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Begin your career today
- Start at $30.18 per hour/Pay while in training is $21.08/hr!
- Medical, dental, vision and more!
- No experience or Commercial Driver License (CDL) required.
- Variable schedules based on seniority.
Job description
As a new Transit Operator, you’ll have subsidized premiums for: medical, dental, vision. And you’ll receive paid vacation and sick leave and start at $30.18 an hour. King County offers great additional benefits and resources to its employees—check out the full list at our employees page.
No commercial driving experience required—we offer PAID training ($21.08 per hour).
Folks who do well in this job have a strong customer service background, love people, and have a general aversion to cubicles.
- Be at least 21 years old at the time you apply.
- Hold a valid Washington Driver License, and have the ability to obtain a Commercial Learners Permit with the Air Brake and Passenger endorsements.
- Have a minimum of two years of experience providing customer service to the general public.
- Have an acceptable driving record at the time of offer. Any of the following violations within the last five years will automatically disqualify you from consideration:
- Reckless or negligent driving.
- DWI/DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).
- If you received a ticket for causing a hit-and-run incident.
- Vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.
- Open container violation.
- More than one “at fault” accident within the past year.
- Any license suspension for a moving violation.
- Two or more license suspensions for non-moving violations.
- Have reliable transportation to work.
- Be able to speak and write in English.
- Have an acceptable work history and employment references.
- Be available for morning and afternoon shifts.
Transit operators must be able to meet the Federal Physical Qualifications for Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders as found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 49 CFR 391.41. Medical waivers will be accepted only for insulin-dependent diabetes.
The job also includes:
- Sitting for extended periods of time.
- Lifting or pulling up to 40 pounds.
- Performing repetitive body movements to operate controls.
- Working independently with a minimum of breaks.
- Operating a transit vehicle in heavy traffic and (rarely) in emergency or hazardous situations or conditions.
CDL pre-trip inspection
Check out this overview of the pre-trip inspection—a required part of the Commercial Driver’s License test, which all Commercial Driver Permit holders must pass.
- New hires will have variable schedules based on seniority.
- Minimum guaranteed pay is two hours and 30 minutes per day.
- Assignments change two times a year and are chosen by operators in order of seniority. Metro cannot guarantee that you will work the hours, routes, or base location of your choice.
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587 represents this job.
Successful applicants will be invited to participate in an online assessment survey. The most competitive candidates will then be invited to interview for the position, with successful candidates being issued conditional offers of employment. At that time, more details about the following requirements will be provided:
- DOT Physical and drug screen. (This includes marijuana.)
- Commercial Learners Permit with Air Brake and Passenger endorsements.
- Criminal conviction record evaluation.
- Current five-year complete driving record abstract.
All newly hired Transit Operators must complete Metro’s 40-day training program, which includes classroom and coach practice instruction. We offer either a morning or afternoon class schedule (see below). Metro does not require new hires to already have a Commercial Driver License (CDL) or prior transit driving experience. Attendance is required at every class; no make-up classes are allowed.
Both in training and once graduated, being at your assigned location, ready to work and on time is required.
Training schedule *
| Class | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | 6:30 am - 3 pm |
| Saturday - Sunday | work required as assigned in Training Class |
Pay and benefits
- Pay: $30.18 per hour upon completion of paid training.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with the option of family and domestic partner coverage.
- Paid vacation.
- Sick leave.
- Retirement and deferred compensation plans.
- Membership in Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587.
- Variable scheduling based on seniority.
New-hire bonus
We want to help get you in the door and behind the wheel. New operator trainees will receive a $3,000 hiring incentive, disbursed as drivers meet certain milestones:
- Operators will receive $1,000 after successfully completing training and graduating with their class.
- Employees will receive a second payment of $2,000 after completing 6 months of solo driving and successfully completing probation.
Hiring process
Here are the steps to become a Metro Transit Operator.
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Submit your application
All information must be included in the application. A separate resume or cover letter will not be accepted.
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Prepare for your interview and training
In order to be placed into a training class you’ll need to hold a Washington State Commercial Learners Permit by passing 3 Written knowledge tests at any Department of Licensing office:
- CDL general knowledge (A, B, & C)
- Air brakes
- Passenger
We recommend you start studying the Washington State Commercial Driver Guide as soon as you apply.
- When you feel ready take the Practice Test on the DOL Website
- Review this "How to study for a CDL permit test" video
- Study CLP topics using these digital Flashcards
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In-person Interview
Applicants who pass minimum qualifications will be invited to a virtual interview. Interviews are scheduled based on application date.
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Conditional offer
Based on the results of your interview, you may receive a “conditional” offer of employment to start in a training class. Applicants who receive a conditional offer must complete all portions of the Pre-Employment Process (PEP) within 45 days of receiving the conditional offer, including obtaining a Commercial Learners Permit.
You will receive a formal offer when you have passed the following steps:
- Obtain a Commercial Learners Permit: This requires passing written exams for the General Knowledge, Air Brakes and Passenger endorsements at a Department of Licensing office.
- Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam—paid for by Metro Transit
- 5-Year driving record review
- Drug screening (this includes marijuana)
- Criminal background check
- Employment verification
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Paid Transit Operator training
Once all pre-employment steps are completed you will start our paid Transit Operator training program at $21.08 per hour. Classes meet on weekdays and weekends and attendance is required everyday of your class. You will be offered a choice of a weekday morning or afternoon class to accommodate your schedule (both options include full-day weekend training days.)
Both in training and once graduated, being at your assigned location, ready to work and on time is required.
Training is a mix of classroom and driving with our experienced training staff. After passing the CDL test in class, you will pick your first Metro driving assignment and spend the rest of training practicing out of your assigned base.
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Start your career with Metro!
Congratulations! After graduating training you will convert from a trainee to a Transit Operator for King County Metro, holding a Class B CDL with Passenger endorsement. Your career with Metro is underway!
FAQ
All applicants for positions defined as “safety sensitive” are required to pass a drug test prior to employment and will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. This includes testing for marijuana.
No, work experience that demonstrates good performance, strong customer service, reliability, and good communication within the last 10 years will be considered. Persons that are self-employed and stay-at-home parents are also encouraged to apply.
Metro Transit does not require part-time applicants to have a CDL to be hired for the bus operator position, but candidates must get a Commercial Driver Permit with Airbrake and Passenger endorsements before entering a training class and starting the training process.
If you have had an out of state license in the last 5 years, Metro staff will obtain that driving record. You will only be responsible for obtaining your current Washington driving record at the specified time.
If you are self-employed, you will be required to submit specific tax-related information for the years you were self-employed. We will also request that you provide us with the names and phone numbers of three client references for each business you have owned.
You will be required to list experience in your application that meets employment standards in regard to customer service and communication. This can include volunteer service and other activities.
Transit operators are represented by Local 587 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
Applicants will be required, before being hired, to provide a current, five-year driving record abstract from Washington State Department of Licensing. Transit Operators must have a responsible and safe driving record. Abstracts will be reviewed for evidence of a safe and responsible driving record. The severity, recency, and number of violations will be reviewed. Any of the following traffic code violations within the last five years will automatically disqualify you from further consideration:
- Reckless or negligent driving.
- DWI/DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).
- If you received a ticket for causing a hit-and-run incident.
- Vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.
- Open container violation.
- More than one "at fault" accident within the past year.
- Any license suspension for a moving violation.
- Two or more license suspensions for non-moving violations.
Those with Conditional Offers will undergo an evaluation of a 10 year criminal background records verification. Records are evaluated based on severity, recency, and possible threat to the public and/or employees and property of Metro. A conviction will not necessarily bar you from employment consideration.
Operators are guaranteed a minimum of two hours and 30 minutes per day and cannot be scheduled to work more than seven hours and 29 minutes per day. Work is picked by the Operator three times each year and schedules are defined by pick choice. Shifts fall between the hours of 3:45 am and 9:30 pm. Scheduled routes have varying lengths. There are also many ways to drive additional hours, outside of those you are scheduled for.
Both in training and once graduated, being at your assigned location, ready to work and on time is required.
Interested in full-time employment driving for Metro? To be considered, you must submit an online application when a full-time operator recruitment becomes available.
Please email DriveForMetro@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-6000.