Backroads Trip Leaders: FAQs & Answers

You need to possess the basic physical skills required for our biking, walking and multi-adventure trips. To lead biking trips, you'll want to be able to ride the daily mileages we offer guests (30 - 50 miles), with panniers or a saddlebag holding extra tools, food and water. On walking trips, you should be able to hike the daily distances (5 - 10 miles), while carrying a full daypack. Leading trips also involves a substantial amount of heavy lifting. For example, you will be trained to lift a bicycle and "rack" it onto the top of the van, a combined weight of approximately 35 pounds. You'll also need to load and unload large pieces of luggage on a daily basis. In terms of mechanical skills, we'll teach you how to repair bicycles, hitch a trailer to the van, drive a large vehicle confidently, etc.

While most of our applicants do not feel confident in the full-range of bike mechanic skills when they first apply, Backroads leaders quickly learn to confidently fix typical bike issues in the field such as fine-tuning shifting, changing pedals, swapping saddles, changing brake pads and fixing flat tires. It's to your benefit to start learning and practicing these skills early, keeping in mind we may check applicant's basic skills at in-person hiring events.

We require all our Trip Leaders and Trip Prep Specialists to be able to speak English fluently. Speaking another language, specifically French, Spanish, Italian or German will greatly increase your chances of being hired. Having local conversant language skills is required to work in some regions where necessary. You will have the opportunity to test your language fluency prior to or at a Hiring Event or prior to training, if invited.

REQUIREMENTS FOR U.S. RESIDENTS (non-CA):

U.S. residents (outside of California, see below) must have a valid U.S. Passenger Vehicle Driver’s License. A Commercial Driver’s License is not required.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS:

The DOT requires field staff licensed in California to carry a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) while driving a passenger van in California. CA license holders are not required to carry a CDL when leading in other states. If you're licensed within the state of California, please keep in mind that you may have to go through the process of obtaining a CDL to be eligible to work in the State of California.

The process usually takes 1 - 2 weeks. Backroads will reimburse the costs of the licensing process. Information on the entire CDL process can be found here:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/dl/dl_info#CDL

If hired, and you would like to be eligible to work in California as a CA resident, it would be helpful to get a jump start on the process before coming to training:

1. DOT MEDICAL EXAM: To start the CDL process, you must obtain a DMV/DOT Medical Exam & Certificate to bring to the DMV. This is easy to do; it just requires time to find a medical facility to give you a quick medical exam and certify you're "road worthy." You may find a Medical Examiner here and schedule an appointment. If hired, we reimburse up to $145 for the exam.

2. WRITTEN TEST: Take the written portion of the exam at the DMV. You can either walk in or schedule an appointment. We will reimburse you for any fees for the exam. You will then be given a permit that we will use to schedule the driving portion of the exam once you have completed training in Salt Lake City.

Leaders with licenses from outside of California are NOT required to carry a CDL while leading in California or any other state. Your valid passenger vehicle license is sufficient.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CANADIAN APPLICANTS:

If you are hired as a Canadian Trip Leader, you are required to obtain your Class 4 License (or provincial equivalent). You are not required to have your Class 4 for the Trip Prep Specialist role. If you are hired, it is best to work towards or obtain your Class 4 License before you attend training.

The information below explains the most efficient way of obtaining your Class 4. If you are attending a Hiring Event in Canada it is best to have given thought to this ahead of time because the turnaround time between the Hiring Event and Training can be short:

Do you already have a Class 4 equivalent from another province?

Great! Your license is valid outside your home province for 3 months and you are ready to lead this summer.

Do you currently reside outside Alberta and have sufficient time to complete the ENTIRETY of your Class 4 before coming to Canmore for training?

Go to your nearest Provincial Motor Vehicle Branch and pick up the Driver's Handbooks (basic and professional manuals) for a Class 4 Commercial Driver's License (or the equivalent in your home province). Remember, you will need to have time to complete the entire process before coming to training. Make sure to double check that there are appointments available for the driving test!

Will you be obtaining your Class 4 in Alberta?

If you are completing the licensing process in Alberta, but you are currently registered as a driver in another province, Backroads will provide you with a letter stating that you are an employee of Backroads and will be working and residing in the Province of Alberta. There is a 10-day waiting period for the re-classing of your current driver's license to an Alberta one. You can, however, complete the written test for your Class 4 during this waiting period.

The Alberta Provincial Motor Vehicle Branches require that you complete a written driver's test and a medical examination.

For your Class 4 license, Backroads reimburses you for the majority of the costs associated with obtaining the license.

REQUIREMENTS FOR EU/UK APPLICANTS:

EU/UK applicants must have a valid EU/UK Driver’s Lisence. If hired, you will be required to pass routine courses and medical examinations for the specifics of this job as required from your country.

 

Yes, we need proof of a clean driving record before we can hire you. This information is required for our North American* applicants and essential for insurance purposes. Your report must show any accidents or infractions on your record. Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applicants who have substance-related offenses on their driving record (DUI/DWI). 

*Providing a Driving Record is not required for EU/UK applicants.

For US candidates: Most states will now allow you to order or access a copy of your driving record online. Please visit your local DMV for information.

For Canadian and European applicants: Please click the country links below for information on how to obtain a copy of your driving record/abstract:

• Canada
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Croatia
• Slovenia
• Ireland
• UK
• Portugal
• Germany
• Netherlands
   

CPR/First Aid: Prior to Field Staff Training, we ask you to get the level of CPR/First Aid certification that is appropriate for the region you will be working in. Depending on the regions you are working in, this can be a standard level of certification or in specific regions Wilderness First Aid is required. You will receive more information upon hire and will be able to submit a reimbursement request.

Regional Certifications: If hired, you will receive more in-depth information regarding any additional certifications you may need to complete before coming to Training (hub of employment dependent). 

If you've applied previously, please click the "APPLY NOW" button. Use the same name and email address as you did for your previous application and you will be able to edit and re-submit your prior application. Please note that because we have changed our video questions, we would like you to re-take the video interview. In addition, we will need an updated driving record.

Our Hiring Events are by invitation-only and they're required to be considered for the position. During your interview, we will ask you to indicate your availability and preferences for our Hiring Events. If invited, we'll work with you to select an event that suits your schedule, and you'll receive a comprehensive packet of information to help you plan the next steps.

Unfortunately, we are unable to grant requests for informational interviews. If you're interested in learning more about the job, please review the comprehensive information posted on this website. Of course, you may have questions unique to your situation. We welcome open communication and will strive to answer any questions you may have during the interview.

The Compensation, Benefits & Work Authorization page has the most accurate estimate of days worked for new Trip Leaders. Your own availability and start date will likely impact the amount of work you receive. If you want to maximize your work schedule, we suggest that applicants attend the earliest possible hiring and training events, minimize your time-off requests during the summer, and stay available to lead through our fall peak (mid-October). As a seasonal employee, you will not likely work more than six months in your first year. If you attend a Summer Training, you will not work more than 2-3 months in your first year.

Yes, but it's important to realize that it can be difficult to schedule a leader around time-off requests. Time-off requests often reduce the number of trips a leader is scheduled to work (which limits earning potential). Because many trips start and finish on weekends, being unavailable on a weekend means that you may not be scheduled to work the week before and the week after the weekend you are unavailable. Because many of our trips take place between May and October, it's best to limit time-off requests in these months if you want to be scheduled fully. Time off requests for the upcoming season will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis prior to being offered a position. Please note that it is extremely difficult for us to honor time-off requests during our peak months of June and September. You must be able to lead trips during our peak fall season, which includes the month of September. We may not be able to hire you if you can't work in September. Please discuss this with your interviewer if you anticipate a conflict.

Yes, you're still eligible as long as you can attend a Hiring Event and Summer Training with limited time off requests for the month of September. September is a very busy month, and we need leaders to be available for work during this time.

We present the job as seasonal because most work is April - October in Europe, May - September in the United States, and June-September in Canada. In your first year of employment as a Trip Leader, you will be considered "seasonal" with the opportunity to qualify for year-round employment in subsequent years. Seasonal employees typically work six months of the year and their season ends around October. Although we strive to provide winter employment for Trip Leaders and Trip Prep Specialists, we cannot guarantee trip-leading work through the winter/spring, and this is generally only available for those in their second year of employment and beyond. If you possess the appropriate language skills, you may be eligible to work winter trips in Latin America, Asia and Northern Africa and will be promoted to either extended seasonal status, or year-round status. Winter trips are awarded on the basis of performance and language skills, while also taking into account seniority.

Yes, we have several leaders who only lead a few trips (or even one trip) a year. However, if you’re looking for part time work, we require you to be available during our peak season which is mid-June to mid-July and September. Often leaders who work part-time are leaders who have worked full time in the past.

Note: we require first-year Field Staff have full-time availability for their first season. This means limiting time off requests between May and October. You can discuss your availability with your interviewer if you anticipate a conflict.

It depends on which session of our Leadership Training Program you attend. Generally speaking, new leaders enter the field between 1 - 21 days after having graduated from training. Leadership Training Programs in April and May tend to have longer gaps prior to field entry than those in June, July and August. However, leaders who graduate from the earlier trainings also tend to work more over the course of the season. Once you enter the field, your training will continue by way of a Regional Familiarization. You might be scheduled to "shadow" a trip, work as a Support Leader, explore the region and routes on your own or guided by an experienced leader. Finally, you'll lead your very first trip paired with an experienced "Training Leader."

You'll typically work in 1-2 regions in your first year. The opportunity to work in more regions grows in your second year and beyond.

Leaders receive their trip leading assignments near the end of the training process. Several factors determine where you might work including an individual's experience, performance in training, language skills (if applicable), ability to drive manual transmission (if applicable), availability and, above all, our company need.

If you have expertise in a particular region where Backroads runs trips, this works well. Backroads is motivated to find qualified local leaders who can offer our guests an insider's perspective in ALL of the regions where we're running trips. Please tell us during the interview if you have a strong desire to lead only in one area. Please note that we cannot guarantee work exclusively in one area as our company needs, as well as creating the best possible guest experiences, dictate leader schedules.

Ultimately, the quality of our guest experience drives scheduling decisions. We recognize the added value of having guests on trips with local leaders who are passionate about the place they call home! In some cases we hire specifically with this in mind. Over time, Backroads leaders with the appropriate language skills and experience may work in a number of different places; however, please understand that working near home through the busy summer/fall season may be the best thing for our guests. We can discuss further during the interview process if necessary.

All leaders submit requests for regions where they would prefer to work. You will be assigned where we need you most and where we think you will excel, strongly taking into account leader performance, availability, knowledge of area and foreign language abilities (among other variables). Given time, Backroads leaders can see and experience a lot of the world. The best way to accomplish this is to excel with the work you're given, remain open and flexible, and remember that Backroads Trip Leaders are employees filling a company need.

Leading trips requires expertise of the area in which you're scheduled—either from previous experience in the region and/or from taking the initiative to gain in-depth knowledge. Examples of appropriate expertise are knowledge in cultures/customs, history, cuisine, geology, flora/fauna, politics, language, etc.

Trip Leaders take on a variety of roles during the season, including training, "unit drives," regional familiarization, equipment maintenance and more.

Leaders may be scheduled for trips with all types of activities—biking, walking and multi-adventure. Please note: we especially seek leaders who like to ride, have good mechanical aptitude, and ability to lead our biking trips. In addition, leaders may be scheduled for trips with either hotels or small cruise ships, and for different groups of people: Adults, Families and Private groups. Our family program is especially strong so it wouldn't hurt to highlight any relevant skills you have (working with children, facilitating activities for kids) on your application.

No, once leaders leave their Training Hub (Salt Lake City, Canmore, Tuscany or Pernes-les-Fontaines) at the start of the season, if they choose to travel home in between trips, the cost is theirs. Backroads pays for leaders to travel between regions for work.

Most regions have a "Field Staff House" where all employees sleep when they are in between work. If a House is not available, Backroads will provide an inexpensive hotel in a gateway city. While working on trip, accommodations generally match those of our guests. When leading Hotel Trips, leaders share a "Leader Room" that is typically in the same hotel as our guests' rooms. The "Leader Room" will never be more desirable than our guests' rooms, but in almost all cases it will be onsite. Note that while leaders share accommodations, each leader will have their own bed or sleeping space (sometimes a roll-away, and rarely a sleeping bag and pad on the floor). Trip Prep Specialists live in the "Field Staff House" full time.

There is no "typical" day for a leader—surprises, challenges and opportunities arise all the time. This gives a sense of what you could expect during the course of the day as a leader:

Morning: The day often begins early and it's up to you and your co-leaders to set the stage for a great day: tuning bikes, loading luggage, cleaning vans, preparing snacks and the day’s lunch.

Just as you finish your preparations, it's time to start the day's activity, beginning with route talks and safety tips. Regardless of the activity, at least one leader will participate with the guests, providing route support. Another leader will provide support in the van, taking care of guest needs, perhaps preparing a picnic lunch, transferring luggage and attending to logistical details as needed. Throughout the week, leaders rotate these roles. You may be one of two or three leaders depending on the type of trip. There will almost always be two or three leaders assigned to each trip.

Evening: You may share a meal with your guests. It may be a gourmet meal at a fine restaurant if you're leading a Hotel or Ship Trip, or it could be a more informal one at a local's favorite. After dinner it might be back to the van, trailer and bikes to tie up any loose ends, or watching the stars with your co-leaders. Naturally exhausted, you will fall into bed, to rest up for whatever tomorrow may bring.

Backroads is committed to the success of every Trip Leader and Trip Prep Specialist. Should you be hired and invited to attend a Backroads Training session, we will give you the tools needed to be successful in the field with our guests and with your co-leaders.

Upon graduating Leader or TPS training, we pair each new field staff with a mentor, a seasoned Backroads Leader or Trip Prep Specialist, who is committed to your growth and success throughout your first season and beyond.

Backroads is a feedback-driven company. We are constantly receiving feedback from our guests and giving & receiving feedback to and from one another. We truly believe it helps us grow as a company, a culture, and as individuals.

Occasionally during Training, if we observe that an individual is unable to meet the demands of the position, we reserve the right to terminate employment. It is only upon graduating a Backroads training session that a new Leader or Trip Prep Specialist is sent into the field for their first work assignments.