Tour bus company drivers

I drove for a short time for White Knight here in Columbia, MO. The pay was only $110 per day, plus tips.

I also worked in the music business for 17 years as a sound engineer/tour manager. During that time, when leasing a motorcoach, the driver made $165 per day up to 500 miles. Over 500 miles in one day (called an overdrive) netted him another $165.

 

I'm driving a passenger bus now for Jefferson Lines and have talked to some of the drivers that have done charters/tours. From what they said, this type of job is best suited for retirees or those who have some other source of income because most of the work is part-time, or seasonal, and there's usually no medical insurance, or if there is, it's not very good.

 

I ain't hauling no freight that will talk back.

 

I had a couple of friends that drove buses for tour companies and both had driven for Greyhound. They said Greyhound was like hauling drunk welfare Moms, drug addicts and weirdos from one place to another. He said when Greyhound would hire out to do high school trips, drivers would run from the detail. One said that tour buses were better, as most tour groups were decent. Alot of Senior Citizen groups, but you always had one or two *ssholes, in the bunch, and alot of constant complainers. My thing is after years in Law Enforcement, I don't want to deal with people. When I drive, put me by myself. I can rely on me. I like the quite time alone.

 

I hear that a lot from my trucker friends, and there are some difficult days, but overall I really enjoy the interaction with the public as opposed to driving 10-11 hours alone. I also like getting to sleep in a real bed every night.

But I may wind up back in trucking eventually as the pay is less. I make .34 but just don't get the miles. I had surgery over the summer, and another surgery just three weeks ago, so I wanted to do something where I would get more rest.

 

I agree... its bad enough dealing with cranky shippers and receivers...!

 

Fine, I'm outa here. Just passed another truck.

 

Find you a job, stay with it for several years. Then...

Start looking again. I have 2 friends that drive Tour Buses. And the money they make is ungodly!!!

The company they drive for requires 5 years minimum experience, and an ability to stay out for at least 6 months at a time during tours, they also cater to the music industry. Some professional tours last up to 9 months.

I was recently shown a check stub... One week $2700 cleared. Needless to say, I wanted to cry. I don't have any bus experience

Work UP the ladder, not down.