Entertainment tour bus driver shares fallacies versus facts about the job

We have a story about entertainment tour bus driver Reggie Hall in this edition of our newspaper. A friend of Reggie’s, J.R. Robinson of Tupelo, Miss., recently posted on Instagram about the life of a tour bus driver.
“This is a long-time friend,” Reggie said. “And this article sums up our job perfectly.”
J.R. said for years, people were always asking him how it was being on tour with country and rock stars. Since he was snowed in and bored, he decided to explain it, sharing different aspects of the role and widely-held beliefs, and then stating the truth of the matter.
“Common misconceptions about the job of a rock and roll tour bus driver revolve around its perceived glamour and ease, which contrasts sharply with the demanding and highly professional reality of the role,” he wrote, continuing with the following fallacies versus — facts:
• It is a glamorous job — The biggest conception is that drivers party with the celebrities and enjoy a rockstar lifestyle. In reality, the driver’s job requires professionalism and discretion. While the artists might have the glamorous experience, the driver’s life is more about adhering to a strict, solitary schedule.• Drivers sleep on the bus — Drivers almost always sleep in hotel/motel rooms during the day while the artists are at the venue or sleeping on the bus at night. Their work is often nocturnal, driving through the night to reach the next city so the band can wake up there, and they need proper rest to operate the heavy vehicle safely.
• Anyone can do it — Driving a 45-foot, 30,000-pound motorcoach with precious cargo requires specialized skills, a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and significant training. It involves much more than just driving, including basic maintenance, bus leveling and GPS programming.
• The schedules is spontaneous and flexible — Tours are meticulously planned with tight schedules that must be strictly followed. Drivers have to manage time constraints, traffic and unexpected itinerary changes, while adhering to federal driving regulations.
• It’s an easy, low-stress job — The job is highly stressful, involving long, sedentary hours, the immense responsibility for the lives of all passengers, navigating difficult weather and traffic conditions and dealing with potential passenger conflicts. Drivers need to maintain constant vigilance and awareness.
• Drivers act as tour guides/entertainers —While some general tour bus drivers might provide narration, a rock and roll driver’s primary focus is safe, smooth transportation. They are part of the “crew” family but are primarily responsible for the mechanics and safe operation of the vehicle, not necessarily entertaining the passengers.
For more from J.R., see #JRSDALYTHOUGHT.
Thank you, J.R. for letting us reprint your posting here for our readers so we can all learn more about your job and Reggie’s job. Safe travels!