Coach Bus

[Armadillo]

I know it's not necessarally trucking related, but it is CDL related. I drove 10 wheelers and big rigs for 4 years in the armored industry. Three years ago I was lucky enough to be hired on by my city's Fire Dept, where I now work a 24 hour shift every 4 days. I been wanting to get back into trucking part time for a while but my odd schedule and part time availability are (understandable) road blocks. A good buddy of mine started driving coach bus for Yankee Trails and few months ago. I spoke extensively about it he loves it, only complaint he has is of other drivers bitching and moaning (as we all know drivers can do). He also informed me they welcome part timers because odd schedules fit their operations.

Just wondering if anyone out there has any experience driving coach buses (tours and charters) and if they could share their experiences, what they did or didn't like, etc.

As always any info appreciated and ya'll keep the shiny side up

 

[GAnthony]

i only gave that type of driving a thought, but never pursued it. many bus companies will hire someone with a CDL and train them to drive the bus and take you to the DMV for your road test.

to me, unless it's a full time job, like running shuttles to Atlantic City, or any of the gambling casinos, then one has to wonder if he/she can survive on the infrequent work week. i do not think that driving (say for instance) a tour bus for a group tour can make one survive each week.

maybe a bus driver for an entertainer one can survive, but then i do also believe that one becomes a stage hand as well.

 

[Duck]

[MENTION=1656]2xR[/MENTION] on here just started driving tour buses not too long ago. Maybe he'll shed some light on the subject.

 

[jaiart]

I know it's not necessarally trucking related, but it is CDL related. I drove 10 wheelers and big rigs for 4 years in the armored industry. Three years ago I was lucky enough to be hired on by my city's Fire Dept, where I now work a 24 hour shift every 4 days. I been wanting to get back into trucking part time for a while but my odd schedule and part time availability are (understandable) road blocks. A good buddy of mine started driving coach bus for Yankee Trails and few months ago. I spoke extensively about it he loves it, only complaint he has is of other drivers bitching and moaning (as we all know drivers can do). He also informed me they welcome part timers because odd schedules fit their operations.

Just wondering if anyone out there has any experience driving coach buses (tours and charters) and if they could share their experiences, what they did or didn't like, etc.

As always any info appreciated and ya'll keep the shiny side up

Yup, drove coaches in 96/97. Driving a bus now part time. Not a coach, a former school bus. Decent work but the best/worst part about coaches in the cargo.

 

[jaiart]

i only gave that type of driving a thought, but never pursued it. many bus companies will hire someone with a CDL and train them to drive the bus and take you to the DMV for your road test.

to me, unless it's a full time job, like running shuttles to Atlantic City, or any of the gambling casinos, then one has to wonder if he/she can survive on the infrequent work week. i do not think that driving (say for instance) a tour bus for a group tour can make one survive each week.

maybe a bus driver for an entertainer one can survive, but then i do also believe that one becomes a stage hand as well.

Well actually it depends on where you live. In Georgia there are motor style coaches running commuter duty from everywhere. Not OTR but line haul and livable income, home daily, etc... So many options abound for coach drivers. Just have to search em out. Right now my former coach employer is hiring but it's tour/ line haul opportunity.

 

[Armadillo]

Money wouldn't necessarally be an issue, it'd only be a part time gig and as long as a couple over nighters a week brought in a few hundred dollars, it'd be kosher. My concern would be how often issues with passengers arise. I'd imagine they'd be more common on commercial motor coaches as opposed to charters and tours, but don't know for sure

 

[jaiart]

Money wouldn't necessarally be an issue, it'd only be a part time gig and as long as a couple over nighters a week brought in a few hundred dollars, it'd be kosher. My concern would be how often issues with passengers arise. I'd imagine they'd be more common on commercial motor coaches as opposed to charters and tours, but don't know for sure

People are people and all have issue's but you'll be fine. Heck look into Greyhound.

 

[Duck]

One time I stopped at a Flying J somewhere in Utah. I think I took a 10 hr break there. Anyway when I got up, there was a Greyhound parked next to my truck, & there were a few empty spaces between me & the bus. All the passengers were out & walking around. I noticed a girl who looked probably 18 yrs old or so, walk behind my trailer. I looked in the right mirror & saw her standing next to my trailer tandems, hiding from the other bus passengers, smoking weed.

So I've always wondered what happens to the driver if he happens to be somewhere & cops happen to walk their drug sniffing dogs past the bus & a passenger has weed in his baggage?

In Illinois, with passenger cars, the law states that if the weed is on a passenger's person, like in their pocket, then it's on them. But if it's anywhere in the vehicle other than a on a passenger's person, it's the driver's fault.

I don't know if the law is different regarding buses though. But it's something I'd want to find out before driving a bus full of people who got sent home from some mega-fleet's orientation because they failed their whizz quiz.