| Author | Message | ||
| Wayne Newland
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Is there a bus driver's school in the East? I started driving a Flxible Clipper in 1966, sold motorhomes for 5 years and have a CDL B for driving a large straight truck with one of my businesses, but there is a big difference between driving a 26 ft GMC Palm Beach and a 40 ft coach. If there is one, how long does it run and how much do they charge? | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
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I have often wondered if there was one in the Houston Area??? and how much they charge? | ||
| paso1 Rating: N/A |
Sorry I can't resist.  many people on the board bought a bus as far away from home as possible and then drove it home. When arriving at home they were considered trained. Lessons were paid for by the seller built into the price. | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
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The only actual training I ever got was when I was in the army. I drove the motorpool sargent around the block and he said i was good to go. I "learned" how to drive on the streets of downtown Panama City, Panama. I also learned at that time that not ALL the streets in downtown Panama City were two way streets. What a ride... 17 years later I drove a 4104 home from Cleveland... I am curious about the school in case my employer ever shuts the doors to the plant... I could drive a tour bus. ( I can dream ) | ||
| R.C.Bishop
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RJ Long might start one....if you asked real nice... RCB '64 Crown (HWC) | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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Make me an offer I can't refuse. . . RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Most big bus companies will hire a person with some experience, and train the individual. You'd be riding shotgun for a few trips, then doing some driving... But the best experience, is driving your own rig as much as you can on a daily basis. | ||
| t gojenola
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See your local school bus contractor - they are always ready to hire & train - and spend their summers teaching you how to get your CDL. I know a couple of guys who did this, and didn't show up for work when school started. tg | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
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Many truck driver training schools also have bus drivers training available mostly with school buses. If you already have the "B" license you are 99% there already. Just study and take the "P" endorsement. ( Passenger ). The only real difference between a 26 foot motorhome and 40 foot bus is the wheelbase. Takes more room to make turns and avoid curbs. Kind of like a 40 foot straight truck without the rear overhang. I spent 9 weeks in training at Disney on their RTS buses. 3 weeks no passengers and 6 with a trainer riding along. Day, Night, Rain, Shine, any time anywhere. We ran forward and reverse slaloms. Turns, lane centering and backing. Blind pull-outs and many other sometimes appearingly impossible moves. Primary training was in a parking lot with about 1,000 cones laid out. Many of the drivers were good while others were kinda clunky and had bad habits that had to be dealt with. Most could handle running through the toll plaza's at night at 50 mph with 3 inches clearance between the curbs. Others couldn't! Sorry for the long story.... | ||
| Abajaba Rating: N/A |
Check at your local community college. I went there and drove for a day and a half in the training area and about two or three laps out on the streets in the area. They had me learn to back to a mark, Pull up to a mark, alley dock, and then there was the right turn as close to a cone as possible. They also teach you the pre-trip and a few other things with a written test. At the end of that one and a half days of practice, a state driver license person comes in and follows you around for a pre-trip, and takes a ride with you on the route for a test drive. At the end of the drive you either get a certificate of completion or you have to try again. Now when I went, the bus they had used an air throttle and the air system was like a wiffle ball. It couldn't hold air worth a darn. After the engine was shut down you could see the front of the bus dropping to the rubber stops. The throttle was almost a two position throttle. Full throttle or idle. The bus almost kept me from getting to test drive. The instructors talked the state inspector into allowing me to drive. The only thing I got gigged on was the rail road stop. She thought I was too close to the tracks. Other than that the rest of the test report from her was very favorable. I got the certificate and went to the head instructor to pay for the course and he felt bad that I had no one on the bus while I was practicing the first day. He said I didn't owe them anything. The training on the pre-trip and paperwork was what I needed the most on getting the license. Since the time I took the class and now, the school has started to lease a school bus from a local school district for their course. I would recommend the class as most of the instructors are experienced drivers and have some good insight to the different aspects of driving. | ||
| Roderick W. Chandler (Rod)
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There is a bus driving school east of Austin, Texas on Hwy 290. Saw it about 4 months ago. Did not get name but you may be able to find it under Austin listings. Happy Thanksgiving Rod Chandler | ||
| Bill 4104 Rating: N/A |
Drove Bus For the 5th Army band for about 6 months at Ft Sheridan Ill. they had a course one on one for about 2 weeks a few hours a day. But the final road test was leaving the fort a 6:00am and heading to the Chicago loop during rush hour . The Instructor sat in the back seat and yelled where to turn .All I can remember it was a 5 speed and a rear powered diesel.It was a good course for a 18 year old. Bill 4104-4032 | ||
| Jeff (Jeff)
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I feel there is nothing wrong with wanting to get training. May try to see where your local school buses drivers get their training. Check with you local community college. The local one here has CDL classes. There may be a truck driving school near by too. When I got my bus from Geoff's side yard. I had not driven anything this big since I was a firefighter. It took me a little time to get the feel making turns again. I did clean off the right curb once or twice. I drove almost 3000 miles across country. Once you get your bus, take it to a large deserted parking lot and practice making turns and backing up. I've taken my bus out somedays just to make turns and practice, practice, practice. You can never get enough time behind the wheel. There will be some other driver out there that will try to cut down inside you to make that right hand turn before you. Learn to use your mirrors and get a back up camera. All of us can give you advice, do what you need to do to make you feel more comfortable! Jeff "Take Another Road" Member 4:10 Club Rustless not Busless in Buckroe 1988 TMC RTS-06 6V92-TA DDEC IV/V731 | ||
| R.C.Bishop Rating: N/A |
RJ....no takers??? ....take out an ad on the BBS... .....you are welcome...you too, Ian!.. Touche! RCB | ||
| Lew Poppleton (Lewpopp)
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Wayne Newland. I felt a bit of love when you said you have a GMC Palm Beach. I had 2 GMCs over 20 years and when I finally got rid of the Jimmy, I purchased a 40 ft coach and just drove off. I had driven fire trucks prior to that so it was similar. Oh, what a cult I was in when I had a GMC. If you didn't have one , you weren't sh--. I have a million memories and now belong to a group called "GMC Alumni." | ||
| Wayne Newland
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Lew I understand. I've heard of the GMC Alumni. My wife and I took a trip of about 3 weeks and she decided that she liked the life style, but, needed more space. She would like 4 slide outs. We are both about to be retired (more or less) and she wants to get out of the cold in the winter...so off to Fla. Sell the house, get rid of 25 years of stuff. I have spent several of the last summers working as a Program Director for the Boy Scouts (summer camps) and I have at least one or two more years left in me. Last summer, I lived in my GMC. It's ok for me, but too small for both of us for more than a short time. I started with a Flxible Clipper in 1966 and used it until it was stolen in 1975. It's time to find the right bus and let someone else love my nice GMC. | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
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Wayne, What kind of GMC do you have? Mike | ||
| waynewland@earthlink.net
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Mike I have a 75 26' Palm Beach with a lot of upgrades. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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Lew, Wayne & Mike - If I show up at a GMC Motorhome rally with my GMC 4106, how would they react? After all, it is a GMC, and was built in the same plant in Pontiac. . . Just curious, RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| Wayne Newland
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RJ I would say that you had better be ready to have a constant OPEN HOUSE. There might be one or two that don't like the idea, but pooie on them. The club memberships are usually open only to TZE (serial number) coaches, but, visitors are welcome. | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
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RJ, I've never been to a GMC Motorhome Rally. I don't know how they would react, but I would like it Not all GMC motorhomes were built to be motorhomes. It seems like some of them were command centers for the government? So not all GMC motorhomes were motorhomes. ( or I could have them confused with something else. ) If a 4106 was took from the plant in Pontiac and made into a coach, then I would think "it" would be considered a "GMC Motorhome". So not all 4106's were considered "hounds". This being the case, you could argue that they are cross-functional and a converted 4106 "should" be considered a GMC motorhome since a GMC motorhome that began as a command center, but then converted to a motorhome, would be considered a GMC Motorhome. hehe... they may not buy it, but it would be fun hearing the response anyway. How long have you had your 4106? Mike | ||
| Mike Jackson (Mike4104tx)
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BTW: My wife was a bus driver for the local school district. They trained her and took her to the DMV to get her CDL. She drove a school bus for three years. She loved her job of driving the bus, but the kids were difficult to deal with. She only drives two kids to school now (our two kids). I thought about being a substitute driver just to get the experience, but I work enough as it is. I don't want to be obligated to another employer. Mike | ||
| Eric Lake (Dc_bus_nut)
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To answer your question. Here, on the East Coast, there is a Bus Driving School in Spotsylvania, VA. It is south of Fredericksburg...45 minutes (non rush hour of course) south of Washington, DC. Hope this helps to solve your issue. Eric Lake | ||
| Johnny Rating: N/A |
Parker in Massachusetts (Avon, Weymouth, Quincy) will train you on an MCI coach that I think is a 9. |