FAIRBANKS, Alaska Princess Tours, one of the largest tour bus operators in Alaska, has developed a driver training program that gives college credit through the University of Alaska.

Every year, Princess Tours hires scores of college students to serve as driver-guides on its tour coaches in Alaska. To prepare students for the summer jobs, Princess Tours operates a commercial driver training program.

This year, students can earn credit through the University of Alaska Fairbanks by completing the program, and the credits can be transferred to colleges and universities nationwide.

Students participating in the program will qualify to receive three credits for ABUS 267, Transportation and Logistics Management, a course in the Applied Business Department of the university.

Princess is the first tour company in Alaska, and perhaps the U.S., offering a program where students can earn university credits by completing a motorcoach driver training course.

Students completing the program conduct tours for visitors on various routes throughout Alaska during the summer tourism season, which begins May 4. The driver-guides often also provide narrative information for passengers to give them more appreciation of the state's many attractions. They also learn basic maintenance and mechanical duties.

"We're so pleased the University of Alaska Fairbanks has recognized the high quality of our driver training programs by deeming them worthy of college credits," said Bruce Bustamante, Princess' vice president of community and public affairs. ... "This new element gives students an additional benefit as they train to become Princess Tours driver-guides, and it further demonstrates our commitment to the excellence of this program."

During the past 15 years, the Princess Tours commercial driver training program has grown from a small program to a state-of-the-art school that includes a Web-based manual covering everything from vehicle inspection, to safe driving, to technical troubleshooting.

The training program is offered throughout Alaska, as well as in Rexburg, Idaho; Provo, Utah, and Bellingham, Wash. Classroom instruction for new drivers includes presentations and training videos all developed and produced by the Princess Tours driver safety and training department.

"Achieving the ability to offer credit through the University of Alaska Fairbanks reinforces the strong reputation the Princess Tours commercial driver training program has established within the Alaska transportation community," said Bustamante.

For more information, go to www.PrincessJobs.com.