Transit Bus Operator (Full-Time)

Salary: $23.50 Hourly
Location : Transit Avon Street Extended, 1545 Avon Street Ext, Charlottesville (22902), VA
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: View phone number on click.appcast.io
Department: Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT)
Division: Transit Operations
Opening Date: 04/13/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: Transit


General Summary
The City's Transit Operator , assigned to the CAT Operations Divisio n performs intermediate semiskilled support work in the operation of large passenger buses in public transportation, daily school transportation, school-related events, charter services, and/or other designated routes to transport passengers in a safe, courteous, and timely manner. Work is performed under limited supervision and reports to a Transit Operations Supervisor.
Starting pay is at $23.50 an hour. This is a full-time, non-exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, tuition reimbursement and continuing education/training opportunities.

• For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit
• The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS, however the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Note: This job opportunity is advertised with a closing date of "Continuous." If interested in being considered, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. Applications may no longer be considered once a reasonable number of applications has been received or once a candidate to fill the position is identified. Applications may be evaluated on a continuous basis and interviews may be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment. This job announcement may close at any time after 7 calendar days.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties


To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Operates a transit passenger bus or school bus over designated routes and schedules, ensuring safe and timely transportation for passengers.
• Conducts pre- and post-trip inspections of vehicles and related equipment, reporting defects or mechanical issues as required.
• Prepares and maintains trip records, including fares, passenger behavior, mileage, vehicle defects, and condition reports, in compliance with department requirements.
• Assists passengers with boarding and off-loading, including wheelchair accessibility, and announces bus routes and stops.
• Monitors passenger behavior to ensure safety and maintains a safe and orderly environment aboard the bus.
• When applicable, collects fares, tickets, and passes; ensures proper handling and security of payments and passes.
• Adapts to variables such as adverse weather, traffic, construction, passenger incidents, accidents, schedule changes, and others.
• Provides accurate route and service information to passengers and the public in a courteous and professional manner.
• Communicates with other operators, supervisors, and dispatch via two-way radio or phone to report traffic conditions, vehicle issues, or passenger concerns.
• Operates a City vehicle in the performance of the job duties.

• Follows safety instructions and attends appropriate safety training, including body fluid spill clean-up procedures.

• Complies with all traffic laws and safety regulations, employing defensive driving techniques to minimize risks and prevent accidents.
• Reports accidents or emergencies immediately and completes required reporting information, maintaining composure and ensuring passenger safety during such events.
• Coordinates fueling and basic maintenance of the bus, communicates mechanical concerns, records mileage, and ensures the vehicle is clean and safe throughout each shift in accordance with division requirements.
• Attends required meetings and training sessions as needed to maintain compliance with DOT, FTA, and Virginia State School Bus standards.
• Supports departmental goal to provide dependable, efficient, and safe transportation service.
• May be required to work non-traditional work schedule, including weeknights, weekends, and/or holidays.

• Subject to being called back to work to the City in emergencies or as needed to provide necessary services to the public. Must have the ability to be contacted and respond based on Departmental guidelines.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties

• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education, Experience and Skills

Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.

• High School diploma or GED AND one year of experience performing customer service tasks.

OR

• Three years of work experience performing customer service tasks.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

Preferred:

• Some experience working with children, general public and/or operating a commercial vehicle or similar equipment.
• Possession of a valid Class B Commercial Driver's License or CDL Learner's Permit.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements for all Operators:

• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check, pre-employment drug screen (DOT), pre-employment DMV driving record review, and industry-specific post-offer physical exam.
• Possession of a valid appropriate driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia or ability to obtain one by employment start date and maintain an acceptable driving record in accordance with City criteria.
• Required to possess a Class B Virginia Commercial Driver's license with Passenger (P) and air brake endorsement within ninety (90) days of employment start date.
• Must have no reckless driving or driving under the influence convictions within five years and less than two moving violations within 12 months of employment start date.
• Satisfactory completion of a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Clearinghouse Query may be required.
• Subject to Federal DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations.

Additional requirements if assigned to the Pupil Division:

• Required possession of a School Bus (S) endorsement within 90 days of employment start date.
• Required to successfully complete the Virginia Department of Education training curriculum.
• Required to successfully pass the EB.001 School Bus Driver Application for Physician Certificate annually.
• Required to successfully pass Tuberculosis (TB) testing.
• May require possession of or ability to acquire CPR and First Aid certifications within three (3) months of start date.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
Job Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of traffic rules and regulations, including federal, state, and local traffic laws applicable to transit operations.
• General knowledge of Charlottesville's transit routes and all transit procedures to ensure efficient navigation.
• Familiarity with dispatch and communication procedures, including the use of two-way radios and other equipment.
• Knowledge of occupational hazards, safety precautions, passenger safety protocols and emergency procedures to handle incidents such as accidents, medical emergencies, or vehicle breakdowns.
• Awareness of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and proficiency in using accessibility equipment.
• Awareness of the use and operations of related software programs specific to the duties of the position

Reading

• Basic: Understands the meaning of commonly used multi-syllable words and simple paragraphs. Comprehends and applies simple written instructions, signs, and notices, as well as departmental and city policies and guidelines.

Writing

• Basic: Ability to write simple letters, paragraphs and sentences containing subject, verb, and object, and/or a series of numbers, names and addresses in a simple report format.

Math

• Basic: Ability to perform the four basic arithmetic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Communication Skills

• Basic: Provide standard information to and interacts with others outside direct reporting relationships on procedures or general policies. Interaction requires recognizing different points of view to ensure understanding and appropriate response. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, customers, and passengers.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires General Direction: Normally performs the job by following general instructions or established standard operating procedures and/or processes. There is some discretion when making decisions among a few easily identifiable choices of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties.

Technical Skills

• Skilled: Comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Intermediate skill in Microsoft Office applications and/or departmental software.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• No budgetary or fiscal responsibilities but may monitor collection of bus fares if applicable.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No responsibility for the supervision of others. May provide instructions to School Bus Aide and/or others to effectively provide customer service and assist in the operations of the vehicle.

Other Characteristics

• Time pressures.
• Takes responsibility for finding answers to questions and responding appropriately.
• Works closely with others as part of a team.
• Excellent time management and customer service skills.
• Performs multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Works under constant interruptions and requests for service.
• May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
• May work a non-traditional work schedule.

Physical Conditions & Additional Information

Physical Demands:

• Medium Work: Exerts up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and some amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Work requires climbing (ascending/descending steps), lifting, balancing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, crouching, pushing/pulling, reaching, grasping, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for at least fifty (50) percent of the working time.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned. Operates large passenger bus, and/or other vehicles.

Work Environment:

• Work is typically performed inside and around the exterior of a passenger bus and or school bus.
• Work is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions, vibrations, loud noise, atmospheric conditions, and roadway safety hazards.
• The position work:
  • Near moving mechanical parts.
  • In and around fumes, gases, dust, dirt and/or airborne particles.
  • In extreme temperatures and/or inadequate lighting.
  • In or around toxic chemicals and/or blood-borne pathogens

The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.
Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io or
The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City's policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City's policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.
SUMMARY OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Updated February 9, 2026


Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.
1. LEAVE:
Vacation: Need some time off? Use it, you earned it:

Years Worked

0 - <3

3 - <5

5 - <10

10 - <15

15 - <20

20 - <25

25+

Hours Accrued Biweekly

3.09

3.85

4.62

5.4

6.16

6.93

7.7

Sick: Under the weather? Earn 4.62 hours biweekly, approximately 120 hours a year, with no limit on accumulation to be used to care for yourself and qualifying family members.

Holidays: Enjoy 13 paid holidays per year. Including 1 Floating Holiday, which must be taken during the Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30):

OBSERVED CITY HOLIDAYS
New Years Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Day

Presidents' Day

Liberation & Freedom Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

1 Floating Holiday

Volunteer Leave: Paid leave for participating in an authorized event as a volunteer, subject to Section 9-3, Code of Ethics & Conflicts of Interest. Regular full-time employees receive up to 8 hours and all regular part-time employees are eligible to receive pro-rated leave each available each calendar year.

2. INSURANCE:
Aetna Medical Plans: Coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire.

• Choose from two options:
  
  
  1. Select HMO with City-funded HRA ($0 premium for employee-only coverage)
  2. Choice POS ($13.02 biweekly premium for employee-only coverage)
• Prescription Card: ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand,$55 higher cost name brand, 20% up to $150 for specialty drugs)
• Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand) not available for specialty drugs)

Delta Dental Plan:

• Diagnostic and Preventative-100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care-80%; Major Dental Care- 50%
• Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20; Prosthetic and Complex Restorative -$50, 50/50
• $1,500 Annual benefit maximum
• $1,000 Orthodontic benefit (children to age 19)

MetLife Vision Plan: (Optional)

• $2.50 premium paid bi-weekly for employee-only coverage. Dependent care coverage also available.
• Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay
• $130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.

Life Insurance: In the event of your death, your beneficiary will receive twice your annual salary. Supplementary policies for you and your dependents are available.

Long-Term Disability: Upon approval for along-term illness or injury, you can receive up to 60% of your earnings after a 90-day wait period.

Voluntary Benefits: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity insurance; Short-Term Disability; Identity Theft Protection

3. RETIREMENT:
Pension:

• Choose from two (2) options:
  
  1. A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee's earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5-year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
  2. A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual's account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% vesting after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. ( Note: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees ).

Supplement: Deferred Compensation 457 available for you to invest your own money for additional retirement savings.

4. VOLUNTARY:
Wellness:

• Gym Membership Reimbursement Program (up to $34.00 per month)
• Bicycle Commuter Program: Reimbursement up to $20 per month for reasonable bicycle commuting expenses
• Online wellness resources and Lunch-and-Learn Sessions

Employee Assistance Program:

• A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.

Tuition Reimbursement:

• Up to $1,500 for job-related certificates, trade programs, undergraduate coursework or up to $3,000 for graduate level courses per fiscal year for career-related courses.

Flexible Spending Accounts:

• Expense accounts available for healthcare, dependent care and parking/mass transit.

01


Please indicate your level of experience performing Customer Service tasks: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Work History section of your online application.)

• No experience in customer service or performing customer service tasks.
• Less than one (1) year of experience.
• One (1) to less than three (3) years of experience.
• Three (3) years or greater.

02


Do you have a High School Diploma or GED?

• Yes; I have a High School Diploma or higher
• Yes; I have a GED.
• I have an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirement.
• No.

03


This position requires driving to perform essential job duties and requires a valid driver's license. The candidate selected for this position must meet the driver eligibility requirements of the City and must provide a certified copy of their DMV driving record.Do you possess a valid driver's license and are you willing to provide a certified copy of your DMV driving record, if selected as a finalist, for the City to confirm your driving eligibility?

• Yes; I possess a valid driver's license and am willing to provide a certified copy of my DMV driving record.
• No; However, I am willing and able to obtain a valid driver's license and am willing to provide a certified copy of my DMV driving record.
• No; I do not have a valid driver's license, nor am I willing or able to obtain one, and/or am not willing to provide a certified copy of my DMV driving record.

04


Do you have a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) or CDL learner's permit?

• Yes; I have a valid Virginia CDL and either have, or can obtain, all appropriate endorsements within required time frame.
• Yes; I have a valid CDL from another state and either have, or can obtain, all appropriate endorsements within required time frame.
• Yes; I have a valid CDL learner's permit and can obtain all appropriate endorsements within required time frame, if hired.
• No; however, I can obtain a CDL with all appropriate endorsements within required time frame, if hired.
• No; I cannot obtain a CDL.

05


Which type of vehicle have you driven professionally with a CDL?

• Transit bus 35 feet or larger, School Bus, or Jaunt Transit Service Bus.
• Truck, Van, or other.
• No prior experience driving professionally with a CDL.

06


Do you have previous experience working with children in a professional work environment?(Must be verifiable in reference to your online application.)

• Yes
• No

07


To be considered, qualifying education and experience, including City of Charlottesville employment, must be clearly documented in the education, work history, and additional information sections of the employment application. Resumes can be attached but should not be used as a substitute for the required information on the application. I understand that an attached resume may not be accepted in place of a completed employment application and that my qualifications should be stated on the employment application itself.

• Yes
• No

08


I certify that the information above is true and correct, and I certify that it can be verified with reference to the information in my basic application. I understand that my application may be rejected if the responses to supplemental questions do not match my basic application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question