry segment in the Alabama and Georgia markets . Our businesses are fifth generation family-owned companies which have also partnered with Greyhound Bus Lines for many years on schedule runs . Capital Motor Lines was formed in 1930 and Colonial Trailways , born of Monroeville Bus Lines , has operated since 1935 . Our companies have been considered leading members of the bus industry for decades and are also long time proud members of several professional organizations including Trailways National , American Bus Association , United Motorcoach Association and the Women in Buses program .
The companies focused heavily on scheduled service revenue opportunities from the beginning , but as with many businesses , began making the transition into charter sales and tour packaging to add a more diverse offering to the customers in the mid 1980 ’ s . Capital and Colonial were founded originally by Avery Austin Crow , an innovative man who wanted to be part of the transportation movement during his lifetime . He had three daughters who eventually became the secondgeneration owners after his death in 1942 at the age of 51 . Although his daughters were not involved in the day-to-day activities of the business , they did become active on the board of directors for many decades .
Capital and Colonial Trailways have passed their ownership through several generations and in 1994 , Frank E . Montgomery III , the grandson of Mary Agnes ( Crow ) Montgomery , became the first family member to work in the day-to-day operations of the companies since his great grandfather , Avery Austin Crow . Frank learned the bus business through some industry legends including Tommy Hamilton and Wayne Phillips ( former Presidents of the companies ), Ed Sunday ( former VP of Operations for the companies ) and many others . He worked his way upward and was named President of Capital and Colonial Trailways in 2005 . In mid-2006 , Frank purchased the ownership interest of all existing family members , most of whom were second and third generation descendants of Mr . Crow . In 2010 , the family , employees and companies suffered the untimely passing of Frank and his four children inherited the equal ownership of both Capital and Colonial Trailways .
Today our companies continue to partner with Greyhound on schedule routes and primarily provide charter and tour services to large travel groups , schoolchildren on fieldtrips , high school , college and university athletics , military and national guard troop movements , evacuees from natural disasters , semi-pro teams , seniors travel clubs , Greek Life organizations , Mardi Gras associations , sports fans , music groups and so much more . We are the lifeblood of safe travel and premiere transportation for many !
Suzanne Thornburg ( formerly Montgomery ) is the mother of Frank ’ s four children and became a member of the board of directors representing her children ’ s interest shortly after Frank ’ s death . She has served nearly 25 years in the banking , finance , investment and insurance industries in multiple positions including branch management , private banking and commercial banking officer . On the announcement of the then current president ’ s pending retirement plans in 2018 , Suzanne was asked to become the new president and CEO of the companies and accepted the position and the challenge in May of 2019 .
“ Our companies were flourishing at the time I stepped into the day-to-day activities and management ,” Suzanne stated . “ We were performing well in sales , service and revenue and focusing on shoring up the age of our fleet , improving technologies across our locations and streamlining processes to more effectively manage our operations . Little did I know that COVID-19 was to come . It truly devastated our industry , our companies and our employees . The heartbreak I felt in having to send my people home and not know if I would be able to call them back to work again after 90 years of industry existence crushed me . We still have some who have not been able to return . I truly believe in the power of prayer and that God has directed us through this plight . No man can take credit for where we have been , how we have changed and what we have persevered so far . We give Him all the glory for our survival to date and will continue to do so for our continued sustainability . My people have worked so very hard and have never given up on focusing on tomorrow . That ’ s true commitment and that is what our industry as a whole is composed of , real people with grit and dedication . We remain faithful and continue to pray for God ’ s guidance and direction to see us through COVID-19 and hopefully another 90 years .”
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