Charter and tour bus drivers transport passengers for compensation—a critical distinction that triggers federal DOT requirements. Under 49 CFR Part 391, any driver operating a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers in interstate or intrastate commerce must maintain DOT medical certification.
Charlotte’s tourism and corporate travel industries create strong demand for charter bus services:
Major event venues: Bank of America Stadium (Panthers, concerts), Spectrum Center (Hornets, concerts), Charlotte Convention Center, and PNC Music Pavilion create steady demand for group transportation.
NASCAR tourism: Charlotte Motor Speedway draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, with charter buses transporting fans from hotels and parking areas.
Corporate headquarters: Bank of America, Lowe’s, Duke Energy, and other Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Charlotte require regular charter services.
Charter and tour bus drivers operate under FMCSA hours-of-service regulations for passenger carriers:
These limits make cardiovascular fitness and alertness—evaluated in the DOT physical—critical for charter bus driver safety.
At Charlotte DOT Exam Center, our FMCSA-certified medical examiners—Dr. Alan M. Tebby and Dr. Lemuel Byrd—evaluate all commercial drivers using federal standards:
Vision: Minimum 20/40 acuity in each eye, 70-degree peripheral vision, and color recognition for traffic signals.
Hearing: Must perceive forced whisper at 5 feet.
Blood pressure: Below 140/90 for 2-year certification. Higher readings receive shorter certification periods.
Physical fitness: Neurological, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and respiratory assessment.
Urinalysis: Screens for underlying conditions like diabetes—separate from drug testing.
| Health Status | Certificate Duration |
|---|---|
| Healthy, all standards met | 24 months |
| Treated Stage 1 hypertension | 12 months |
| Insulin-treated diabetes (with exemption) | 12 months |
| Sleep apnea with CPAP compliance | 12 months |
| Conditions requiring monitoring | 3-12 months |
Drivers managing sleep apnea, diabetes, or hypertension can obtain certification with proper treatment documentation.
Convenient for charter and tour bus drivers throughout Charlotte metro: Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, South Charlotte, Huntersville, Concord, Gastonia, Rock Hill, Fort Mill, and Indian Trail. Easy access from I-485, I-77, and I-85.
Walk-ins welcome Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Call (704) 544-3494 or visit 8415 Pineville-Matthews Road, Suite 102, Charlotte NC 28226.
Learn about requirements for other commercial drivers at our Driver Types Hub, including school bus drivers, and CDL Class B drivers.
Yes, all charter and tour bus drivers operating vehicles for 16+ passengers in commercial service must pass DOT physical examinations under 49 CFR Part 391.
Most charter bus drivers need CDL Class B with passenger (P) endorsement. Drivers operating motorcoaches pulling trailers over 10,000 lbs may need CDL Class A.
Charlotte DOT Exam Center charges $70 flat rate for charter and tour bus driver DOT physicals, including examination, urinalysis, and laminated medical card.
Church buses used solely for church activities without compensation may be exempt. Any commercial operation requires DOT certification. Consult your insurance carrier.
Yes, with documented CPAP compliance. Given the long hours motorcoach drivers work, sleep apnea management is critically important for passenger safety.
Yes, airport shuttle drivers operating vehicles for 16+ passengers need DOT certification. Smaller shuttles may have different requirements depending on passenger capacity.
Healthy charter bus drivers receive 24-month certificates. Company policies may require more frequent physicals than federal minimums.
Major disqualifications include uncontrolled seizures, severe vision or hearing impairment, certain cardiovascular conditions, and uncontrolled diabetes.
No, tour bus drivers and charter bus drivers have identical DOT physical requirements under FMCSA passenger carrier regulations.
No appointment required. Walk-ins welcome Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Most exams complete in 20-30 minutes.