Passenger Endprsement

I used to drive for a company out of Louisville, Ky. I have my CDL-A (H & P), and this is all that is requried to drive a motor coach (the "P" that is). However if your license has a "L" on it for CDL Restr don't worry about it. That is for Articulating buses (Busses that fold in the center) and there are only a few places in major cities where these are licensed to operate. You will need to take a road test, including pretrip inspection, and demonstrage passenger loading/unloading, operate emergency exits, ect.
The better companies will train you, takes about 4 days, and give you a bus to take the test. Once you get the "P" then your good to cross state lines, but if you work for some companies (Mine did) I also had to go take the School buss test. You'll need to test in a "Similar" type motor coach to what you will be driving. And there are different classes of Motor Coach. The "P" will allow you to drive anything, but your employer will require additional training to drive the bigger Coaches. For the School bus test you'll have to retest again in a school bus, including the pretrip. Having your Class A helps alot because you'v already been through the pretrip. There not much different except for the school bus which has a lot more items to check/Know.

 

Looks like you knew what you needed to do from the get-go. Since the motor coaches in your area won't help you, you could try school bus companies.

Despite your intentions, you must complete the bus test in order to get the passenger endorsement. You may be able to do this in an appropriately sized van. That's part of the whole "test with the vehicle that is used for your endorsement" part. You wouldn't expect someone to get a tanker endorsement without taking the tanker driving test, would you?

 

Passenger endorsement is the only one that requires you to take the road test is a similar vehicle. Tankers do not, doubles and triples do not, and so one. That's because the working are just about the same on all trucks. Your skills test will verify what you know about that specific trailer.

 

Greyhound is only hiring in three cities right now and they all are in your neck of the woods. Washington D.C., Philly & New York. You just have to work there for 90 days then you can just transfer/bid to the terminal that is close to you.

Also do not count on any "P" endorsement training being 3 or 4 days it is more like 3 or 4 weeks. The good thing is almost all companys pay you while in training.

Goodluck!

 

O.k, there maybe two explainations for this. #1. He is driving a "Couch" that has been titled as an RV. Even though there are many RV's that are made on Bus chassis, if they are titled as an RV, you don't need a CDL to drive it. The second is, remember the rule with Busses. If it holds less than 16 people then you don't need the "P" endorsement on your license. There also DOT regulations that differentiate between a commercial carrier (Private Passenger) (Business) I.E. Bands, and Private Passenger Non-Business. And of Course "For Hire" (Trailways, Grayhound), so some again, depending on what the Vehicle is registerd for on the MCS150, will determine the drivers endorsement requirements.

The best thing to do, is to see if there is anyone around you who needs a driver part time, and will train you as such. You'll get the same training, and take you test. Then drive for them on a few trips, and then go after the job you want. There are schools which will train you, and give you a bus to test. But their like any other CDL school, their not cheap!