Is it Time to Add ‘Charm’ to Bus Driver Training?

Bus driver training in the UK includes many important things. Drivers learn all about highway safety, how to move their vehicles in and around tight spaces, how to adapt driving to weather conditions and more. One thing they are not usually taught is how to charm passengers. However, is it time to change that?

A recent article published in the Weston, Worle & Somerset Mercury suggests tourism in the town of Burnham-on-Sea has improved as of late, partly due to charming coach drivers. That’s right; apparently, day-trippers are being lured to the seaside destination by a combination of adequate coach parking and charming drivers.

Nearby Weston is paying attention to what is going on in Burnham, so much so that officials are thinking of introducing a set of changes that will encourage more overnight visitors in their town. Like their counterparts in Burnham, business owners in Weston want to see better parking arrangements and coach drivers who are friendlier and open to passengers.

The Coach Driving Career

Driving a coach professionally is a job that requires a combination of knowledge, skill, intuition, and flexibility. It can be challenging to ensure safe operation in the midst of certain weather conditions or other unusual circumstances. Nevertheless, making the job more challenging than driving other types of commercial vehicles is the ‘human cargo’ being transported.

A lorry operator does not have to worry about the personal comfort or enjoyment of the contents of his or her vehicle. The bus driver does. Therefore, he or she is constantly balancing a variety of factors in order to keep passengers happy while still maintaining safety and efficiency. The best coach drivers deserve our respect and appreciation for doing it so well.

Coach drivers who can take it to the next level by charming their passengers are even more impressive. Let’s face it, how often can you say a charming driver was the thing you remember most about a day trip anywhere. Not very often. It seems drivers able to increase passenger numbers by putting on the charm are very valuable to the coach operators who hire them.

Start Training Now

So now the question is, do you have what it takes? Are you charming enough to be a coach operator that draws more day-trippers to the destinations you service? If so, we would like to offer you bus driver training at the HGV Training Centre. Our training will more than prepare you to operate a coach safely and efficiently. As for the charm, that’s up to you.

If you already have a full car licence, you are ready to begin earning your PCV licence. First, you’ll need to pass a routine medical exam administered by your NHS GP or a private physician. Next, you will need to apply for provisional entitlement and pass your PCV theory test. With both in hand, you’ll be ready to begin your practical skills training. Rest assured that we are here to help you every step of the way.