Our Drivers

Are you already a PCV holder or do you want to start a new career as a Coach Driver? Interested in joining our successful Driver Team?

We recognise that changing employer or starting a new career can be a daunting prospect – and that often it’s the insight and feedback provided by those already doing the job which is most useful to prospective candidates. That’s why we’ve asked some of our Drivers to provide details of their ‘own stories’ for you below. We hope that these will provide first-hand insight into just some of the reasons why you should apply to join our Driver Team today!

What our customers say about our Drivers

Each of our Drivers is a ‘Front Line Ambassador’ for our business. With this in mind, we have invested heavily to make sure that each of our Drivers has all the tools and training to be successful in their role. Our Trustpilot 5-star rating along with daily feedback from customers praising our drivers acknowledges that our Drivers are some of the very best in the industry. Here are just a few of the recent comments received about our Drivers from our customers:

“Excellent… The drivers were on time as usual and so helpful and nice! We had an amazing driver, Gary – who helped with loading our items onto and off the coach – he went above and beyond what was expected! Thank you.

Great Experience… Had a really good experience when booking with National Express Transport Solutions. On the day of travel, we were greeted by Adrian, who made the experience so smooth and great for us, offering to pick a student up on route that had unfortunately not made it to the pickup site on time. He was pleasant throughout the journey and did everything he could to help us and make the day run as smoothly as possible. THANK YOU!!!

5 Stars… Mike Sleeman (5 STARS) was by far the best, most helpful and accommodating coach driver I have ever had on a coach trip (and I have organised a few!). Thank you, Mike. You were a star and consummate professional.”

Apply to become a driver with National Express Transport Solutions

Experienced Permanent, Casual & Trainee PCV Coach Driver Vacancies

Are you an experienced PCV Driver looking for your next opportunity?

Do you want a full-time role… or are you just looking to fit driving around your other commitments?

Or perhaps you’re looking for a brand-new challenge? You love driving, meeting people and are passionate about giving excellent customer service… then coach driving could be just the career you’ve been looking for!

We have full, part-time and trainee roles available, with flexible hours to fit around you. We offer excellent rates of pay, an attractive benefits package, some of the very best training and support in the industry and the opportunity to join a growing and exciting company where every member of the Team’s contribution is valued

Experienced PCV Holders

We are looking to recruit full time, part-time and casual Coach Drivers. You must hold a PCV licence, have great customer service skills and a good knowledge of local areas. It will be your responsibility to make sure every passenger has a good journey and arrives at their destination safely and at the right time.

Successful applicants must enjoy working with people and have excellent customer service and driving skills. You must also be enthusiastic, reliable, able to stay calm under pressure and able to work on your own, as well as in a team.

Requirements:

• A full manual or automatic PCV Licence
• A Digital Tachograph card*
• Great communication & customer service skills
• Professional approach
• Good knowledge of Kent and London road network

*Digital Tachograph cards cost £32 for the first application. This will be fully refunded upon successful completion of our training academy. You can apply for the Digital Tachograph card by clicking here.

Looking To Become A Coach Driver? Your Journey Starts Here!

Whether you are looking for a brand new career or you want to renew your licence and get back into coach driving, we are here to help!

Driver Training Academy

Our Driver Training Academy offers the opportunity for recruits to gain their PCV licence along with CPC training, refresher courses and practical driver training. The course takes place on our very own Driver Training vehicle which has a customised interior to allow all parts of the training programme to take place on board. A large flat-screen TV has been mounted on a bespoke frame in the rear of the vehicle and with a new seating configuration, ample room has been made so first aid training can also be undertaken onboard the vehicle. The coach has also been wrapped with a unique livery which is showcased to the public when our trainees take it out on the road!

Upon successful completion of your PCV licence or refresher course, all new recruits are offered a full-time position within National Express Transport Solutions as a professional coach driver.

New PCV drivers will undergo a 6-8 week training course before being allowed to drive solo on various jobs from commuter service and private hires to international trips and corporate contracts.

All recruits will receive support in every aspect of their training, from theory tests and practical driving to health and safety and manual handling. Once you are part of the National Express Transport Solutions family, in your first year you will undergo training including first aid, emergency vehicle evacuation and continental driving.

The Driver Training Academy programme includes full, paid training, including:

• Tuition to pass the PCV Driving Test (modules 2,3 & 4)
• Route familiarisation
• Vehicle familiarisation & type training
• Ticket machine training
• Company systems, procedures and policies.

Once you have passed through all the formalised training elements you will work with an experienced colleague who will act as your mentor to support you in your early days as you settle into your new role. We also provide ongoing training to help you excel in your role and ensure you maintain your Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Benefits of becoming a driver with National Express Transport Solutions

• Earn Up To £32,000 A Year Basic Salary
• Flexible Working Patterns
• State of the Art Vehicles
• Travel Around The UK & Europe

Our recent success stories

Since launching the Driver Training Academy we have seen a number of eager recruits join the programme. We are extremely proud of all our new trainees and recruits who have so far achieved a 100% success rate! Below are just a few of our new drivers with our training vehicle.

If you would like to register your interest in our Driver Training Academy, please fill in your details below and one of the Driver Trainers will be in touch.

All applicants must have a Digital Tachograph card. This costs £32 for a first application but will be fully refunded upon successful completion of our training academy. You can apply for the digital tachograph card by clicking here.

If you already have your PCV licence and are looking for current vacancies, please click here.

National Express Transport Solutions is one of the UK’s fastest-growing transport companies. As a result of our successful business growth, we are currently recruiting for permanent, casual and trainee Drivers to join our award-winning team. With Driver vacancies across our different locations and with our excellent range of benefits, there has never been a better time to join us. Below we’ve listed some ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ to help you gauge whether a Driver role at National Express Transport Solutions is for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m interested in becoming a coach driver. Will you teach me?

Yes, of course! Our Driver Training Academy gives those new to coach driving the opportunity to gain their PCV licence. All of our Trainee Drivers undergo an intensive training course before driving solo. Alternatively, if you’re already a licenced holder but have not driven for a few years we also run refresher courses to help you get back into coach driving. Once you’ve gained your licence or completed your refresher course we’ll assign a mentor to you to help you build confidence during the first few weeks after your training

What type of work will I be doing? What are the working hours like?

We have a wide variety of work available from regular commuter & timetabled services, to private hire and corporate work. We work with many household names and big brands including high profile clients from the world of sport and entertainment.
National Express Transport Solutions Drivers work shift patterns, giving you flexibility with your home life. Wherever possible we will allocate duties to suit, providing that it also meets business needs. We are also interested in recruiting Casual Drivers allowing you to tell us exactly what hours you want to work

Will I work as part of a Team?

Yes! National Express Transport Solutions Driver Team is very well established with many Drivers having worked with us for many years. You’ll regularly work with other Driver colleagues on jobs which require two Drivers or multiple vehicles. Day to day you’ll have regular contact with our Operations Team and fellow Drivers while you’re serving our customers.

What other skills will I need to become a Coach Driver at National Express Transport Solutions?

Great customer service skills and a willingness to go the extra mile for both customers and colleagues alike are key skills for all those looking to join our Driver Team

We will provide all of the necessary training to help you become a great coach driver. However, to be 100% successful in the role you must also be able to build a good rapport with passengers, be professional, welcoming and courteous at all times and look to provide timely passenger updates on any factors affecting their journey with us

I am a current PCV holder. What level of driving experience do I need?

You will need to be over 21 years of age, have a valid CPC card and have no more than 6 points or two fixed penalties on your licence

Are there opportunities for me to develop a career at National Express Transport Solutions?

Yes! There are a number of career pathways which many of our Drivers choose to follow. These include being the ‘Lead Driver’ on large scale customer hires, being the designated driver for one of our luxury VIP coaches which are used by many of our high-profile customers and sports teams. Many of our Drivers have also progressed into a Duty Manager role in our busy Operations Department. There are even opportunities for Drivers to move into other Departments if they possess the relevant skills and aptitude

What vehicle will I be driving?

We have one of the largest fleets in the South of England and have made £5.5m investment into new vehicles in the last 12 months alone! Our ongoing commitment to regular fleet replacement and making sure that we only buy the safest and very best quality vehicles on the market is unwavering. With a range of seating capacity available from 24-77 double-deckers, including many VIP vehicles, you can be assured that you will drive high-quality vehicles with distinct ‘curb appeal’. Our significant investment into onboard technology also means that the safety of our passengers, other road users, pedestrians and YOU our Driver is always the core focus

Do you only have Driver vacancies at National Express Transport Solutions Gillingham based operation?

No, we also have Driver vacancies across National Express Transport Solutions at our operations in Dover, South East London, Heathrow, Reading, Leicester, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Southampton, Worthing and Hampshire. To find out more about Driver vacancies across National Express Transport Solutions, please telephone our Driver Recruitment Team on 01634 377 577  in the first instance.

Why is a Driver role at National Express Transport Solutions different to a Driver role with another coach operator?

Unlike National Express Transport Solutions, not all coach operators can boast that they are members of the Guild of British Coach Operators, which is an association of top-quality coach operators dedicated to providing customers with a first-class service. Over our 50-year history, we have also won countless industry awards with the ‘Large Coach Operator of the Year 2019’ This is one the most recent additions to our trophy cabinet.

Whilst we clearly have credentials to be proud of – we recognise that it is the individual contribution of each and every member of the National Express Transport Solutions Team which makes us successful today and will enable our continued success tomorrow! Our Driver Team is integral to our success and future growth so you can be assured that we will provide all of the necessary tools, training and support to ensure that you can be hugely successful in your role. We actively encourage each of our Drivers to offer ideas and opinions to help us shape our future approach. Our ‘People Value’ lies at the heart of everything we do each and every day with us committed to ‘developing the talents, awarding the exceptional performance and respecting the rights of all of our employees’.