My ex-wife used to be on what her company called "24-hour dispatch" which meant she would receive 2-24 hours notice. More than once she'd get a call at 1AM and be told "be at the yard for 5AM, you're going to North Carolina for 4 days". Fortunately, at the time she lived next door. More than once I woke up to a 2 year old in my bed and a note on the kitchen table.
I am a retired trucker I never drove a coach bus or charter bus my cargo never talked back or required food & restroom breaks I personally required those breaks LOL You have a good Chanel keep up the good job
I purchased a commercial Garman GPS. When you turn it on you enter height, weight, and length. It does a pretty good job routing you. When I got my CDL back in 1994 we were required to take a map reading class. I just use the GPS as a guidance tool. I trip plan looking at a map.
We had Rand-McNally map books and pay phones. NO GPS, NO Google earth, No cell phones. Senior Drivers are a great source of information. F.Y.I. Be extremely careful when in large cities like Chicago, during and after a snow storm. Compacted snow will raise the height of a vehicle to where it might not clear a low bridge. And watch for streets that have been freshly paved with new blacktop. Bridge signs are the last thing a city worries about.
Oh yes, I remember the map books. I still carry one even today. I also have a truckers gps ( Garmin ), a tablet and a laptop. I rarely get lost or can't find a destination anymore. Chicago in a bus higher than 12 foot is a pain at any time of the year with the "L" bridges at 12 foot for the most part.
Many years ago, my parents and I took Greyhound from San Francisco to Milwaukee. The driver got on the PA and told everyone that we were approaching Denver. She had been working for Greyhound for “x” amount of years and was called in to do part of that run. Then there was a sympathetic plea for someone to help her get to the station because she had never been to Denver before. Well, we got to the station but she couldn’t find the entrance, so, she used the exit. Everyone on the bus thanked her for her honesty.
I love your videos so much! I am a motorcoach operator in Europe and your videos are really quality material for new professionals in our job. Thank you very much!
Coach work lasted only 2 months, then Diabetes hit me and my CDL...after getting my sugars in control, then T/T work stepped into my life..Loved it the most..Now 65, decided to lay back a bit.
James: Recently made a road trip from Michigan to Cape Cod and back. Saw a Peoria Charter Coach for the first time: Eastbound I-90, rest stop a few miles west of Albany, NY on June 19th. The coach was a very new looking VanHool... the driver was a tall "senior" gentlemen (hey... I'm 65... I can say that!) helping his passengers stepping off. YOUR RUclips station is the reason I noticed and watched for a moment. Everything I saw said "first class" opereration. Congrats to your team!
I can relate to how you felt after hearing your first group of passengers complimenting you on your driving. I remember taking a church youth group on a ski trip to the Poconos in the early 2000s. Upon returning to their origin, the group leader thanked me for the smooth trip there and back, and how the company had sent the right driver for the job. It was at that time that I informed him that this was my first time driving up to the Poconos. He was shocked to hear me say that, and congratulated me for a job well done, which was definitely a confidence booster! 😁
one comment about using GPS to plan trips: buy a special trucker's GPS not the one on your smart phone . The trucker's version GPS is different since normal GPS will not show low underpasses which a person driving a car or van would not to need to worry about
It is a good idea to ask management if they have made the trip before incase there are low bridges or any other surprises ! It is nice to map the trip out ahead of time so you don't look like you don't know where your going.
I started my OTR career at 22 myself lol, Back in the days before GPS and Google earth. Company i worked for gave us all low bridge maps for Chicago. Kept us out of trouble for the most part. Things sure have changed in the 25 years I’ve been driving. As always enjoy the content!
I had a similar experience where I did a charter and one of the people said “how long have you been doing this?” As he was probably thinking I’m too young, even though I was 38 but look like I’m in my 20s. Well after the long day and safely dropping them back he thanked me and said he’d use me again. That was a nice compliment. The best one I’ve ever had is when I did a charter for a group of police officers from Canada and the USA, and they thanked me for driving safely (in a snow storm) and even said they wanted me to drive them back to the airport. I also use google maps to plan my trip, see if there’s parking and what the area looks like for the drop off point. I’m Enjoying your videos, cheers from Canada.
I started my career at 22 myself I chose long haul trucking though but regardless man if you choose a driving career you always remember your first trip. Mine I was nervous beyond belief scared to death to be accurate I finally got to stop for my 10 hour break an no sooner I back into a luckily easy spot I vomited my guts out.
While I'm not a professional motorcoach operator, when my wife and I plan road trips, as we do regularly, I will do a lot of the same things you do to prepare if it's somewhere I haven't driven before. Google Street View is great for things like seeing what landmarks are near a certain place, how lanes are configured for freeway interchanges, etc. I also have a good memory for places I have been before, which came in very handy one time in downtown Atlanta using side streets to get around a long delay from a crash on I-75/I-85. It seems to work to impress my wife! "He always gets us right were we wanted to go!" she tells her parents. Speaking of which, no apologies needed for taking some family time with July 4 coming up. We all enjoy your videos and look forward to new material, but family definitely comes first!
i love story's those who can not handle them, do not watch. man cant just please the entire world, but he can do things his way, it works for him, why change it.
just to add a tip I do in my planning if im driving to a new venue and im not getting much info online about buses ill call the venue and ask about drop off and parking. Ive had a few compliments for doing my research by reaching out as every venue is different
I drive a semi truck otr it’s interesting to see the differences in ur job versus mine and the similarities. All cdl drivers are underpaid but it’s certainly rewarding. U got a nice channel keep up the good work.
In the clip you showed, I would’ve left that bus on the mountain 😂. But this video is very Insightful. I may be transitioning from city bus to coach soon, so thank you for the information.
LOL, at our garage, they actually told us to ask passengers if we get lost. We had the contract for the county transit (Gillig Phantoms, and Orion III) and some of those routes were so rare that only a handful of drivers ever did them, and they would change A LOT (thanks to the county), so if you did it in training, by the time you were told do the 91 Limited, it would be a different route. And if the usual guy was sick that day...then youre on your own. So, yeah, you ask. BUT... You ask in a confident manner, and show that you know your rig, and you master the vehicle, and its merely an issue of ever changing routes, and its fine. Even when I got lost after a storm, no lights, no landmarks you could see at 2am, moonless night, I end up on an ever shrinking road into a dead end. Not even a culdesac. Im in a MCI D4000...no porch lights, nothing. Oh, and street parking too. I had to back up for over 2 miles. We didnt have gps back then, and cell phones were just Nokia bricks....otherwise I would have been on RUclips doing that move LOL (and not in a good way)
@@MotorcoachWorld Yeah, I sometimes forget how the phones changed a lot of things. SOme good some bad. I def dont know about having a bunch of cell phones pointed at you when youre new and all that.
Hi James I love your channel. I drive for adventure tours in md,also do flixbus I really love this job.you give me really good information on coach buses which is really great.keep up the good work.
Well done, thank you for keeping it interesting. Motor Coach World is producing some quality, unbiased, videos, that we will use for our own driver training.... International Stage Lines, Vancouver BC.
You mentioning sticky situation reminded me of when all five buses on band trip took a wrong turn and we got into a situation where we had to make a U-turn. Let’s just say it was quite interesting since it was and intersection we turned around in, and it was on a narrow country road.
If we had GPS i would not had been silver hair in my 50s , had every hotel book that they use to put out , had a little map , paid a few cabs as i came into a major city to show me to my hotel or destination , I loved driving the Coach , had many grand parents , I was Lucky to work for a company that assigned us the same Coach 99% of the time , Took pride in what I did , Like the 1000s of other coach drivers , always sharing Info to help each other have a great trip , great tips ,
Hi James, a lot of sound advice presented. I drove an Airport Shuttle for about 10 years ( Super Shuttle ) now defunct. The art of making your guests feel confident that they are in good hands is something I tried to put into play. I did lots of back and forth to SFO about 20 + paks a day, people from all walks of life ( the good and not so good ). Keep up the good work. Cheers from San Francisco.
I used to have a map case with all the graphic street maps and new roads drawn in by hand with notes written in all the margins. Now instead I just use three different GPS systems simultaneously. One of them fell off the windshield as I was driving on a charter trip earlier today. It didn't bother me in the slightest. It didn't bother me because I already knew where I was going because of my pre-trip research and also I still had two other GPS units running. I've never had all three of them fail at the same time. Occasionally passengers do ask about running all three units and I tell them the truth. I tell them that I have triple redundancy for both safety and efficiency and that They pull their traffic information from different sources so one often gets the jump on the others. One tends to have more logical routing, but one of the other ones tends to know exactly where the entrance you need to be is. And most importantly, I don't like surprises on a trip. Upon hearing that I've never had a passenger say anything other than some variation of " Oh, that makes sense." Before I leave I also pack everything in the coach where I want it to be. I put my lunch bag and my driver bag in the overhead drivers compartment. I get out my metal toolbox from my driver's bag that has my GPS and their mounting hardware along with the 12 volt to USB cigarette lighter adapters and their various cables and quickly get them set up. And then put my empty case back in the driver's bag. Also inside the driver bag. I carry a smaller driver's bag that I keep right next to me with items I might want to access quickly while on a trip things like pens, sunglasses, an extra flashlight, gloves and a spare set of Bluetooth headsets. I also carry a toolbox on any trip that takes me beyond my immediate local area. I don't use it all the time but I have needed it before. Recently I have tightened a loose screw on the entry door. Repaired a city horn that had a loose connection. About 2 months ago I also changed a headlight in a Buc-ee's parking lot while my group was inside enjoying barbecue brisket. (The headlight itself had come from an AutoZone across the street).
To all the truckers. I salute your hard work, but even though driving buses might be a little more head wrecking, its more fun and adventurous that trucking could ever be. I operate buses sometime, as I work for the mta and have my cdl. Its fun, especially since I operate in queens new york, where the people are really respectful (most of the time), and you don't have much problems. Not too much people nagging, but still enough to stay your driving normal human beings. There isn't much crowding, but enough to make you sure you driving this bus In this shift, had made an impact of many peoples commute, hopefully in a positive way. I wish more people who like busses just go for it, instead of looking for some high paying job that you don't love. Especially in NYC, being an operator of any sort gives you a healthy wage. I think its mostly because of the time and effort you must put in, but if you love what your doing, its easy. An example I have of that is when I operated the D train, I believe. The trip was LONG. The d had to run local, and stop at every single stop. The trip took about 1 hour and 50 minutes, but its not the same as driving a coach for 7 to 9 hours straight, I understand, but busses are flexible like that. Train operators must worry to stop at the right mark, and make sure you watch out for signals every single second, weather thag the highways with no signals at all. Both jobs are tough In their respectivness, but I enjoy operating, wither it be city route, or a charter drive or a train route, wither it be a old model like an r 46 or the newer r179 or r 143. I love what do. :)
& iam also a newer C.D.L HOLDER issued on 07-23-20,,& have truly always wanted to drive a charter bus ,,soo if have any helpful information 4 me this is my email address/ jrj196750@gmail.com
Awesome video, watched this one at least five times. Love the ideas that drivers shared. You should do more like this one, SO SO HELPFUL! I loved the red carpet thing but I can’t figure out why he said a portable pressure washer 😳. How would he use it and what for????🤔 ✌️out.
Yup, knowing where you're going helps. I've been on a Greyhound (not a charter, but regular scheduled route) and the driver realized he wasn't heading for the station. He had to turn around and head back to the main road. On the way back he did find the turn he missed.
fun fact: in Brazil bus lines can be as regulated as airlines meaning the driver has to stop at specific points to eat, refuel and even sleep. on long trips is mandatory have at least 2 drivers (1 driving one resting) and double deck buses have something simular to the CRA (Crew Resting Areas) of Airplanes and on these buses is normal have 3 drivers. many times on the same route a company stop their buses on a restaurant while the other stops on a restaurant 100kms away
I have a Class B with airbrakes and SPAB as I took my driving test many years ago on a school bus, but never got to drive a charter bus. Thanks for the info. It sounds too difficult and terrifying and I much prefer to stick to driving sedans, SUV'S, stretch limos and Sprinters
I had to chuckle when you mentioned having days notice before a trip. Back when I started at the Hound and worked the extra board, on call 24/7 with a two hour report. Never knew where you were going even if you watched the board or when you were going to be called. Often times run drivers would call off at the last minute a the board would change or the driver ahead of you on the board would call off and move you up. You may have a middle of the night dead head to reposition equipment states away, or a night run that involved crossing multiple mountain passes in the dead of winter. We always had paper route guides that were sometimes outdated, stops moved ect and you were on your own without GPS which is never allowed. It was a time that kept you tilted and made me grateful when I could finally hold a run. Looking back I sometimes wonder how I survived it.
In 2016 in a group of about 35 on trip to Miami, we land at Fort Lauderdale airport there is long lines to get through border/custom checkpoint, finding our charter coach bus for the drive to our hotel in Miami. Head count is done and we are 1 person short (!!). After about 2 hours we finally get a call from the missing person. He was denied entry by border agents and is being returned on next flight. Now its about 23:40 and we are finally on the road heading for the hotel and our unfortunate driver has a hard time staying awake and at one point nearly drives off the road. Some things one just can’t plan for.
oh this guy, its his fault to why im not a tour coach driver, such a great change in careers, i have a scania K310 42 seater with a body by coach design out of australia
Hey James. As an OTR truck driver I've always wondered what do coach drivers do at weight stations. I see signs that say "busses weigh." And I wonder how you would explain to your passengers what's happening? And thank you for your videos, I now know I'm not alone!
I have found most passengers find the weight station interesting, they always wondered what weight stations are and how they operate. I have played a game as who can guess the weight. Because we are loaded with people, I have never been asked for documentation… always given a green light.
@@lukethompson5558 to get some “appropriate” weight on each axel of the vehicle. Trucks do this by sliding the ditch wheel or trailer axels back or forth. Busses can’t do that so I hence why I was making the joke
Rule #1 never leave stuff on a bus because it absolutely will get changed on you. Store it somewhere and reload with the bus you have the next day. If you are OTR though that’s the perk, you get the same bus for a while.
Since moving to Maine in March this year, my major airline hub is Boston Logan. I prefer taking the Concord Coach lines, particularly the route from Portland to Boston Logan and/or Boston South Station, rather than the longer duration Amtrak "Downeaster" service, which terminates at Boston North Station (TD Stadium Bruins & Celtics) and requires a connection with the MBTA - I will spare other readers with the details.
You forgot the part about when prepping for a winter trip to the Trapp Family Lodge, in Stowe, VT... Two salamanders to keep everything south of the drive wheels from freezing overnight, chain sets for the drive wheels, an alcohol canister for the air system; and oh, yes, the backup mechanic, his 12-string guitar, and repertoire of "not-so-clean" classics, most, John Valby tunes - to keep the Ivy League school's skiing trip participants entertained. (and help chain the drive wheels) IT TWAS A BRAND-NEW 96-A, FRESH OUTTA PEMBINA!!
Then at the end of the trip, don’t forget about all the paperwork! I see all the drivers spending a good amount of time always finalizing paperwork at the end of a trip too
I was a passenger on a coach in 2018 where the driver followed GPS and ended up on a narrow two lane dead end road (road was blocked off) in the middle of farmer's fields. Had to pull out my phone to figure out where we were and help him back up a kilometer or two to a muddy commercial lot where he could do a multi point turn and get back on the main road.
You would really regret asking my dad if he had any suggestions on the route to take. You would get stuck in a half-hour long conversation about roads and directions and how things used to be back in the old days
We do many winter trips across the Cascade mountains which receive lots of snow, between 400 and 600 inches a year. There are only 3 roads crossing the mountains, so options are limited during big storms. Frequently the primary (shortest distance) route gets closed due to clearing avalanches and cleanup. Another reason for closures is Tonka Toys (that's CDL for pickup) ignoring chain up requirements that end up blocking the road. Closures are typically 2 hours but can extend to 6, 8 or 12 hours. I worked out a spreadsheet of detours and the differences in time and distance for each compared to the primary route, I-90. When a closure is in effect, I consult my spreadsheet and decide if a detour is warranted. Take a 2 hour closure, add running chains at 35 mph for 50 miles, then chain removal and another 50+ miles of snow covered highway at less than the speed limit. The total delay in ETA adds up quick. With a widespread event closing all 3 routes across the mountains, it can be faster to detour south to the Columbia river and stay below the snow level. That's a detour of 240 miles, but it often faster than waiting out the mountain closure then riding iron.
Everybody remembers their 1st trip. Pittsburgh for me. I must have planned for 2 days prior and probably annoyed my dispatcher. Ill always remember my group and bus 7700 with Covered Wagon Tours
Amen to plan your trip. Now even when you do this sometimes things just don’t work out especially when you are driving a 45’ Prevost towing a car for a total length of 73’! I have found myself having to unhook the car (you cannot back up with a car attached) in order to turn around. Makes for a bad day and you are very unhappy! Believe me, it makes you check your route very close. You don’t want this to happen again but sometimes construction causes you problems! Speaking of construction. You often wonder on interstate construction who was the idiot that measured the double lane distances especially when some semi in a hurry tries to take off your mirror. Of course it would be your expense and they can be expensive.
My former company had a comprehensive list of "no go" places in the city of Seattle for all drivers. Totally agree about the GPS. It is a tool. The driver is responsible for navigation.
I do the same thing using Google Maps..see if there are any low bridges. I don't want to rip off the roof of the trailer..(18-wheeler driver here). Luckily I go all the same places 98% of the time. One of the most interesting I've delivered to were the NSA (My company is down the street from them here in Maryland). The security is a pain in the ass. The other interesting place was The Capitol Building in DC. That was my pre-CDL days..delivered there in a pick-up truck and they had loading docks underneath.
I have been looking for a passenger bus driver training school since one month ago I haven’t found one yet and it may be rare like a diamond 💎 in Ohio. I’m the brand new seeker for motorcoach operator training school.
Hey still enjoying your videos all the way back from your original channel. Could you maybe do a video on how/when motorcoaches changed to "airline" type build procedures and manufacturing? It seems like a lot of the 1970s/80s busses are just kinda slapped together, wired up however, etc. But then suddenly in the late 90's to today coaches in general dramatically changed. The engineering and manufacturing process behind them really increased in quality (and im sure cost!). We are wrapping up our conversion on our 102el3 renaissance and sometimes the rigging of this vehicle amazes me. It almost seems like the overhead bins come from the same manufacturers as airlines. The bus electrical and mechanical systems became much more complex than that of a typical automobile. Did all of this come about due to some DOT regulation regarding passengers?
When I get a trip for a wedding I always lookup the announcement on line to find out the bride and groom's first names. The trip ticket usually shows just the last name. Then I know who the players are. On one occasion the announcement said that it was a "kid free" event, which was essentially no children. Knowing this I brought my collection of kid DVD's and sure enough, first pickup spot at the hotel, a couple had a 10 year old girl with them. At the wedding venue I told the dad that I had the movies and that they could come back to the bus when ever they wanted. About a half hour before my first departure run, they came to the bus and she picked out "Kung Fu Panda" to watch. I now carry a small DVD case of "G" rated movies in my trip bag.
So….I’ve been meaning to ask. What are your thoughts on the “newer” Star Trek movies? Also love the content. Really glad you’re taking the time to do this. Definitely a industry that isn’t represented or appreciated as much as it should be. I don’t drive…yet, but my dad did for many years for a charter co. In south San Francisco. Once I retire from the military this is likely what I’ll get into. Always been an interest of mine. Thanks
Hey Fireguy84. The newer the stat trek movies are the more they move away from the original star trek formula. Now this could just be me starting to get left behind with the current movie culture. I Personally loved the Next generation and ds9 and Voyager era. I even liked enterprise. thanks for the comment. Appreciate your kind words .
How about the width on the lanes on the road? Because I clipped a mirror on another truck when I learned the lane wasn’t wide enough to cover my bus. I learned that in some areas you may have to split the lane to cover the width of the bus.
Big rig pulling a dry van trailer are 13 ft 6 in height. Once in Minneapolis I went under a bridge 13ft 1in the sign said. I don’t recommend doing that but I made it. Whew!
Every Charter Coach bus driver is required to go over their bus trip schedule log just like your Commercial bus drivers [ Greyhound] and inner city transportation bus drivers [ Chicago's CTA , etc. ] ........ In order to know if any change ups to their routes have changed for any specific reason or another, If not then Charter Coach bus drivers, Commercial bus drivers and inner city transportation bus drivers continue on with they're regular route routines.........
Hi, just came across this video; I think it's great! I'm thinking of become a coach driver. Can you tell me what you think is the right mentality for the job? Thanks.
A little bit of an advice, don't do that at 3:58. Do not steer the wheel unless the vehicle is moving. You damage the wheels without any reason. Drive safe :)
Good question Nick-o. Yes i have been lost before. But i usually get my berings pretty quickly. I always Joke with the passengers when I miss a exit or a turn. I say "I'm not lost every, I just get paid by the mile." I usually get a good laugh out of that.
I apologize if this was already explained, but if you are on a long non-stop trip, do you bring a second driver, that rests for the first part of the trip, or stop and switch drivers along the way?
Hi Brian. Good question. If we have to use multiple drivers for a long trip, we usually have a driver van out in a company van to the switch out point ahead of time.
Hi James. I’m a new motor coach operator, coming over from driving a school bus! My training is beginning shortly, but I’m wondering if you have any advice or tips for me before I begin!
Hey congrats Tyler. I wish you luck on your new job. Maybe we will run into each other one day. I guess the tye one thing that really hit home for me with this job is, never set expectations on when you should be home. If you do, t You will make yourself miserable, anxious, and eager to get home while on a trip. This leads to unsafe driving as well. Never make any personal plans for right after at trip should end. If you can refrain from doing that then you will never put yourself in that boat. Also, one thing I always Ttrain my drivers... even when you are delayed... you are on time.. never rush. Don't let the group push you to get anywhere faster. Sit back relax, drive happy.
i have a funny story. so i was waiting for the bus in lantau island, i herd it and got my octopus card ready... and it was a taxi. i was confused because it was loud like a bus. vehicles are confusing XD
Is there any chance for recliner seat buses to take hold in the US? They are pretty popular in Asia. Any thoughts on sleeper buses, like Cabin between LA and SF?
I just read a comment about weigh stations. I thought passenger buses don't have to stop. And if they are required to do so, can the driver/ vehicle get a full DOT inspection?
My ex-wife used to be on what her company called "24-hour dispatch" which meant she would receive 2-24 hours notice. More than once she'd get a call at 1AM and be told "be at the yard for 5AM, you're going to North Carolina for 4 days". Fortunately, at the time she lived next door. More than once I woke up to a 2 year old in my bed and a note on the kitchen table.
She got her own house? Like next door?
@@honbuzasivells4251 apartment, but yes.
Geez! Good man.
I don't know why, but I find these videos fascinating. Thanks for putting out such great quality content.
Thanks David P. Appreciate the kind words!
Richard williams
@Hello David how are you doing
I am a retired trucker I never drove a coach bus or charter bus my cargo never talked back or required food & restroom breaks I personally required those breaks LOL You have a good Chanel keep up the good job
I purchased a commercial Garman GPS. When you turn it on you enter height, weight, and length. It does a pretty good job routing you. When I got my CDL back in 1994 we were required to take a map reading class. I just use the GPS as a guidance tool. I trip plan looking at a map.
We had Rand-McNally map books and pay phones. NO GPS, NO Google earth, No cell phones. Senior Drivers are a great source of information.
F.Y.I. Be extremely careful when in large cities like Chicago, during and after a snow storm. Compacted snow will raise the height of a vehicle to where it might not clear a low bridge.
And watch for streets that have been freshly paved with new blacktop. Bridge signs are the last thing a city worries about.
Oh yes, I remember the map books. I still carry one even today. I also have a truckers gps ( Garmin ), a tablet and a laptop. I rarely get lost or can't find a destination anymore. Chicago in a bus higher than 12 foot is a pain at any time of the year with the "L" bridges at 12 foot for the most part.
Many years ago, my parents and I took Greyhound from San Francisco to Milwaukee. The driver got on the PA and told everyone that we were approaching Denver. She had been working for Greyhound for “x” amount of years and was called in to do part of that run. Then there was a sympathetic plea for someone to help her get to the station because she had never been to Denver before. Well, we got to the station but she couldn’t find the entrance, so, she used the exit.
Everyone on the bus thanked her for her honesty.
I’m a motor coach operator, my company lets us use truck gps
@@bigrelly2001 Those didn't exist in 1988. LOL. Also, using a truck GPS is the way to go when you're driving a bus.
I love your videos so much! I am a motorcoach operator in Europe and your videos are really quality material for new professionals in our job. Thank you very much!
Coach work lasted only 2 months, then Diabetes hit me and my CDL...after getting my sugars in control, then T/T work stepped into my life..Loved it the most..Now 65, decided to lay back a bit.
This is such an underrated channel! It surely deserves more.
James: Recently made a road trip from Michigan to Cape Cod and back. Saw a Peoria Charter Coach for the first time: Eastbound I-90, rest stop a few miles west of Albany, NY on June 19th. The coach was a very new looking VanHool... the driver was a tall "senior" gentlemen (hey... I'm 65... I can say that!) helping his passengers stepping off. YOUR RUclips station is the reason I noticed and watched for a moment. Everything I saw said "first class" opereration. Congrats to your team!
thanks Robert! Very kind of you. We take pride in trying to keep our operation clean.
Driving a bus was my dream. OTR Trucker now.
You're probably better off.
I can relate to how you felt after hearing your first group of passengers complimenting you on your driving. I remember taking a church youth group on a ski trip to the Poconos in the early 2000s. Upon returning to their origin, the group leader thanked me for the smooth trip there and back, and how the company had sent the right driver for the job. It was at that time that I informed him that this was my first time driving up to the Poconos. He was shocked to hear me say that, and congratulated me for a job well done, which was definitely a confidence booster! 😁
You must not be to far from me. I’m in the Allentown area
one comment about using GPS to plan trips: buy a special trucker's GPS not the one on your smart phone . The trucker's version GPS is different since normal GPS will not show low underpasses which a person driving a car or van would not to need to worry about
It is a good idea to ask management if they have made the trip before incase there are low bridges or any other surprises ! It is nice to map the trip out ahead of time so you don't look like you don't know where your going.
I started my OTR career at 22 myself lol, Back in the days before GPS and Google earth. Company i worked for gave us all low bridge maps for Chicago. Kept us out of trouble for the most part. Things sure have changed in the 25 years I’ve been driving. As always enjoy the content!
Sometimes starting my 10 hour break at 0700 hrs... Love it ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
OMG JAMES, this is one of the best videos of yours I’ve seen so far! I even always try to read each comment for even more information. ✌️out.
I had a similar experience where I did a charter and one of the people said “how long have you been doing this?” As he was probably thinking I’m too young, even though I was 38 but look like I’m in my 20s. Well after the long day and safely dropping them back he thanked me and said he’d use me again. That was a nice compliment. The best one I’ve ever had is when I did a charter for a group of police officers from Canada and the USA, and they thanked me for driving safely (in a snow storm) and even said they wanted me to drive them back to the airport. I also use google maps to plan my trip, see if there’s parking and what the area looks like for the drop off point. I’m Enjoying your videos, cheers from Canada.
haha nice. I took pride at being a young bus driver.
I started my career at 22 myself I chose long haul trucking though but regardless man if you choose a driving career you always remember your first trip. Mine I was nervous beyond belief scared to death to be accurate I finally got to stop for my 10 hour break an no sooner I back into a luckily easy spot I vomited my guts out.
Hey Kyle. Thanks for sharing bud! I enjoyed reading that. Much appreciated.
While I'm not a professional motorcoach operator, when my wife and I plan road trips, as we do regularly, I will do a lot of the same things you do to prepare if it's somewhere I haven't driven before. Google Street View is great for things like seeing what landmarks are near a certain place, how lanes are configured for freeway interchanges, etc. I also have a good memory for places I have been before, which came in very handy one time in downtown Atlanta using side streets to get around a long delay from a crash on I-75/I-85. It seems to work to impress my wife! "He always gets us right were we wanted to go!" she tells her parents. Speaking of which, no apologies needed for taking some family time with July 4 coming up. We all enjoy your videos and look forward to new material, but family definitely comes first!
i love story's those who can not handle them, do not watch. man cant just please the entire world, but he can do things his way, it works for him, why change it.
just to add a tip I do in my planning if im driving to a new venue and im not getting much info online about buses ill call the venue and ask about drop off and parking. Ive had a few compliments for doing my research by reaching out as every venue is different
I like the stories! You can start every video with one! 👍
I drive a semi truck otr it’s interesting to see the differences in ur job versus mine and the similarities. All cdl drivers are underpaid but it’s certainly rewarding. U got a nice channel keep up the good work.
The arrival and departures of places and times
In the clip you showed, I would’ve left that bus on the mountain 😂. But this video is very Insightful. I may be transitioning from city bus to coach soon, so thank you for the information.
LOL, at our garage, they actually told us to ask passengers if we get lost. We had the contract for the county transit (Gillig Phantoms, and Orion III) and some of those routes were so rare that only a handful of drivers ever did them, and they would change A LOT (thanks to the county), so if you did it in training, by the time you were told do the 91 Limited, it would be a different route. And if the usual guy was sick that day...then youre on your own. So, yeah, you ask. BUT...
You ask in a confident manner, and show that you know your rig, and you master the vehicle, and its merely an issue of ever changing routes, and its fine. Even when I got lost after a storm, no lights, no landmarks you could see at 2am, moonless night, I end up on an ever shrinking road into a dead end. Not even a culdesac. Im in a MCI D4000...no porch lights, nothing. Oh, and street parking too. I had to back up for over 2 miles. We didnt have gps back then, and cell phones were just Nokia bricks....otherwise I would have been on RUclips doing that move LOL (and not in a good way)
Lol wow. That's crazy
@@MotorcoachWorld Yeah, I sometimes forget how the phones changed a lot of things. SOme good some bad. I def dont know about having a bunch of cell phones pointed at you when youre new and all that.
Hi James I love your channel. I drive for adventure tours in md,also do flixbus I really love this job.you give me really good information on coach buses which is really great.keep up the good work.
Well done, thank you for keeping it interesting. Motor Coach World is producing some quality, unbiased, videos, that we will use for our own driver training.... International Stage Lines, Vancouver BC.
Wow I'm honored to read this. Thank you! Hope you guys are doing well.
You mentioning sticky situation reminded me of when all five buses on band trip took a wrong turn and we got into a situation where we had to make a U-turn. Let’s just say it was quite interesting since it was and intersection we turned around in, and it was on a narrow country road.
@Hello Jordan how are you doing
@@lydiacapps709 not too bad how are you doing?
Very nicely put together video and very entertaining as well. Thanks for posting this.
If we had GPS i would not had been silver hair in my 50s , had every hotel book that they use to put out , had a little map , paid a few cabs as i came into a major city to show me to my hotel or destination , I loved driving the Coach , had many grand parents , I was Lucky to work for a company that assigned us the same Coach 99% of the time , Took pride in what I did , Like the 1000s of other coach drivers , always sharing Info to help each other have a great trip , great tips ,
Was never a bus nerd, but I’m starting to become one
That’s good
Hi James, a lot of sound advice presented. I drove an Airport Shuttle for about 10 years ( Super Shuttle ) now defunct.
The art of making your guests feel confident that they are in good hands is something I tried to put into play.
I did lots of back and forth to SFO about 20 + paks a day, people from all walks of life ( the good and not so good ).
Keep up the good work.
Cheers from San Francisco.
I had a very similar job. I worked for a company called Shuttle Express in Seattle. I enjoyed it so much :)
I used to have a map case with all the graphic street maps and new roads drawn in by hand with notes written in all the margins. Now instead I just use three different GPS systems simultaneously.
One of them fell off the windshield as I was driving on a charter trip earlier today. It didn't bother me in the slightest. It didn't bother me because I already knew where I was going because of my pre-trip research and also I still had two other GPS units running. I've never had all three of them fail at the same time.
Occasionally passengers do ask about running all three units and I tell them the truth. I tell them that I have triple redundancy for both safety and efficiency and that They pull their traffic information from different sources so one often gets the jump on the others. One tends to have more logical routing, but one of the other ones tends to know exactly where the entrance you need to be is. And most importantly, I don't like surprises on a trip.
Upon hearing that I've never had a passenger say anything other than some variation of " Oh, that makes sense."
Before I leave I also pack everything in the coach where I want it to be. I put my lunch bag and my driver bag in the overhead drivers compartment. I get out my metal toolbox from my driver's bag that has my GPS and their mounting hardware along with the 12 volt to USB cigarette lighter adapters and their various cables and quickly get them set up. And then put my empty case back in the driver's bag.
Also inside the driver bag. I carry a smaller driver's bag that I keep right next to me with items I might want to access quickly while on a trip things like pens, sunglasses, an extra flashlight, gloves and a spare set of Bluetooth headsets.
I also carry a toolbox on any trip that takes me beyond my immediate local area. I don't use it all the time but I have needed it before.
Recently I have tightened a loose screw on the entry door.
Repaired a city horn that had a loose connection.
About 2 months ago I also changed a headlight in a Buc-ee's parking lot while my group was inside enjoying barbecue brisket.
(The headlight itself had come from an AutoZone across the street).
Good info on what drivers have to do.
James. Did you get my reply about using my pictures? Rick
To all the truckers. I salute your hard work, but even though driving buses might be a little more head wrecking, its more fun and adventurous that trucking could ever be. I operate buses sometime, as I work for the mta and have my cdl. Its fun, especially since I operate in queens new york, where the people are really respectful (most of the time), and you don't have much problems. Not too much people nagging, but still enough to stay your driving normal human beings. There isn't much crowding, but enough to make you sure you driving this bus In this shift, had made an impact of many peoples commute, hopefully in a positive way. I wish more people who like busses just go for it, instead of looking for some high paying job that you don't love. Especially in NYC, being an operator of any sort gives you a healthy wage. I think its mostly because of the time and effort you must put in, but if you love what your doing, its easy. An example I have of that is when I operated the D train, I believe. The trip was LONG. The d had to run local, and stop at every single stop. The trip took about 1 hour and 50 minutes, but its not the same as driving a coach for 7 to 9 hours straight, I understand, but busses are flexible like that. Train operators must worry to stop at the right mark, and make sure you watch out for signals every single second, weather thag the highways with no signals at all. Both jobs are tough In their respectivness, but I enjoy operating, wither it be city route, or a charter drive or a train route, wither it be a old model like an r 46 or the newer r179 or r 143. I love what do. :)
13 feet 6 inches. Yes. Love your recon techniques. Use them myself ❤️❤️❤️❤️
You’re video are amazing look forward to watch them every week !!! Happy Fourth of July to you and you’re family enjoy !!!
Hello ,James great video & content
& iam also a newer C.D.L HOLDER issued on 07-23-20,,& have truly always wanted to drive a charter bus ,,soo if have any helpful information 4 me this is my email address/ jrj196750@gmail.com
& I am James to
Love all the Star Trek references! 🖖
This man loves his job!
I think we reached a new high for Star Trek references! Lol. Great video James.
lol I was wondering if you would notice LOL
Thank you for this video. I'm a newbie!! Exciting and yes, I'm nervous. These videos really help!! :-)
Awesome video, watched this one at least five times. Love the ideas that drivers shared. You should do more like this one, SO SO HELPFUL! I loved the red carpet thing but I can’t figure out why he said a portable pressure washer 😳. How would he use it and what for????🤔 ✌️out.
Yup, knowing where you're going helps. I've been on a Greyhound (not a charter, but regular scheduled route) and the driver realized he wasn't heading for the station. He had to turn around and head back to the main road. On the way back he did find the turn he missed.
Thanks for the comment Bill. I bet he was sweating a little. I know I would have been.
@Hello Bill how are you doing
Great tips. You're a true professional
Hi James, I, for one, enjoy the stories.
Thank you for your video, I love your channel
fun fact:
in Brazil bus lines can be as regulated as airlines meaning the driver has to stop at specific points to eat, refuel and even sleep. on long trips is mandatory have at least 2 drivers (1 driving one resting) and double deck buses have something simular to the CRA (Crew Resting Areas) of Airplanes and on these buses is normal have 3 drivers. many times on the same route a company stop their buses on a restaurant while the other stops on a restaurant 100kms away
Same in Mexico...lots of long distance trips with 2 drivers.
I have a Class B with airbrakes and SPAB as I took my driving test many years ago on a school bus, but never got to drive a charter bus. Thanks for the info. It sounds too difficult and terrifying and I much prefer to stick to driving sedans, SUV'S, stretch limos and Sprinters
I had to chuckle when you mentioned having days notice before a trip. Back when I started at the Hound and worked the extra board, on call 24/7 with a two hour report. Never knew where you were going even if you watched the board or when you were going to be called. Often times run drivers would call off at the last minute a the board would change or the driver ahead of you on the board would call off and move you up. You may have a middle of the night dead head to reposition equipment states away, or a night run that involved crossing multiple mountain passes in the dead of winter. We always had paper route guides that were sometimes outdated, stops moved ect and you were on your own without GPS which is never allowed. It was a time that kept you tilted and made me grateful when I could finally hold a run. Looking back I sometimes wonder how I survived it.
LOL I enjoyed reading this. Thanks and yes you are right. How did we get through the old times when it was just paper and pencil
Enjoyed it James! Good job!
Just become a human map who knows everything and takes the blame for your companies laziness. Congratulations! You are motorcoach operator material!
In 2016 in a group of about 35 on trip to Miami, we land at Fort Lauderdale airport there is long lines to get through border/custom checkpoint, finding our charter coach bus for the drive to our hotel in Miami. Head count is done and we are 1 person short (!!). After about 2 hours we finally get a call from the missing person. He was denied entry by border agents and is being returned on next flight. Now its about 23:40 and we are finally on the road heading for the hotel and our unfortunate driver has a hard time staying awake and at one point nearly drives off the road.
Some things one just can’t plan for.
wow sounds like an exausting start to a vacation and a scary one!
oh this guy, its his fault to why im not a tour coach driver, such a great change in careers, i have a scania K310 42 seater with a body by coach design out of australia
Hey James. As an OTR truck driver I've always wondered what do coach drivers do at weight stations. I see signs that say "busses weigh." And I wonder how you would explain to your passengers what's happening? And thank you for your videos, I now know I'm not alone!
I have found most passengers find the weight station interesting, they always wondered what weight stations are and how they operate. I have played a game as who can guess the weight. Because we are loaded with people, I have never been asked for documentation… always given a green light.
Could you imagine if the DOT officer tells the driver he’s going to have to have some passengers sit in each other’s lap to scale out right
@@75egcgHow would that impact the weight?
@@lukethompson5558 to get some “appropriate” weight on each axel of the vehicle. Trucks do this by sliding the ditch wheel or trailer axels back or forth. Busses can’t do that so I hence why I was making the joke
Great video
Super cool
Rule #1 never leave stuff on a bus because it absolutely will get changed on you. Store it somewhere and reload with the bus you have the next day. If you are OTR though that’s the perk, you get the same bus for a while.
Since moving to Maine in March this year, my major airline hub is Boston Logan. I prefer taking the Concord Coach lines, particularly the route from Portland to Boston Logan and/or Boston South Station, rather than the longer duration Amtrak "Downeaster" service, which terminates at Boston North Station (TD Stadium Bruins & Celtics) and requires a connection with the MBTA - I will spare other readers with the details.
You forgot the part about when prepping for a winter trip to the Trapp Family Lodge, in Stowe, VT... Two salamanders to keep everything south of the drive wheels from freezing overnight, chain sets for the drive wheels, an alcohol canister for the air system; and oh, yes, the backup mechanic, his 12-string guitar, and repertoire of "not-so-clean" classics, most, John Valby tunes - to keep the Ivy League school's skiing trip participants entertained. (and help chain the drive wheels) IT TWAS A BRAND-NEW 96-A, FRESH OUTTA PEMBINA!!
I enjoy the stories, keep it up!
Thanks, will do!
Then at the end of the trip, don’t forget about all the paperwork! I see all the drivers spending a good amount of time always finalizing paperwork at the end of a trip too
just in time for the Premier :)
I was a passenger on a coach in 2018 where the driver followed GPS and ended up on a narrow two lane dead end road (road was blocked off) in the middle of farmer's fields. Had to pull out my phone to figure out where we were and help him back up a kilometer or two to a muddy commercial lot where he could do a multi point turn and get back on the main road.
You would really regret asking my dad if he had any suggestions on the route to take. You would get stuck in a half-hour long conversation about roads and directions and how things used to be back in the old days
Lol 😆. I would love to meet your dad.
@@MotorcoachWorld love the videos! Question, what are them little things sticking off the wipers of Volvo busses look like antennas
We do many winter trips across the Cascade mountains which receive lots of snow, between 400 and 600 inches a year. There are only 3 roads crossing the mountains, so options are limited during big storms. Frequently the primary (shortest distance) route gets closed due to clearing avalanches and cleanup. Another reason for closures is Tonka Toys (that's CDL for pickup) ignoring chain up requirements that end up blocking the road. Closures are typically 2 hours but can extend to 6, 8 or 12 hours.
I worked out a spreadsheet of detours and the differences in time and distance for each compared to the primary route, I-90. When a closure is in effect, I consult my spreadsheet and decide if a detour is warranted. Take a 2 hour closure, add running chains at 35 mph for 50 miles, then chain removal and another 50+ miles of snow covered highway at less than the speed limit. The total delay in ETA adds up quick.
With a widespread event closing all 3 routes across the mountains, it can be faster to detour south to the Columbia river and stay below the snow level. That's a detour of 240 miles, but it often faster than waiting out the mountain closure then riding iron.
Who do you work for?
Everybody remembers their 1st trip. Pittsburgh for me. I must have planned for 2 days prior and probably annoyed my dispatcher. Ill always remember my group and bus 7700 with Covered Wagon Tours
Love the videos!
Amen to plan your trip. Now even when you do this sometimes things just don’t work out especially when you are driving a 45’ Prevost towing a car for a total length of 73’! I have found myself having to unhook the car (you cannot back up with a car attached) in order to turn around. Makes for a bad day and you are very unhappy! Believe me, it makes you check your route very close. You don’t want this to happen again but sometimes construction causes you problems!
Speaking of construction. You often wonder on interstate construction who was the idiot that measured the double lane distances especially when some semi in a hurry tries to take off your mirror. Of course it would be your expense and they can be expensive.
My former company had a comprehensive list of "no go" places in the city of Seattle for all drivers.
Totally agree about the GPS. It is a tool. The driver is responsible for navigation.
This video would’ve help me big time 10 years ago lol . Looking back now geez I was really winging it. I miss driving your buses transit life sucks.
Motor coaches *
When did you go to Transit??
@@MotorcoachWorld 2017 I’ll explain more on messenger
I do the same thing using Google Maps..see if there are any low bridges. I don't want to rip off the roof of the trailer..(18-wheeler driver here). Luckily I go all the same places 98% of the time. One of the most interesting I've delivered to were the NSA (My company is down the street from them here in Maryland). The security is a pain in the ass. The other interesting place was The Capitol Building in DC. That was my pre-CDL days..delivered there in a pick-up truck and they had loading docks underneath.
I have been looking for a passenger bus driver training school since one month ago I haven’t found one yet and it may be rare like a diamond 💎 in Ohio. I’m the brand new seeker for motorcoach operator training school.
Kudos, Dennis.
Dennis?
Hey still enjoying your videos all the way back from your original channel. Could you maybe do a video on how/when motorcoaches changed to "airline" type build procedures and manufacturing? It seems like a lot of the 1970s/80s busses are just kinda slapped together, wired up however, etc. But then suddenly in the late 90's to today coaches in general dramatically changed. The engineering and manufacturing process behind them really increased in quality (and im sure cost!). We are wrapping up our conversion on our 102el3 renaissance and sometimes the rigging of this vehicle amazes me. It almost seems like the overhead bins come from the same manufacturers as airlines. The bus electrical and mechanical systems became much more complex than that of a typical automobile. Did all of this come about due to some DOT regulation regarding passengers?
When I get a trip for a wedding I always lookup the announcement on line to find out the bride and groom's first names. The trip ticket usually shows just the last name. Then I know who the players are. On one occasion the announcement said that it was a "kid free" event, which was essentially no children. Knowing this I brought my collection of kid DVD's and sure enough, first pickup spot at the hotel, a couple had a 10 year old girl with them. At the wedding venue I told the dad that I had the movies and that they could come back to the bus when ever they wanted. About a half hour before my first departure run, they came to the bus and she picked out "Kung Fu Panda" to watch. I now carry a small DVD case of "G" rated movies in my trip bag.
So….I’ve been meaning to ask. What are your thoughts on the “newer” Star Trek movies? Also love the content. Really glad you’re taking the time to do this. Definitely a industry that isn’t represented or appreciated as much as it should be. I don’t drive…yet, but my dad did for many years for a charter co. In south San Francisco. Once I retire from the military this is likely what I’ll get into. Always been an interest of mine. Thanks
Hey Fireguy84. The newer the stat trek movies are the more they move away from the original star trek formula. Now this could just be me starting to get left behind with the current movie culture. I Personally loved the Next generation and ds9 and Voyager era. I even liked enterprise. thanks for the comment. Appreciate your kind words .
How about the width on the lanes on the road? Because I clipped a mirror on another truck when I learned the lane wasn’t wide enough to cover my bus. I learned that in some areas you may have to split the lane to cover the width of the bus.
When you spilt the lane you better take both lol
How you hanging in James? Sorry I didnt call. I had some issues but had them resolved yesterday finally...
Big rig pulling a dry van trailer are 13 ft 6 in height. Once in Minneapolis I went under a bridge 13ft 1in the sign said. I don’t recommend doing that but I made it. Whew!
Haha I enjoyed reading this! Thanks for posting. I bet that was scary.
This is amazing content 👏👏
Every Charter Coach bus driver is required to go over their bus trip schedule log just like your Commercial bus drivers [ Greyhound] and inner city transportation bus drivers [ Chicago's CTA , etc. ] ........ In order to know if any change ups to their routes have changed for any specific reason or another, If not then Charter Coach bus drivers, Commercial bus drivers and inner city transportation bus drivers continue on with they're regular route routines.........
The hell is a "trip schedule log". Asking as a commercial inner city transportation bud driver.
Just flew out of O'Hare gate C25 two days ago. Did not see any Charter Bus.
Lol. My video is doing some good then 😂
Hi, just came across this video; I think it's great! I'm thinking of become a coach driver. Can you tell me what you think is the right mentality for the job? Thanks.
Definitely take a break to be with family. Nobody will mind.
Great video! Great channel! Fellow driver here. How do i get one of your t shirts? :)
Always write down my turns on paper too! Too true about gps!
Thank DrMillerfan. Thanks for the comment.
I have a merch store you can get them from.
Http://www.bonfire.com/store/motorcoachworld
Roll that beautiful bus footage lol
A little bit of an advice, don't do that at 3:58. Do not steer the wheel unless the vehicle is moving. You damage the wheels without any reason. Drive safe :)
Hi James, did you ever get lost? What is the best way to handle a getting lost situation for a new driver? Thanks and as always great video.
Good question Nick-o. Yes i have been lost before. But i usually get my berings pretty quickly. I always Joke with the passengers when I miss a exit or a turn. I say "I'm not lost every, I just get paid by the mile." I usually get a good laugh out of that.
@@MotorcoachWorld Thanks for the reply James. That is funny! It is just one of those things that's always in the back of my mind. Thanks again.
IT IS MY DREAM TO DRIVE BUSES AND COACHES IT IS VERY INTERESTING....
watching this on a coach 😀
Lol nice!
If policy allows, would a trucker GPS like the Garmin Dēzl line be good for motorcoaches?
Yes. I've seen people use trucker gps to their Google maps on their phone
I apologize if this was already explained, but if you are on a long non-stop trip, do you bring a second driver, that rests for the first part of the trip, or stop and switch drivers along the way?
Hi Brian. Good question. If we have to use multiple drivers for a long trip, we usually have a driver van out in a company van to the switch out point ahead of time.
We used custom bunks, and if the switch was in Kansas, heck, we didn't even stop the bus.... (Boy Scouts to Philmont, NM)
@Hello Brian how are you doing
Hi James. I’m a new motor coach operator, coming over from driving a school bus! My training is beginning shortly, but I’m wondering if you have any advice or tips for me before I begin!
Hey congrats Tyler. I wish you luck on your new job.
Maybe we will run into each other one day. I guess the tye one thing that really hit home for me with this job is, never set expectations on when you should be home. If you do, t
You will make yourself miserable, anxious, and eager to get home while on a trip. This leads to unsafe driving as well.
Never make any personal plans for right after at trip should end.
If you can refrain from doing that then you will never put yourself in that boat.
Also, one thing I always Ttrain my drivers... even when you are delayed... you are on time.. never rush. Don't let the group push you to get anywhere faster. Sit back relax, drive happy.
I love Star Treks
i have a funny story. so i was waiting for the bus in lantau island, i herd it and got my octopus card ready... and it was a taxi. i was confused because it was loud like a bus. vehicles are confusing XD
lol
Is there any chance for recliner seat buses to take hold in the US? They are pretty popular in Asia. Any thoughts on sleeper buses, like Cabin between LA and SF?
Thats a good question. Im not sure why they dont make them here.
I just read a comment about weigh stations. I thought passenger buses don't have to stop. And if they are required to do so, can the driver/ vehicle get a full DOT inspection?
May you please tell me what is the clearance height for a MCI motor coach bus?
D models are 11'6". J models are 11'10"