Big Bus Tours is the world’s largest operator of open-top sightseeing tours, fueling the spirit of adventure in 23 world-famous cities across four continents. Beginning its journey 28 years’ ago, with a fleet of only three buses, Big Bus Tours has swiftly expanded to a global fleet of over 400 hundred open-top buses, turning 5 million tourists into explorers, every year. Big Bus Tours operates in London, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Las Vegas, Chicago, Abu Dhabi, Budapest, Istanbul, Miami, Muscat, Rome, Paris, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Darwin, Sydney, Vienna, Washington DC, Dublin, Singapore, Los Angeles and Berlin with a sightseeing concept designed to provide a flexible approach to city discovery. Each open-top bus tour provides a hop-on, hop-off facility at a variety of interesting locations, with complimentary additions to enhance the visitor sightseeing experience. In February 2015, private equity firm Exponent purchased Big Bus Tours, with a shared vision to make Big Bus Tours the number 1 thing to do in each world-famous city. In 2016, Merlin Entertainments PLC became a shareholder, offering a natural synergy with Big Bus Tours and Merlin attractions and experiences around the world. With entertaining guides and commentary and knowledge of the latest events in each city, the Big Bus City Crew leaves every passenger with a story to tell.

Overall Purpose

The primary responsibility for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of passengers during bus tours. A Tour Bus Driver should be patient and level headed in order to deal directly with customers and members of the public – transporting passengers around our routes. This individual is...

Warmly Welcoming

• Engage cruise passengers in a friendly and welcoming way.
• Complete the interaction with phenomenal enthusiasm and friendliness.

Memorable Storytellers:

• For many of our customers, this is their first time exploring the city and they may have many questions, we want our Drivers to provide excellent service answering questions, whether it be about our tours, attractions we offer, maybe even directions to eateries and famous icons.
• We turn tourists into explorers and our Tour Bus Drivers are in some cases the first part of the Big Bus Story for our customers. First impressions are important so we expect our team to be properly groomed and look professional.

Always Entertaining:

• Let’s face it, this is a forward facing people person job. We want an individual who knows how to connect with people; Being entertaining and humorous is a BIG plus.
• We are always entertaining, delivering information with Flair. A natural communicator with a positive attitude is a must. We want people to enjoy every interaction with Big Bus.

Dedicated:

• We are a BIG operation and in order to be successful we need professionals who will be dedicated to this role, how? Be here on time and in uniform, ready to work.
• We are also a team and we have to work together with, the Leads, Tour Guides and CSR’s to make the experience flawless for the customer.

Never Satisfied:

• We are relentlessly pursuing the quest to be the No. 1 thing to do in every world famous city and in order to do that, we want Drivers who are always looking for ways to serve the passenger and fellow team members.
• We want proactive, self-starters who are naturally driven to outperform themselves, the competition and maybe their colleagues in friendly competition.

Key Areas of Accountability and Responsibility:

• Pick up and set down customers at our licensed bus stops and ensure the safety and well-being of passengers while on Tour or when they board and exit a bus.
• Comply with all road and safety regulations and ensue these are followed; report any traffic violations immediately; immediately report all incidents/ accidents to your manager.
• Comply with regulations issued by FMCSA & DOT Regulations such as;
• Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs. Overview of 49 CFR Part 40:
• Speak and read English well enough to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signals, respond to official questions, and be able to make legible entries on reports and records;
• By experience, training, or both, be able to drive the motor- coach/ Bus safely;
• Possess a valid medical examiner’s certificate;
• Have only one valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) and this CDL must have a passenger endorsement;
• Provide his/her employer with a list of all motor vehicle violations or a signed statement that driver has not been convicted of any motor vehicle violations during the past 12 months;
• Must be able to qualify for 19-A road testing & not be disqualified from operating a motor- coach/Bus by 19-A system.
• Comply with the traffic laws and company regulations regarding the use of mobile phones, no smoking in company vehicles and the use of prohibited equipment (such as games consoles) whilst on duty.
• Follow company procedures in the event of breakdowns, accidents or emergencies; in the event of an accident, right away verify AVL, assure that medical emergency procedures are followed; complete a written accident report, this must be completed and handed back to the Traffic Manager before the end of that day’s duty.
• Provide a high standard of customer service: treat customers, colleagues (and anyone else you come in to contact with whilst representing the company) in a courteous and professional manner, be alert, careful, considerate and helpful at all times.
• Use ramps as required allowing access/egress to the vehicle by disadvantaged (disabled/elderly) or mobility impaired customers.
• Assist with ensuring that groups of adult/child ratios are maintained on the bus.
• Give customers on the bus any information that may help them during their journey. Examples would be telling customers the best stop for their destination, road closures & diversions.

Bus Checks

• Carry out walk-around checks on the bus and complete a pre inspection report (DVIR)Driver Vehicle inspection Report, any faults found must be reported on the DVIR & Operations Manager.
• Ensure the cab area of the bus is kept in a safe and tidy condition at all times.
• Check that the communication device (e.g. two-way radio, language system) is in proper working order before each trip. The radio must be used in a professional manner for the purpose of conveying information to the AVL or seeking advice from a Point Controller.
• Ensure that the language system and microphone are in working order before each trip.
• Check the vehicle for lost property and hand any items found to the point controller.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies:

• Must demonstrate an understanding of written and spoken speak English in order to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues; be able to read and comprehend health and safety information, company rules and regulations provided in the Employee Handbook, Operational and other information placed on noticeboards.
• Must have the ability to work effectively with people regardless of any protected characteristics; age, gender, race ethnicity etc. (further information contained within the company employee handbook).
• Must have the ability to work effectively and competently without close supervision.
• Customer Engagement / Focus
• Communication Proficiency
• Personal Effectiveness
• Goal Oriented
• Team Oriented
• Ethical Conduct

Qualifications:

• Must hold a valid PCV licence and have no more than 4 penalty points (Licences are checked through an external agency)
• Must pass insurance verification.
• Must have completed the 19A- training.
• Must have a minimum of 2 years’ experience.

Driving Requirements:

• You must hold a full United States driving license, or valid for the group/category of the vehicle to be driven, which you must submit to the company for inspection before driving a company vehicle. Driving licenses must be carried at all times and must be available for inspection at any time whilst on duty.
• Any matter which might affect your eligibility or fitness to drive, or which may invalidate our motor vehicle insurance cover, must be reported without delay to the company. These will include penalty points, endorsements, and suspension, disqualification from driving, actions/prosecutions pending, or any health conditions or treatment which might affect your fitness to drive.
• Failure to provide your driving license at the company’s request, without a valid reason, may result in disciplinary action being taken against you.
• In the event that you lose your driving license or are unable to drive for some other reason (e.g. refusal of insurance), you must make your line manager or HR aware of such circumstances immediately they arise.
• Any medical condition, including taking prescribed drugs to address a medical condition, which may have an effect on your ability to drive, must be reported to management, stating the condition and drugs prescribed. We reserve the right to inform the DVLA of any such illness that may affect your license.

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

• All drivers must comply with the CPC and provide their Driver’s Qualification exam & medical Card when requested.

Driving Hours

• Our scheduled tour buses operate under FMCSA drivers’ hours’ legislation. It is the responsibility of the post holder to have knowledge of and adhere to these rules.