Thank You, Island Explorer Bus Drivers!


A big thanks to this season’s Island Explorer drivers – recruiting for next season has already begun!

Paul Bolduc, an Island Explorer bus driver, drives visitors to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center in Acadia National Park. (Photo by Lily LaRegina/Friends of Acadia)

 

Driving an Island Explorer bus is more than simply knowing the route.

Bus drivers help park visitors explore Acadia National Park in a car-free and more eco-friendly way, which is admirable in its own right. They’re also a reliable crew of people who’ll welcome you aboard, help you load your bike onto the bike racks, and shuttle you to Acadia’s sweet spots.

Acadia is lucky to have the Island Explorer buses – a fare-free system that connects a host of locations in and around Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula with destinations in Acadia, making it a convenient way to commute for park visitors and locals alike from late June to early October.

But those buses don’t drive themselves. So we give a hearty thank you to this season’s (and every season’s) bus drivers, who welcomed us aboard and helped make our explorations in Acadia and around MDI that much easier and friendlier.

This year’s service moved to its fall service earlier than planned this year due to a lack of bus drivers, which highlights how important those drivers are. The bus driver shortage is a challenge for Downeast Transportation, the operator of the Island Explorer bus service in and around Acadia, as well as bus services around the country.

To prepare for a busy season in 2023, Downeast is already in search of bus drivers with commercial licenses (CDL) for the 2023 season (mid-June through Oct. 9).

The job offers flexible shifts, a fun, team-oriented environment, and a wage scale well above most in the region. If you don’t already have a commercial license, Downeast Transportation offers training and may be able to assist you in obtaining one!

If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Jodi Moore at 207-667-5796 or jodi.moore@exploreacadia.com for more information.

And to each of the 2022 Island Explorer bus drivers, thank you for the rides!