| Author | Message | ||
| Kyle Pesely (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 74 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 71.193.27.96 Rating: N/A |
i know many of you are former/current line/charter bus drivers. but has anyone driven entertainer coaches for say, Nite Train, Senators, Caldwell, Music City, etc? the reason i ask is that i have a friend that is willing to help me get into this sort of work for part of the year(nothing for sure yet), and id just like to know what to expect. it probably wouldnt happen until this summer, but id like to get a feel for it. i already have started the process for getting my CDL(passed the written, gonna take the driving in a few weeks), and i know the money is quite good. just looking for any input on it from people with experience. thanks! kyle in norcal 1980 Eagle 10 #30223 | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 334 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.227.2.101 Rating: N/A |
I have often thought that would be a fun job,think you would be pretty much expected to follow the same rules as a truck driver,keep a logbook,10 hours on duty,followed by eight hours off duty. | ||
| Kyle Pesely (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 75 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 71.193.27.96 Rating: N/A |
yeah. its pretty much like that. i was in a band a few years back on Warner Bros. and we had a bus for the summer. our driver was super nice and when we pulled into the venue, the promoter had a bunch of vans pick up all the drivers and took them to a hotel in the nearest city where they each got their own room and eveything. then brought them back to the venue right before bus call. and rarely did we even drive for more than 5-6 hrs, due to that fact that it was a tour and hey generally dont space the dates out that far due to logistics. youll be playing la one night, fresno the next, the SF, then sacramento, etc. IIRC the bus was costing us about $850/day, with about $300 of that going in Randy's(our driver) pocket. | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 335 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.226.237.71 Rating: N/A |
I'm ready...lets go.. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1101 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Kyle - For CA, you need to get a "B-P" CDL license with an air brake endorsement. You can't use your converted Eagle for the drive test, because it's not registered as a commercial vehicle. If you do not take your drive test in a stick-shift coach, you'll have an "automatic transmission only" restriction put on your license. This restriction applies just when you're operating a commercial vehicle, btw. After taking the writtens (three tests), you'll have to schedule a drive test. First part of the drive test is a pre-trip inspection. Fail that, and you've got to reschedule and pay another 58 bucks. Second part of the drive test is a skills test. Fail that, and you've got to reschedule and pay another 58 bucks. Go to your local DMV office that's handling CDL testing, and watch what they're testing for. (It's also outlined in the CDL Handbook.) Third part of the test is an actual drive, about an hour long. Watch your turns ("square" turns, not "S" turns!), watch your stopping points at intersections, be sure to stop for railroad tracks, watch that you don't allow the coach to roll-back on when they have you stop and then restart on a small incline. Fail the drive test, and you've got to reschedule and pay another 58 bucks. Do your homework, and don't fail! (Be thankful you're not taking your skoolie drive test here in CA - the actual drive test is about 2-1/2 hours long with a CHP officer grading you!) If you need a pre-trip inspection specifically for buses, send me a PM by clicking on my name above. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Douglas Wotring (Tekebird)
Registered Member Username: Tekebird Post Number: 22 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 69.136.90.146 Rating: N/A |
I think you will find with the current state of the insurance industry, you will be hard pressed to find someone to hire you as an entertainer driver without any real CDL experience. | ||
| Kyle Pesely (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 76 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.208.124 Rating: N/A |
RJ: thanks so much for the pointers. your input is always respected and appreciated. there will be *MUCH* driving before I have the huevos to take the test. I may not even do it its just an idea @ this point. as much as I'd love to use the Eagle to test, the lady @ the dmv told me no, so ill prolly use a buddys mci. he runs a local church and they have a 45ft mci 102DL3 that is registered as a commercial vehicle. the auto tranny only limitation is not a big deal, seeing as the fleet I was told about only uses eagles and prevos, all w/ B500's. as far a experience, the company has a policy saying that a driver must be 22(which doesn't happen till mayfor me) years old to qualify, so I was told my initial job would be shuffuling buses around the yard, and when a bus has to deadhead accross country I would co-drive it w/ the scheduled driver and fly back when we arrived. then, if all went well, I would slowly be incorporated into the driver pool. start out doing 10 date tours, then month long, then up from there, once again, if I decide that its worth it, and if it even works out. | ||
| Tim McWhorter (Theredwriter)
Registered Member Username: Theredwriter Post Number: 65 Registered: 5-2006 Posted From: 70.5.179.74 Rating: N/A |
Hey Kyle, sounds like a great experience. Go for it! I imagine your hours of service rules follow the new DOT regulations put into effect for truck drivers too not that long ago. The basics are: you have a 14 hour window to log 11 hours of driving time after which you must show 10 hours of off duty of which 8 must be shown in 'sleeper'. It's not a terrible system, but I liked the old 10 hours on, 8 hours off better. Good luck with your tests! | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 939 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 64.228.91.4 Rating: N/A |
Hello Kyle. Watch what outfit you are working for: many of those "entertainer coaches" are improperly registered as motorhomes, and they aren't running logbooks or any other of the appropriate regulated administrative stuff. You get nailed some heavy fines when you get caught. Who does the maintenance, when and where? Who takes care of the toilet that who, did what, to? How fast do they expect you to drive? Many of them have the engine computer set to run to gear-limited, which is in excess of 90 mph on the new stuff. The fun or the sorrow in Entertainer driving depends on the group, and on you. Lots of overnight driving, daytime sleeping. Some crazy, high mile, little time, dashes across the continent to reposition the coach. There may be all manner of things going on down the back which may offend your sensibilities/morals/beliefs. They may treat you like a king, or like a dog. And away from home for a long time. I know a fellow that it suits him very well, and he gets requested by the same groups year after year. If the opportunity came to drive some nice folks on tour, I would try it out. Wild stuff is not my game anymore, but that's just me. best of luck! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 346 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.201.46.63 Rating: N/A |
Kyle there is a leasing tour company that I know of down here thathas a very hard time keeping drivers for their tour coaches. From what they tell me, the pay sucks for the time away from home and the passengers are usually always high on one thing or another. The driving hours are usually always at night too! Ace |