How to Make Money As a Tour Bus Operator
Travelers often choose guided bus tours as a way to get to know a new city or town. According to the First Research industry profiling organization, the United States travel service industry is made up of close to 20,000 companies earning revenues of $40 billion per year. If you enjoy driving, sharing your love of a city and meeting new people, a career as a tour bus operator may be a good match. The United States Department of Labor cites that the average salary of a non-school-bus driver is approximately $17 per hour, which may be enhanced by tips from travelers.
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Instructions
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Contact your state's department of transportation to see whether your current qualifications and training are acceptable for tour bus operators. For example, the United States Department of Labor states that tour bus drivers must have a Commercial Driver's License and passenger endorsement (earned through a three- to eight-week program, physical exam and classroom testing), high school diploma and health qualifications such as 20/40 vision, no instances of epilepsy or heart problems and no problem with colors (persons who are colorblind may not be able to become tour bus drivers).
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Decide whether you want to work as a tour bus operator in your own town or another destination. Considerations include whether your town is a tourist spot; if not, you will have to relocate to an area where tour bus operators are employed, such as popular family travel areas like Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida or cities that draw international crowds such as New York.
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Research the current tour bus companies in your town (or preferred destination). Search the city or state's tourism website for clues; many have lists of tour companies. Visit their home pages and look for a link for "Employment" or "Jobs."
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Review job openings and requirements. For example, the Gray Line New York tour bus company's job description for a tour bus operator requires a Commercial Driver's License Class B with passenger endorsements, 19-A certification, up to two years' driving experience, fewer than three points on the applicant's license, availability to work nights, weekends and holidays and the ability to lift at least 25 pounds. Tour bus companies may also require drug and criminal background checks.
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Apply to the company and undertake all training and testing programs. For example, Gray Line drivers must take a road test, driver-training program and map-reading test. In Los Angeles, the LACityTours company requires its bus drivers to demonstrate knowledge of the Los Angeles area via a written test and hold a Class B license (which is a specialty area of vehicles more than 26,001 pounds) with passenger endorsement.
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Study your town and tour route. If your company doesn't have a no-tipping policy, you have the potential of earning a bit more money. To maximize your tips, provide a safe, interesting ride for your passengers. Find out about celebrities who live nearby, famous political events and even trivia you can relay to your riders as you drive them. Check the Internet, the town's website, the historical library and stay up-to-date by reading the daily newspaper.
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