Hard time finding bus drivers

I was a motorcoach driver for 20 years, and have been an OTR truck driver for two months now. I made the switch because my very best year (2017) I made $55k, working a lot of overtime (as was out of town on long charters for a total of 10 weeks). I figured if I was gonna work that hard, I might as well drive a truck.

It’s all about the money. Offer $25/hour and you’ll find drivers.

 

I don't like my freight talking back to me.

 

Some kid always getting sick,,,

 

Nobody wants to deal with the people
On the bus.
It's as simple as that.

 

I wouldn’t consider a job like that based on money. Just not enough money to attract most. You have to have a great personality and a lot of patience and understanding. These traits are not found in the average truck driver and money is not going to make it materialize out of nowhere.

Most bus lines simply don’t and can’t charge the kind of fares that would be required to attract reliable and well qualified drivers [and be profitable]. I think running a bus coach business is just a path to financial ruin. Too much can go wrong on today’s roads.

 

IDK about financial ruin, a lot of people, for whatever reason, still take the bus. With airports a huge PITA, ( I won't fly unless an emergency), rental cars $100 bucks a day, bus travel makes the most sense. You are right, not many truck drivers want to be bus drivers, but there are many where trucking doesn't work for them, and a stage coach really can be a cushy job. And you never have to worry about pallets or that crabby receiver at the grocery warehouse.

 

Getting into cramped hotel lots and dealing with plan delays and changes and slow and wobbly senior citizens every day doesn’t sound very “cushy” to me. Some people still want to take the bus because fares are stupid cheap being offered by desperate bus operators.

 

As if trucking is any different? Clearly, you aren't cut out to be a bus driver, not sure I am either, but bus drivers are a more compassionate bunch, and see the wobbly old seniors as somebody's mom or dad.

 

Indeed, social media, Facebook Bus groups...the usual suspects. Drivers need to be able to earn a base pay of $65,000 per year to start, working line haul routes, with regular time off. Charter's need to offer the same plus daily per diem and paid lodging.Bonuses, paid benefits , paid time off, cost of living increases also need to be a part of the package. New equipment and well maintained buses that are quickly repaired are also a big plus.

 

Now, that right there is funnnnnnny!