How to hire a tour bus driver

How to hire a tour bus driver, step by step

Here's a step-by-step tour bus 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 tour bus driver job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new tour bus driver
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a tour bus driver, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A tour bus driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, tour bus 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.

   Here's a comparison of tour bus driver salaries for various roles:

   Type of Tour Bus Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Tour Bus Driver	Bus 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.	$13-23
   Bus Operator	Bus 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
   Driver	Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal... Show more	$10-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Transport Passengers
   • DOT
   • Pre
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • Vehicle Inspections
   • Log Book
   • Bus Schedules
   • On-Time
   • Traffic Regulations
   • GPS
   • NYC
   • Tour Guides
   • Safety Rules

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct vehicle inspections on bus pre and post-schedule trips for bus maintenance and passenger safety.
   • Certify in CPR and sensitivity training.
   • Require to maintain CDL drivers licensing on a yearly basis.
   • Conduct deliveries of medical equipment throughout Florida, collect payments, and ensure proper cleanliness of medical equipment
   • Certify in first aid and CPR and attend training on wheelchair sensitivity.
   • Train and supervise bus assistants on proper procedures for handling disable children in walkers and wheel chairs.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, tour bus drivers' average salary in iowa is 31% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tour bus drivers 43% less than senior-level tour bus drivers.
   • Certifications. A tour bus 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 tour bus driver's salary.

   Average tour bus driver salary

   $37,754yearly

   $18.15 hourly rate

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   Entry-level tour bus driver salary

   $28,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

4. Writing a tour bus driver job description

   A good tour bus driver job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a tour bus driver job description:

   Tour bus driver job description example

   * Attention all Grand Canyon Candidates: Employees of Grand Canyon National Park Lodges will enjoy free housing at Grand Canyon Village through December 21, 2022*
   
   Join our team at Grand Canyon National Park! Are you enthusiastic about hospitality, people, and beautiful places? By working at Grand Canyon National Park, you will get all three! No matter what your jobs is, you will be a proud steward of the park and play an essential role in providing warm and friendly hospitality to our guests! As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, The Grand Canyon National Park is a place of remarkable beauty, peace, scenic grandeur and top notch hospitality.
   
   We are looking for Interpretive Tour Drivers to provide narrative tours at the Grand Canyon South Rim! This position is accountable for driving tour buses as well as providing taxi service as needed in the Grand Canyon Village/Tusayan area. This position earns $16.70/hour and is eligible for a private dorm room.
   
   As our employee, you receive extremely affordable employee housing, discounted meals, employee discounts to explore other Xanterra properties and a generous benefits program for eligible employees. By working with Xanterra Travel Collection among the beauty of Grand Canyon National Park, this is your chance to Live, Work, and Explore in one of the most beautiful places on Earth!
   Responsibilities
   
   * To provide Grand Canyon National Park guests with a narrated, thematic experience that allows guests to make personal connections to the resources of the Park while safely transporting guests on a DOT regulated Tour Bus.
   * Use established Primary Park Themes to provide guests of Grand Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon Railway with a compelling link between the tangible and visible resources found along the Grand Canyon South Rim with the intangible and inherent meanings found within those resources in a way that allows the guest to make their own connections to the place.
   * Using effective interpretive techniques and a thematic narrative to assist the National Park Service in imparting the mission, vision, purpose, and goals of Grand Canyon National Park to our guests.
   * Provide knowledgeable, accurate, and resourced information on Xanterra South Rim services and facilities to passengers, guests and visitors as requested.
   * Successfully pass NAI Certified Interpretive Guide Course (32 hours). Once certified, keep and maintain active CIG certification (40 hours, every 4 years of continued Interpretive Education)
   * Responsible for a clean and neat appearance in the prescribed uniform.
   * Provide for the safety of all clients and adhere to all Risk management policies while performing tasks.
   * Drive village taxi service as scheduled by dispatch.
   * Utilize proper radio communications at all times.
   * Maintain cleanliness of assigned vehicle.
   * Conduct pre-trip/post-trip inspections of the assigned vehicle, including oil, radiator fluid levels, plug in cords and tires.
   * Report any vehicle maintenance or performance problems to Tour Bus Manager or Dispatcher on Duty immediately.
   * Comply with all Federal Motor Carrier safety regulations.
   * Successfully complete the Xanterra Defensive Driving Course.
   * Report any motor vehicle accident, regardless of how minor, immediately to Dispatcher on duty.
   * Continuous improvement for identified areas of the Interpretive Tour Guide audits performed by Xanterra South Rim LLC and NPS.
   * Assists co-workers with tasks and shares commentary information.
   * Safe and proper operation of company equipment in all weather conditions.
   * Other duties as assigned.
   
   What's in it for you?
   
   * Lodging Discount 50% off Best Available Rate
   * 30 - 40% Retail Discount at Xanterra Parks
   * Discounts at Xanterra Adventure Companies
   * 20 - 30% Food and Beverage Discounts at Xanterra Parks
   * 15% Verizon Phone Service/Products Discount
   * 20 - 60% Discount on Entertainment through TicketsAtWork.com
   * Free Laundry Facilities
   * Rec Center - Fitness Equipment, Computers and Free WiFi
   * Paid Day off on Your Birthday with Restaurant & Retail Discounts
   * Discounted Mule Rides Each Winter
   * Sumer Property Olympics
   * Free Grand Canyon Railway Train Rides
   * Wellness Programs and Health Fairs
   
   Qualifications
   
   * Ability to communicate in a clear and engaging manner.
   * Good reading, comprehension and organizational skills to research tour information and compile into an effective thematic narrative.
   * NAI-CIG certification desirable, or attend and successfully complete the course as it is made available through the Xanterra training department.
   * Must meet all U.S. Department of Transportation qualifications as mandated by FMCSR Sections 383 and 391 including, but not limited to:
   * Must be 21 years of age or older.
   * Possess a Commercial Driver's License Class A or B with Passenger Endorsement and convert to Arizona within 1 year.
   * Possess a required Department of Transportation physical exam card.
   * Pass mandated Xanterra Transportation Department driving skills test.
   * Agree to submit to Department of Transportation mandated substance abuse testing including pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post accident.
   * Comply with all ongoing and follow-up of yearly qualification file requirements.
   * Able to meet all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for a commercial Motor Coach/Bus operator.
   * Ability to understand and demonstrate the proper 10 codes & two-way radio communication.
   
   We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right tour bus driver for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your tour bus driver job on Zippia to find and recruit tour bus driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with tour bus driver candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of 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 tour bus driver

   Once you've decided on a perfect tour bus driver candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new tour bus driver first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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.)

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