ON THE BUSES: Drivers of a golden age help keep Delta company moving

Charter Bus Lines recruits coach operators who have free time and still seek adventure

Alex Park, a Surrey resident, behind the wheel of a Charter Bus Lines coach.

Alex Park, a Surrey resident, behind the wheel of a Charter Bus Lines coach.

Alex Park likes driving happy tourists to some of the best places in B.C. – and getting paid for it.

At age 68, the Surrey resident is a go-to driver for Delta-based Charter Bus Lines, which partners with tour companies for trips to the Okanagan, Banff, Jasper, Victoria, Seattle and other popular destinations.

“These passengers are on holiday, so they’re in a good mood and they’re seeing some fantastic places,” Park said. “Doing this job, you’ll see things that you might never otherwise see.”

The charter company actively recruits drivers who are in their 50s and over – men and women who are perhaps retired, have some free time for multi-day trips and still seek adventure.

“We have quite a few part-time drivers who only want to work part-time, and the company is very flexible with that,” noted Park, who also trains drivers alongside co-worker Keith Hilsinger, 72.

“(New recruits) need to have the ability to drive, of course, but they should also be a people person,” he added. “That’s what we’re looking for.”

A Class 2 license is necessary to drive one of Charter’s large coaches, which today are much easier to drive than when Park first started in the business 45 years ago.

“I’ll hang ’em up when the job isn’t fun anymore, but right now it still is fun,” Park said.

For details about job opportunities, visit Charterbuslines.com/HomeJobs.html.

 

Surrey Now