What You Need to Become a Charter Bus Driver in New Jersey

A lot of people want to become charter bus drivers in New Jersey, but more than just being alert, knowledgeable and a sucker for safety, you would need to be a licensed bus driver before you could find any work.

To become charter bus drivers in New Jersey, you would need to have a commercial driver's license and the appropriate endorsements from the state's Motor Vehicle Commission.


Commercial Driver's License

All charter bus drivers in New Jersey are required to have a commercial driver's license. To get a CDL, you would need to be 18 years old or older, with a valid Class D New Jersey driver’s license. You would also need to have 20/40 vision in each eye, be physically fit and be able to recognize the colors of a traffic light.

Endorsement

After obtaining a commercial driver's license, you would also need to get the appropriate endorsements. Charter bus driver in New Jersey that transports from eight to fifteen passengers would need a P endorsement, while those that transport more than 15 passengers would need both P and S endorsements.

"P" stands for a Passenger endorsement and requires 

  • passing a road test,
  • having 20/40 vision in each eye, but wearing glasses is okay,
  • having at least 70 degrees of peripheral vision in each eye,
  • being able to recognize the colors of a traffic light,
  • being physically and morally fit,
  • having at least three years driving experience, and
  • being at least 21 years of age.

On top of these, “P” endorsement applicants would need to go through a background check that would include fingerprinting.

"S," on the other hand, stands for school bus endorsement and requires undergoing a background check on both a state and federal level, and would include fingerprinting as well.

For more information on the endorsements necessary to work as a charter bus driver in New Jersey, download the state's Commercial Driver License Manual here: http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Commercial/CDL_P_endorsement.pdf

Coach Bus New Jersey hires only the best charter bus drivers in New Jersey. We give them proper training not just in driving, but also in customer service and basic tour guide skills.