For Nathan Mills, a career in motorcoach maintenance started with a recommendation from a friend — and quickly became a profession he never looked back from.
Now a technician with Premier Transportation in Tennessee, Mills helps keep the company’s buses safe, reliable and ready for the road. From routine inspections to complex repairs, his work happens largely behind the scenes, ensuring passengers travel comfortably and drivers can depend on their equipment every day.
Mills began his career working on cars and in a tire shop, building the hands-on mechanical skills that eventually led him into the bus industry. When an opportunity opened at Premier Transportation, he decided to give it a try — and found the training, teamwork and shared knowledge that sets the motorcoach world apart.
“I started out working on cars, and a friend who worked here told me to apply,” said Mills. “I did, and I haven’t left since.”
Over time, Mills developed a specialty in air conditioning systems, a skill that is especially valuable during Tennessee’s hot summers. He later earned his Commercial Driver’s License, expanding his understanding of the vehicles he maintains and strengthening his connection to the operation as a whole.
Bus & Motorcoach News caught up with Mills to talk about his career path, lessons learned in the shop, and what keeps him motivated each day.
What repair job gives you the most satisfaction when completed?
Probably air conditioning work. That’s where I feel like my skill set is strongest. Especially in the summertime when it gets really hot in Tennessee, it’s a really good feeling to get the AC working again.
What’s your least favorite repair to do?
Working on the bathroom systems — that’s definitely not fun. Probably my least favorite job so far was changing the EGR cooler on a Detroit 60 series engine
Do you have a go-to phrase?
Be willing to work. Be willing to learn.
What’s your favorite bus feature?
I like being able to open the radiator. It makes access easier when you’re doing maintenance or inspections.
What makes you proud about the work you do?
After finishing a repair, running tests and seeing all the codes cleared with everything running great — that’s a good feeling. Just trying to serve the Lord in all I do and help the guys I work with makes for a good day.
How much of your time is spent on preventative maintenance?
We do a lot of preventative maintenance. We have 90-day inspections and different service levels. If we can catch problems before a bus goes out, it saves a lot of money and prevents road calls.
What are some of the challenges of the job?
You get dirty all the time, and you’re not working in a climate-controlled environment. Sometimes you spend hours working on the same problem trying to figure it out.
What advice would you give someone new to the industry?
It takes time to get comfortable. Don’t expect to feel confident right away — just keep working at it and you’ll learn.
What’s been a career highlight for you?
Getting my CDL. That was a really good feeling. I earned it about three years ago.
Why did you choose this career?
I started working on cars, and a friend who worked here told me to come apply. I did, and I’ve stayed ever since.
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