Indian Trails Blog

We are back with former driver Becky Smith, a driver with Indian Trails for over 15 years, to find out why she loved her job as a bus driver and why she equally loves her new position as safety and driver education manager at Indian Trails! See our blog From the Driver's Seat: Becky Smith, to learn about her bus driving experience.

Richard Steward started working for Indian Trails in August 2015 at their Kalamazoo garage location. A chef in a previous life, he was looking for a career that got him out of the kitchen and had a more traditional work schedule. While a bus driver’s schedule is not always the same at first, with seniority comes the ability to choose specific routes and schedules. This is how Richard ended up driving on the Western Michigan University campus toward the end of his career as a bus driver, with a set Monday-Friday schedule and more holidays off.

Ever wondered what a day in the life of a professional charter bus driver is like? The guys and gals who take on professional charter bus driving jobs are quite gifted. It's a job that requires a blend of driving skills, mechanical skills, and people skills. We spoke with driver Becky Smith, who has been a driver with us for over 15 years, to find out why she loved her job as a bus driver and why she equally loves her new position as Safety and Driver Education Manager at Indian Trails!

So, it’s time for a change. Maybe you’ve discovered your current career is a bad fit for you or maybe you’re just tired of doing the same thing day in and day out and want some variety. Either way, you’re ready to move on. How can you make sure you’re doing the right thing and are making the transition as easy for yourself as possible? You can start with some good old self-reflection by asking yourself these questions.

For the second installment of our 'From the Driver's Seat' series we spoke with Lauria Shultz, who has been a driver with us for 6 years, about why she loves her job. She explains why anyone thinking of applying to Indian Trails should definitely go for it - it's a challenging but extremely rewarding job where you get to talk to people from all over the world!

Indian Trails has been hiring drivers almost since we began operation in 1910. As a result, we have more than 100 years of experience when it comes to driving motorcoaches, from short-distance shuttles to national trips and tours. We also have one of the best records in the country for safety, our fleet is absolutely top notch, and our paid driver training program is second to none.

Preparing for any job interview is often an exercise in frustration because it is so difficult to know what you will be asked or how you should answer. An interview for a charter bus driver position is no different, but there are several ways you can prepare that will make you feel more confident and look more organized to your prospective employer. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a charter bus driving job? Have you ever pictured yourself skillfully (and cheerfully) maneuvering a 45-foot, 15-ton behemoth filled with high school students in the middle of the night?

In the world of commercial driving, charter bus drivers are specialists. And, as such, they require specialized training.

When you think about it, the guys and gals who take on professional charter bus driving jobs are pretty gifted. They must be excellent drivers with the stamina, disposition, and aptitude to safely operate a 20-ton passenger vehicle, day and night, rain or shine, over terrain both familiar and unfamiliar. But they also need to excel in trouble-shooting, vehicle maintenance, conflict resolution, emergency management, customer service, and even small talk. In a job that requires a blend of driving skills, mechanical skills, and people skills, it’s hard to put bus drivers into any single occupational category: Safety? Transportation? Travel and tourism? Hospitality? Diplomacy? A bus driver must be proficient in all of these areas — with a healthy dose of mechanical aptitude thrown in for good measure.