Motor Coach Operators?

Well, everyone has their own likes and dislikes. To me, carrying passengers is nothing but a PITA. In my much younger days, I used to drive for Grey Line Sightseeing out of Denver. I also drove, (very briefly) a transit bus for the old Denver Tram Company. At that time, they were the city bus line for the metro Denver area.

Passengers are much more difficult to deal with, (IMNHO) than freight. And yet there are people who seem to be "born to it." But unless you are truly a "people person," it would be one of the worst career choices possible.

There are a lot of "bus driving" jobs around. From hauling school kids, (and no, you are NOT allowed to beat the snot out of the little b*stards no matter how much they deserve it,) to driving city bus lines, sight seeing buses, charters, and then of course the lines, such as Greyhound.

It pays fairly well. Sightseeing and charter, you can actually make quite a bit of money on tips. Or not. Depends on your personality and what kind of a run you happen to draw.

There are other monetary perks to the sight seeing buses. Most drivers will get their meals and often lodging furnished. Most drivers work a deal with gift shops where they get a percentage of sales to their passengers. It is really a win/win for everyone except the tourons. And that is a term you will get all too familiar with. Tourons are folks who are morons anyway, and then become tourists. Tourists, just by the nature of the beast, are usually totally clueless anyhow.

On the public bus lines, whether local or point to point, you are going to have a certain percentage of folks that are the low life scum of the earth. They will often be folks who are seriously mentally challenged, and/or impaired due to alcohol or drugs. These of course are not the majority of our fairs, but there are enough of them that you need to consider it.

I don't know what Greyhound is like now, but I know that years ago, they required everyone to go through their driving school in Texas. I'm sure they still do. Your charter companies can be anything from well run established companies to fly by night outfits where you will have to fight to get paid.

If you are seriously considering this, do a bit of a background check on whatever company you are looking at.

There is one (at least) other type that I forgot to mention. The buses in the National Parks systems. These are usually seasonal jobs. Yes, they are in some beautiful country. But you will be driving the same exact 25-50 miles at 25+/- MPH all day long. Answering the same questions. From what I've seen they don't pay particularly well, and of course don't have benefits as they are seasonal.

 

You are actually in a pretty good area for the charters and tours I believe. I live between St. George and Zion NP and see quite a few buses out of Vegas up here.

Have no idea what CAT is doing right now as far as hiring.

 

Considering the condition of the Clark County School District, unless you have a LOT of whiskers there, I'd say your in a fairly precarious position anyhow. We get CH 3 up here, and they are always blabbing on the news about the teacher layoffs. That is if they aren't blabbering about the teacher shortage. Makes me wonder what is REALLY going on there. . .

 

there are different hours of service

10 in 15, clock stops, no reset

considering a charter company, but would want to do 1 yr. otr first

not my first time driving a bus

 

Since we are speaking of motor coaches, if one has a Class "A" and would like a back up plan(driving buses)for in the future, what is the process for a a passenger endorsement, with a Class "A" already ?