Dreamliner Founder and CEO Rich Thomson is transforming the way artists and executives travel, offering luxurious, customized experiences that bring the comforts of home on the road.
Since its founding in late 2020, Dreamliner has rapidly expanded to become one of the biggest providers of upscale travel coaches for the entertainment industry, serving high-profile clients like Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Drake.
Dreamliner’s rapid rise has been fueled by Thomson’s vision for creating a team of drivers, mechanics, and custom builders who elevate the company’s service beyond traditional expectations.
“Our growth has always been about more than just adding vehicles; it’s about combining the best people, technology, and services to create unmatched experiences for our clients,” he says.
With revenue expected to jump 40% in 2025 and a solidified presence in every major North American music tour, Dreamliner’s future looks brighter than ever.
Broadening its reach
Dreamliner recently took another step toward redefining entertainment logistics by acquiring Denver-based Shomotion and Nashville-based Show Pro. This and other acquisitions have not only expanded Dreamliner’s fleet and facilities but also brought industry veterans like Shomotion’s Michael Scherkenbach and Show Pro’s Kat Stiller and Curtis Jackson into the fold.
The newly combined expertise of these teams, representing over 50 years of industry experience, positions Dreamliner as the largest provider of entertainer coaches and trucking services in the world. With the addition of over 70 trucks, 220 trailers, and state-of-the-art facilities in Denver and Nashville, Dreamliner has extended its reach to include motion picture productions, mobile marketing campaigns, theatrical productions, and festivals across North America.
Bus & Motorcoach News recently connected with Thomson for a Q&A about this company’s unprecedented growth and his plans for his Nashville company.
Bus & Motorcoach News: Considering the expansion into new client categories like motion picture productions and mobile marketing campaigns, what challenges and opportunities do you foresee for transportation providers, and how will Dreamliner equip its operators to handle these changes?
Rich Thomson: Now that we’ve expanded into categories outside of the music industry, we need to build awareness of our full capabilities to the larger entertainment industry, sports media, corporate America, and so on. Companies within the music industry know the extent of what it takes to put on a tour, but diving into these new categories requires us to play the educator role a bit more and open their eyes to what is possible with our services.
BMN: The expected 40% revenue increase in 2025 suggests a period of rapid growth. How does Dreamliner plan to balance growth with maintaining service quality and reliability, particularly in the areas of vehicle maintenance, scheduling, and customer service?
Rich Thomson: We’re fortunate that through our most recent acquisition of Shomotion and ShowPro, we’ve brought on both founder teams to lead the Transportation Services division. Shomotion founder and CEO Michael Scherkenbach will continue to lead the Denver transportation services division, and Show Pro founders and co-owners Kat Stiller and Curtis Jackson will work closely with Scherkenbach to lead the transportation services division. Additionally, we don’t foresee short term service needs since a majority of the acquired trucks and trailers are brand new. We are planning to build out a facility to ensure these divisions are maintained throughout the country.
BMN: Dreamliner has experienced rapid growth since its founding in 2020, completing four acquisitions in just four years. What inspired you to start Dreamliner, and to what do you attribute the company’s accelerated growth and success?
RT: I learned about the industry while I was running my other company, Caprice Capital Partners. I saw it as a niche business with a lot of investment parameters that piqued my interest and got me thinking about the industry as a whole. I ended up getting a phone call during the pandemic and had the opportunity to invest in 12 coaches.
I was an outsider in the industry, so I brought a new lens to the business and how to organize the infrastructure, service clients and price services. Instead of simply leasing buses to people, I see the entertainment logistics industry as a true high-end product providing white glove service to high-profile clientele. A big part of Dreamliner’s success comes from the accountability that we promise. Our clients know that our team will always show up if there’s an issue. I also involve myself directly in the day-to-day of the company, which clients appreciate.
BMN: With the integration of Shomotion and Show Pro into Dreamliner, how have you managed to align different company cultures?
Joining forces with Shomotion and Show Pro was seamless since our values and work ethics aligned so well. Michael, Curtis and Kat are all powerhouses in the industry, and all of their employees are extremely loyal and have been with them for a long time. Additionally, the acquisition brings positive movement to company culture by providing infrastructure and support, including more cohesive benefits and insurance.
BMN: Looking back on your journey from founding Dreamliner to acquiring key players in the industry, what were the most significant challenges you faced, and what advice would you give to other operators looking to expand their businesses in the transportation and logistics sector?
RT: Our biggest challenge has been scaling quickly while continuing to run the business smoothly. As we grew exponentially, we went from a small, close-knit team who handled everything to multiple specialized teams in finance, accounting, IT, and operations. Managing and streamlining communication across all teams has been our biggest hurdle, but we’re working tirelessly to ensure we’re establishing a solid foundation.
BMN: When you launched Dreamliner, what was your original vision for the company, and how has that vision evolved with these recent acquisitions? Looking ahead, where do you see Dreamliner in the next five years in terms of service offerings and industry impact?
RT: I’ve always had the dream to become a key player in the space, but where Dreamliner is today is far beyond what I could have imagined. The company started out as a passion project, but seeing how this has all come to fruition in the past four years has truly been a blessing. Now, we need to put our head down and focus on making sure that all segments and businesses are fully integrated and that we’re leveraging any and all synergies from the team and people that we have. We also will always keep an eye out for new talent that can help us grow and expand.
