
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 August 6, 1997

Board of Directors
Coach USA, Inc.
One Riverway, Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77056

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            The undersigned, Senior Vice President and General Counsel to Coach
USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") is delivering this opinion in
connection with the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the
"Registration Statement") relating to the registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the offer by the Company to
exchange up to $150,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 9 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes Due 2007, Series B (the "Exchange Notes") for its existing
9 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007, Series A (the "Existing Notes"). The
Exchange Notes are proposed to be issued in accordance with the provisions of
the indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of June 24, 1997, between the Company,
the guarantors named therein (the "Guarantors") and The Bank of New York, as
Trustee.

            In arriving at the opinions expressed below, I have examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus contained therein, the Indenture which is
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and the originals or copies
certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction of such other instruments
and other certificates of public officials and officers and representatives of
the Company. In such examination, I have assumed and have not verified (i) that
the signatures on all documents that I have examined are genuine, (ii) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, (iii) the conformity
with the authentic originals of all documents submitted to me as certified,
photostatic or faxed copies, and (iv) that all documents in respect of which
forms were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
Registration Statement will conform in all material respects to the forms
thereof that I have examined. In addition, as the basis for the opinion
hereinafter expressed, I have examined such statutes, regulations, corporate
records and documents, certificates of corporate and public officials and other
instruments as I have deemed necessary or advisable for the purposes of this
opinion.
<PAGE>
Board of Directors
Coach USA, Inc.
August 6, 1997

            Based upon the foregoing, having due regard for such legal
considerations as I deem relevant and assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery of the Exchange Notes by the Company, I am of the opinion that the
Indenture, Exchange Notes and the guarantee of each of the Guarantors (the
"Guarantees"), (a) when the Notes have been exchanged in the manner described in
the Registration Statement, (b) when the Exchange Notes have been duly executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, (c) when the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and (d) when applicable provisions of "blue
sky" laws have been complied with, will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company and the Guarantors, entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture and enforceable against the Company and the Guarantors in accordance
with their terms, except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights of
acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
equitable principles of general applicability and (iii) rights to indemnity and
contribution thereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws of
public policy relating thereto.

            This opinion is limited in all respects to the laws of the State of
Texas and the Delaware General Corporation Law. I express no opinion as to, and
for the purposes of the opinions set forth herein, I have conducted no
investigation of, and do not purport to be an expert on, any laws other than the
laws of the State of Texas and the Delaware General Corporation Law. I hereby
consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    Douglas M. Cerney
                                    Senior Vice President and General Counsel
                                    Coach USA, Inc.

