Eagle Christian Tours has a long list of candidates in an industry that often struggles to find qualified commercial drivers.
Carson Roes, president of the Rome, Georgia-based motorcoach company, credits the list to Eagle Christian Tours’ unique approach: emphasizing purpose, significance, and hospitality over simple transportation logistics.
With over 100 candidates pouring in each month, less than 4% end up becoming an official, certified Host-Driver –- a job title the company uses to emphasize the importance of hospitality, as well as the ability to operate a motorcoach with excellence. This selective approach to new hires is critical to the company’s commitment to exceptional service.
“It all starts with having a deep sense of purpose in what we do,” Roes said. “Deep down, everybody wants to be part of something that matters, something significant. I think everybody wants to know that their work is making a difference in someone else’s life.”
Founded by former pastor
This focus is central to Eagle Christian Tours, founded in 2012 by Roes’ father, Brett Roes, a former pastor seeking a new path after decades in ministry. He found inspiration in a verse from Psalms 103: “[God will] renew your youth like the eagle’s.”
That message became the foundation for Eagle Christian Tours, which has since centered its purpose on “glorifying God by serving people with the heart and mind of Christ.”
Eagle Christian Tours views service as more than getting people from one place to another, Roes said.
“We work really hard to make sure that we frame our work not just for the sake of commerce or making money, but to improve the lives of our guests,” he said. “There’s something significant happening from the work that we do.”
Eagle Christian Tours serves a range of clientele, from celebrities to grade school field trips, but the company works to assure that each guest is treated with equal respect and care.
“Whether we’re serving high-profile celebrities, major league baseball teams or third-grade field trips going to the circus, every single person has great value and dignity,” Roes said.
“We work really hard to make sure that everyone, from those who take care of our buses to our Host-Drivers, understands that the person in that seat is incredibly valuable. It’s an honor and a privilege to prepare that space for them.”
Staying true to core values
Roes’ father started Eagle Christian Tours with this approach in mind, keeping hospitality as a central focus.
“The idea of service is not new in our industry, but we’re going back to its roots,” he said. “Over time, the focus shifted toward transportation logistics. We’ve stayed rooted in our purpose: to serve people with the heart and mind of Christ, not just to get them from one place to another. The transportation part is just the foundation; it’s about delighting people through the process.”
This hospitality-centered mission is reflected in how Eagle Christian Tours hires and trains its Host-Drivers.
“We’re not just hiring bus drivers; we’re hiring Host-Drivers, and there’s a different standard required,” Roes said. “We have a long list of candidates because we’re doing something significant. Our training process can take up to six weeks, and it’s rigorous. If someone doesn’t pass their final exam, they go back and try again until they’re ready to serve our guests the Eagle way.”
One of the perks of being a Host-Driver is Eagle Christian Tours’ dedicated Host-Driver Center, which features free bedrooms, showers, a fully stocked kitchen with snacks and drinks, and a lounge where Host-Drivers can gather, refresh and recharge.
“Our purpose is to glorify God by serving people with the heart and mind of Christ, not just serving our guests or those who pay us, but every person who works at Eagle,” Roes said. “If we as leaders don’t serve the people who work here really well, if they don’t feel exceptional hospitality from us, how will they ever fully grasp what we’re asking them to do for our guests?”
Not all about profit
For Roes, financial success is secondary.
“Money is a byproduct of doing things that matter for others,” he said. “We’re OK with breaking even – if it means fulfilling our purpose. Our primary focus isn’t on making money; it’s on taking great care of people. And what we’ve found is that by focusing on people, the financial side takes care of itself.”
This purpose-driven culture is evident to job applicants from their first visit.
“Everybody here is on the same page,” Roes said. “We don’t have ping pong tables or flashy things, but there’s an energy around taking great care of people. When potential hires walk around and meet our technicians and guest preparation team, they can feel the deep sense of purpose we have here. So many people want to be a part of that. It’s why we have a long list of candidates.”
Orientation for new hires is critical, focusing on values and alignment with the company’s purpose.
“Orientation is an entire day about our values,” Roes said. “At the end of that day, some people decide it’s not the right fit, and that’s OK. Our way isn’t the only way or the ‘right’ way, it’s just our way.”
For Roes, Eagle Christian Tours’ success is tied directly to emphasizing service over profit.
“Our success is a result of the significance we place on living our values,” he said. “When people see Eagle Christian Tours, they might initially be attracted to the success, but that success is a byproduct of our focus on caring for people. If we ever lose sight of the significance, we won’t be able to reproduce the success.”
Photos provided by Eagle Christian Tours.
