Volunteer Driving Information

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps' Driving Staff! This season is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in our history and we could use your help!

Why Volunteer for the Blue Stars?
The experience that we as a team (management, instructional staff, volunteers and alumni) offer the marching members of the Blue Stars is incredibly unique. Travel, performance, lifelong friendships, independence and leadership training are all parts of the experience that have helped build the Blue Stars as a world-leader in the Drum and Bugle Corps activity. None of this would be possible without a hard working and dedicated volunteer staff.

Volunteering to drive a vehicle brings with it the opportunity to serve the corps in an integral role: Ensuring the safety of our members and staff and helping the corps travel with efficiency.

What types of vehicles does the corps own?
The Blue Stars travel throughout the summer on 4-5 MCI Coach style buses, 2 Tractor Trailer Cabs, which each pull a semi-trailer (one with equipment, one with cooking supplies/appliances), a 12-Passenger Van and an additional passenger car.

What types of driver's license do I need to have to drive these vehicles?
The 12-Passenger van can be driven by anyone with a standard driver's license. Each MCI Coach requires a class B CDL (Commercial Driver's License) along with endorsements for airbrakes and passengers. The Trailer Cabs each require a Class A CDL. You also need to obtain a Federal Medical card by getting a physical. The corps is willing to help any volunteer financially in obtaining a CDL if the volunteer drives a minimum of three weeks during the summer.

A Typical Day on the Road as a volunteer Driver:
The corps will ensure that you are provided with the best night's sleep possible. Once you are woken up you will have time to eat, shower, check in with a member of the corps' administration and prepare for the day or evenings' travel. While on tour, much of the corps' travel occurs during night hours. There will be times when the corps will be covering nearly 500 miles per night for a stretch of 2-3 consecutive days. When we arrive at our housing sites you will be offered a quiet, dark place to sleep for the day and recharge for the following night's drive.

Preparing for a trip:
As we prepare to depart the housing site we will go through the "pre-trip" process, which will include checking the vehicles' fuel and oil levels and having the itinerary communicated by the corps' Tour Director. The Tour Director will tell you the total distance of the trip, when the scheduled stops are, when the longer fuel stops will be, provide you with a toll purse if necessary and assign a travel order for all the vehicles in the convoy.

Maintenance Issues:
If you notice any mechanical or operational issues with the vehicle that you are driving, or any vehicle in the Blue Stars' fleet, you are urged to report it to the corps' management as soon as possible. The corps travels with a 2-Way 'CB' radio on each vehicle to ensure that all issues are communicated to the management as soon as they are noticed. The corps' Transportation Director will make decisions in regards to when, where and what is to be repaired at the corps' expense. Safety is the first priority with all travel and will not be sacrificed for any reason. We thank you ahead of time for your care in transporting everyone down the road as safely as possible.

Corps Performances:
The Blue Stars will perform over 50 times this season. As a touring volunteer you will be given a Blue Stars' staff pass, which will permit you to attend all Drum Corps International and Drum Corps Midwest shows free of charge. There will be a number of shows where we will need to 'pre-trip' the vehicles prior to the corps' performance. This will be communicated by the Tour Director. Please feel free to enjoy the performances!

How do I sign up?
We have an online volunteer application that you can fill out to let us know that you are interested. Here's the link: http://www.bluestars.org/support/volunteer_form.php Filling out this form does not officially commit you. Upon reading these applications the corps director will contact you regarding your availability. If you have any questions please feel free to email director@bluestars.org

Thank you again for your interest. We look forward to meeting you!