Post job

How to hire a motor coach driver

Motor coach driver hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring motor coach drivers in the United States:

  • There are currently 9,339 motor coach drivers in the US, as well as 90,672 job openings.
  • Motor coach drivers are in the highest demand in Bridgeport, CT, with 2 current job openings.
  • The median cost to hire a motor coach driver is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new motor coach driver to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a motor coach driver, step by step

To hire a motor coach driver, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a motor coach driver:

Here's a step-by-step motor coach driver hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a motor coach driver job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new motor coach driver
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
jobs
Post a motor coach driver job for free, promote it for a fee
  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you post your motor coach driver job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a motor coach driver for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A motor coach driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, motor coach drivers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of motor coach drivers.

    Type of Motor Coach DriverDescriptionHourly rate
    Motor Coach DriverBus drivers transport people between various places—including work, school, and shopping malls—and across state or national borders. Some drive regular routes, and others transport passengers on chartered trips or sightseeing tours.$10-30
    Bus OperatorBus operators have different roles and responsibilities. These include providing bus driver training, ensuring all drivers have a valid license, and conducting an audit of the bus drivers' performance periodically... Show more$14-22
    Bus DriverBus drivers are mainly responsible for safely transporting passengers to their destinations. Bus drivers must be attentive and highly focused to monitor road situations at all times, avoiding any cause of accidents... Show more$13-21
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • CDL
    • DOT
    • Passenger Endorsement
    • Transport Passengers
    • Pre-Trip Inspections
    • Safety Rules
    • Charter Bus
    • Mechanical Problems
    • Safety Regulations
    • GPS
    • Log Book
    • Vehicle Inspections
    • Post Trip
    • Local Traffic Regulations
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Conduct deliveries of medical equipment throughout Florida, collect payments, and ensure proper cleanliness of medical equipment
    • Observe high safety standards including strict federal HazMat regulations.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your motor coach driver job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A motor coach driver can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, motor coach drivers' average salary in florida is 45% less than in new jersey.
    • Seniority. Entry-level motor coach drivers 67% less than senior-level motor coach drivers.
    • Certifications. A motor coach driver with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a motor coach driver's salary.

    Average motor coach driver salary

    $37,640yearly

    $18.10 hourly rate

    Entry-level motor coach driver salary
    $21,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 18, 2025
  4. Writing a motor coach driver job description

    A job description for a motor coach driver role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a motor coach driver job description:

    Motor coach driver job description example

    **We are offering a Sign On Bonus up to $7,500.00!**

    Trailways of New York is the largest family-owned, intercity bus company in New York State. We carry passengers more than 8 million miles annually.

    It began in 1926 when John Van Gonsic, Sr. purchased his first bus in Buffalo, NY and began the Rip Van Winkle Bus Company, which in 1933 became Adirondack Transit Lines, Inc., and is now known as Adirondack Trailways. The growth of the company continued. In 1965 the Pine Hill-Kingston Bus Corporation was purchased, now known as Pine Hill Trailways. In 1994 Empire Trailways of Rochester, NY was purchased and incorporated as Passenger Bus Corp. now known as New York Trailways. To this day the Berardi/Van Gonsic families own all three companies.

    We are looking for a Motor Coach Operator who is a self-starter that can manage their day, time effectively and safely. The role requires a day-to-day self-managed working environment and will involve very little supervision.

    What you need to bring to the table:

    • Experience required
    • Valid CDL with appropriate endorsements A,B,P,S
    • 5-day work week including weekends and holidays
    • Ability to pass pre-employment drug screen and background check
    • Driving record meets standards
    • Professional & customer service focused
    • Excellent communication skills
    • High attention to detail
    • Strong work ethic
    • Decisive problem-solving skills

    What’s in it for you?

    • Generous sign on bonus of $7,500
    • First year average earnings $50,000.00-$55,000.00
    • Paid training - $16.50 per hour
    • Ongoing training and career development
    • Medical, dental and vision insurance
    • Company funded Health Savings Account
    • Life Insurance
    • Voluntary benefits
    • 401K with company match
    • Paid time off
    • Paid holidays
    • Safety/Incentive bonuses
    • Annual uniform allowance
    • Bus Pass
    • Opportunities for growth

    If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for apply today!

    Trailways of New York is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

  5. Post your job

    To find motor coach drivers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any motor coach drivers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level motor coach drivers with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your motor coach driver job on Zippia to find and recruit motor coach driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    To successfully recruit motor coach drivers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new motor coach driver

    Once you have selected a candidate for the motor coach driver position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

    It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a motor coach driver?

Before you start to hire motor coach drivers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire motor coach drivers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $37,640 per year for a motor coach driver, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for motor coach drivers in the US typically range between $10 and $30 an hour.

Find better motor coach drivers in less time
Post a job on Zippia and hire the best from over 7 million monthly job seekers.

Hiring motor coach drivers FAQs

Search for motor coach driver jobs

Ready to start hiring?

Browse transportation jobs