The Ultimate Tour Bus Driver Career Guide
- Published: August 4, 2023
- By: Yellowbrick
Tour Bus Driver: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Professional Driver
If you love driving and are passionate about music, becoming a tour bus driver could be the perfect career choice for you. As a tour bus driver, you will have the opportunity to travel the country and even the world while working in the music industry. In this article, we will explore what it takes to become a tour bus driver, the responsibilities of the job, and the potential career paths in this exciting field.
What is a Tour Bus Driver?
Tour bus drivers are responsible for transporting musicians, crew members, and equipment from one location to another. They are responsible for the safe and timely arrival of the tour bus and its passengers at each destination. Tour bus drivers work closely with tour managers and are an integral part of the touring team.
Responsibilities of a Tour Bus Driver
Tour bus drivers have a wide range of responsibilities that include:
- Driving: The primary responsibility of a tour bus driver is to safely transport the tour bus and its passengers to each destination on the tour.
- Maintenance: Tour bus drivers are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the tour bus. This includes regular maintenance such as oil changes, tire rotations, and inspections.
- Communication: Tour bus drivers must be able to communicate effectively with the tour manager and other members of the tour team. This includes providing updates on the status of the tour bus and any issues that arise.
- Navigation: Tour bus drivers must be familiar with the routes and directions to each venue on the tour. This includes researching the best routes to take and any potential hazards or obstacles along the way.
- Safety: Tour bus drivers are responsible for the safety of the passengers on the tour bus. This includes ensuring that all safety protocols are followed and that the tour bus is in compliance with all regulations.
How to Become a Tour Bus Driver
Becoming a tour bus driver requires a combination of education, training, and experience. Here are the steps you need to take to become a professional tour bus driver:
- Obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL): To become a tour bus driver, you must have a CDL with a passenger endorsement. This requires passing a written exam and a skills test. You must also have a clean driving record and be at least 21 years old.
- Gain Experience: Most tour bus companies require at least 2-3 years of experience as a commercial driver before hiring you as a tour bus driver. This experience can be gained by driving a variety of vehicles, including buses, trucks, and vans.
- Get Hired by a Tour Bus Company: Once you have the necessary experience and qualifications, you can begin applying for tour bus driver positions. Tour bus companies typically require a background check and drug test before hiring you.
- Complete Training: Tour bus companies provide training for their drivers, which includes safety procedures, communication protocols, and maintenance procedures. You will also receive on-the-job training from your tour manager and other members of the tour team.
Career Paths for Tour Bus Drivers
Tour bus driving can lead to a variety of career paths in the music industry. Here are some of the potential career paths for tour bus drivers:
- Tour Manager: Tour bus drivers who have experience and knowledge of the music industry can become tour managers. Tour managers are responsible for all aspects of the tour, including logistics, finances, and scheduling.
- Roadie: Roadies are responsible for setting up and tearing down the stage and equipment at each venue on the tour. Tour bus drivers who have experience with equipment maintenance and repair can transition into a roadie role.
- Production Manager: Production managers are responsible for overseeing the technical aspects of the tour, including lighting, sound, and video. Tour bus drivers who have experience with equipment maintenance and repair can transition into a production manager role.
- Tour Bus Company Owner: Tour bus drivers who have experience and knowledge of the music industry can start their own tour bus company.
Key Takeaways
Becoming a tour bus driver requires a combination of education, training, and experience. To become a professional tour bus driver, you must obtain a CDL with a passenger endorsement, gain experience, get hired by a tour bus company, and complete training. Tour bus driving can lead to a variety of career paths in the music industry, including tour manager, roadie, production manager, and tour bus company owner.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in the music industry, consider taking the NYU x Billboard | Music Industry Essentials online course and certificate program. This program provides an in-depth understanding of the music industry, including touring logistics and management.
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Tour Bus Driver
Career Overview
Tour Bus Drivers drive bands across the country while on tour.
Alternate Titles
Tour Driver, Entertainer Coach Driver
Avg. Salary
Salary Range
$20K – $39K 1
Table of Contents
Career Description
Career outlook, career path, experience & skills, education & training, additional resources.
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How To Become a Tour Bus Driver
Tour Bus Drivers “are the captain of the ship. They are in charge of everything that goes on inside and outside of the venue. They’re driving all night, getting in around 7 or 8 in the morning,” says Chip Huffman of Huffman & Rice Inc. and The Celebrity Bus Drivers Academy. While the Road Crew unloads, the Driver will clean up the bus and wipe down tables.
They’ll “check oil, do general light maintenance duties, grab breakfast, sleep all day. They’re basically on the night shift. The Road Crew unloads, the Driver will clean up the bus and wipe down tables. They’ll “check oil, do general light maintenance duties, grab breakfast, sleep all day. They’re basically on the night shift.
The Tour Manager will tell them what bus call is, generally between 10pm-2am. [They’ll] get the bus fired up and drive all night while everyone sleeps. The next day is repeat.”
Generally speaking, the Tour Manager is the road boss, although the Bus Driver may also report to the Bus Owner, Safety Director, a Leasing Agent at the office, or the Bus Captain if it’s a larger tour with over a dozen people on the bus. The Driver will also work with the Road Crew, Celebrity Bodyguard , and Recording Groups .
On average, Tour Bus Drivers earn approximately $27,800 annually. The average salary range for Tour Bus Drivers runs from $20,000 to $39,000. However, Huffman tells us Apprentice Drivers start off making around $30,000 to $40,000, with first or second year Drivers moving up to $50,000 to $60,000 a year if they get to the point where tours are requesting them back.
After three to four years, a Driver can expect to make between $60,000 to $80,000. I know of “a handful of Drivers that made triple figures last year because they’re the best of the best,” he adds.
Drivers are usually paid per assignment, per day. They receive a daily fee for every day they’re on the road, and usually receive per diems for meals, etc.
Because of the skill set required and the intense nature of the work, Tour Bus Drivers can make a lot of money.
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Tour Bus Drivers are often away from home. They usually work through the night, starting between 10pm-2am and driving through the morning. Their shifts are closely regulated, however, and they can “legally only drive for ten hours with an eight-hour break,” according to Huffman. For this reason, the main Driver will usually be working with a second Relief Driver to get between cities.
A Tour Bus Driver can move up in his or her career by working with bigger stars or taking on a supervisory position such as Bus Captain.
Tour bus driving is an extremely competitive field, so the best way for a new Driver to get a job is through a training academy that offers job placement services. It’s also important to live in a city with a thriving tour bus industry.
With around 1,000 entertainer coaches currently running in the US, Nashville is the hub. Huffman says someone could move to Nashville and approach companies with their resume, but without the necessary connections and experience, “your chances of getting hit by lighting are slightly better than getting a job that way.”
- “If you don’t drive a big rig, go to trucking school.
- If you drive a truck, apply at your local seated bus company and get the feel of how a bus is slightly different than a truck.
- Learn how to drive smooth and gentle. People are sleeping and will work in the morning.”
To get a job as a Tour Bus Driver, “every company would ask for three years of entertainer coach experience, so I started this [training academy] and it has gone over very well and been very successful,” Huffman says.
It’s also necessary to have “at least three years CDL experience, so you really have to know how to handle a big rig and deal with people.” Much of the experience a Driver needs will come from working with seasoned veterans while on the road. “I try to get them out with an experienced Driver as a Relief Driver,” he says.
A working mechanical knowledge of the bus is essential since problems could arise anywhere, and other Mechanics won’t necessarily be familiar with the way the bus runs. “These guys are gone for days, weeks, even months, so they either have to fix it themselves or find someone who can.”
In regards to the biggest skill needed for the job, Huffman says, “probably the number one is personality skills. People skills. You just have to fit in and get along with these people and not push your way in. It’s really hard to teach [this skill], but it’s important.”
He adds, “You’re part Chauffeur and part Scullery Maid,” so cleaning skills are as important as mechanical skills. “You have to be on top of everything on that bus. There is just not one of these kinds of buses on every corner” so it’s important to know how the bus works. Also important are “paperwork skills, because we’ve got DOT (The Department of Transportation) regulating us heavily.”
Not everyone who thinks they’d make a great Tour Bus Driver actually will.
The ideal candidate is someone who’s “not too pushy, yet is friendly and approachable and has a good sense of humor and is able to tolerate all different kinds of personalities. Because in this business, you might do a country artist for two weeks, then a heavy metal band for two months, then a reggae band for two days, then a rap artist,” Huffman says. It’s important for the Driver to not get rattled about people, bus problems or schedules.
The Driver must also be dedicated to his or her job, and not simply looking for a way to live the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. “The artist doesn’t want a fan. They want someone taking care of their bus so they can go to sleep and know they’re going to wake up safely in Denver” or wherever the next tour stop is, Huffman says.
Before applying for jobs, Tour Bus Drivers must already have attained a CDL (Commercial Driver License) and gone through a truck driving or bus company training. Tour bus training programs, such as Huffman’s Celebrity Bus Drivers Academy, are very helpful in terms of job placement and gaining the necessary skills and experience.
“We teach what they need to know to deal with the entertainer personality,” he says, but applicants must already come with driving experience.
Tour Bus Drivers do not have a union, although some loosely-organized online organizations do exist.
What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?
“If you think you’re going out on the road to hang out with stars, hang out backstage and chase girls, this is not the job for you. This is not a job for a fan. It’s a job for someone who loves music and driving, but knows it’s hard work.”
What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?
“Driving rough. It’s the number one mistake. Often, [with] drivers who don’t make it in the industry, it’s because they drove too rough.”
If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?
“Tenacity. Staying with it, not taking no for an answer. Staying with it and making it happen and being proactive. You really have to promote yourself, take care of yourself and do it for yourself.”
Chip Huffman
Chip Huffman is a founder of the Celebrity Bus Drivers Academy and a partner in Huffman & Rice, Inc. He has worked as a transportation executive for over twenty years. As the former President and Founder of Nitetrain Coach Company, Inc., he provided buses and Drivers for artists such as Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Korn, and Tool. The company was sold in 2010.
His work with the Celebrity Bus Drivers Academy has been featured in Business Insider , Billboard , The Wall Street Journal , Metro Magazine , Entrepreneur , Pollstar , Bus and Motor Coach News , and Music Row .
- 1 . "Tour Bus Driver Salaries" . Glassdoor.com. published: Dec 22, 2019. retrieved on: Jan 18, 2017