Bus Driver

Public Transportation Vehicle Operator

Responsible for operating and maintaining a public transportation vehicle and providing safe and courteous passenger delivery service in compliance with program policies and procedures, local, state and federal regulations. Hours vary within the following windows. Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. – 8:15 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Essential Functions

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Drive assigned vehicle utilized in the transportation program
• Receive daily dispatch and scheduling directions from on duty dispatchers, supervisors, and managers.
• Reports all scheduling, customer service, and safety incidents and discrepancies to on-duty dispatcher, supervisor or manager immediately.
• Conduct a daily vehicle pre-inspection and post-inspection and follow a standard vehicle maintenance schedule to ensure passenger safety, longevity of equipment, and continuity of reliable service.
• Keep program system vehicle in a safe, secure, and clean condition and fuel vehicle.
• Ensure all safety equipment in vehicle (wheelchair lift, fire extinguisher, etc.) is in safe working condition and available for use.
• Maintain courteous and professional relationships with customers and agency staff
• Provide curb-to-curb assistance and reasonable accommodation to passengers boarding and de-boarding vehicles.
• Maintain passenger's trip information and vehicle operation reports
• Keep all reporting instruments and client records secure and adhere to confidentiality requirements of State and Federal Privacy Acts as well as Tyler Transit's Confidentiality Policy.
• Follow generally accepted fiscal accountability principles when receiving, recording, handling, and depositing program funds (i.e. fares, contributions, etc.)
• Maintain contact with Tyler Transit dispatching office via mobile radio, cell phone or assigned tablet.
• Participate in all required driver training activities including, but limited to monthly driver meetings, safety blitzes, etc.
• Perform dispatch, reservation and or scheduling tasks when tasked to do so by supervisors and management.
• Deliver vehicle for maintenance or repair & participate in cleaning vehicle when tasked to do so by supervisors and management.
• Work front desk on an as needed basis (including taking reservations, computing information to secure an individual's travel to various destinations, and collecting fares, creating identification cards for paratransit clients or half fare).
• Intake and document complaints.
• Other miscellaneous tasks required by program, Supervisor, AGM, General Manager, and/or Director

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Must have knowledge of basic transit bus operating procedures
• Must have the skill and ability to operate a bus designated by the supervisor on City streets.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with management, employees, and the general public, in person, by telephone or radio equipment.
• Must have good knowledge of applicable State traffic laws and City traffic ordinances.
• Must have good knowledge of safe methods of operating an assigned vehicle, City streets and other departmental operations, rules and regulations.
• Must possess ability to safely and effectively operate assigned vehicles and to effectively work with citizens and co-workers.
• Must be able to operate a 30 passenger bus and 25' cutaway bus if assigned.
• Must be able to operate handicapped lifts, ramps and tie-downs.
• Must be able to operate all mechanical operations of a bus, as deemed necessary.
• Must be able to follow established guidelines and procedures.
• Must be able to work well with supervisor and co-workers.

Physical Demands:

• Must be able to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical.
• Must be able to sit 7 hours daily; stand 2 hours daily; bend and walk 1 ½ hours daily; stoop, twist, turn, and climb 1 hour daily; kneel and balance ½ hour daily; crouch 15 minutes daily.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. 3 hours daily; carry and push up to 20 lbs. 1 ½ hours daily; pull up to 20 lbs. 15 minutes daily. Must be able to tolerate temperature changes, gas fumes, and dust. Must have good balance and reaching ability.
• Must have good finger dexterity. Must have good hearing and sight, including good depth perception and color vision.
• Must also be able to safely load and unload passengers. Loading & unloading passengers requires the physical ability to kneel or crouch down and to be able to push passengers on and off vehicles (creating a total weight of up to 300 pounds or more). Ability to push and pull. Capability of sitting and or standing for long periods of time. Occasional requirement to stand, walk, climb, or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must possess competency to speak and be understood, as well as hear and comprehend dialogue between individual and another party or individual and multiple parties. Capacity to use hands to fingers and feel.

Minimum Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED required. Must possess a Class B Commercial Drivers License with "P" and air brake endorsements OR be able to obtain within six (6) months of hire. Must have a clear driving record with no traffic moving violations within (12) twelve months.

City Of Tyler Policy

It is the policy of the City to recruit, employ and to provide compensation, promotion, and other conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information or status as a Vietnam era or special disabled veteran, recently separated veteran, and other protected veteran. The City affirms that employment decisions shall be made only on the basis of a person's ability to perform the essential functions of the job. This position does require presence in the office to perform the essential functions of the job. The City of Tyler shall continually review its employment practices and personnel procedures and take positive steps to assure that equality of employment opportunity in the City of Tyler, Texas is a fact as well as an ideal. The City of Tyler will accept two years of relevant experience in place of each year of college required in the job description. Four years of relevant experience will be considered in place of an Associate's Degree, and eight years of relevant experience will be considered in place of a Bachelor's Degree. Any experience required in the Minimum qualifications is in addition to years of experience substituted for a degree. The City of Tyler supports a policy of a drug and alcohol free workplace. All candidates are subject to pre-employment testing, which may include, but is not limited to, Drug and Alcohol Screenings, Work Fitness Evaluation, Criminal Background Check, and Consumer Report/Credit Check. No person under eighteen (18) years of age will be employed in any regular full-time position. Persons under eighteen (18) years of age may be employed in temporary or regular part-time positions, if they furnish the City with a minor's release and are approved by the City Manager. No person under eighteen (18) years of age will be employed in any position requiring the operation of a City motorized vehicle. This posting is subject to be removed at the discretion of the department providing the position.

Benefits

The City of Tyler offers the following benefits:

• Full range of benefits including Health/Teledoc, Dental, Vision, Disability, and $10K of Life Insurance at no cost to the employee
• 2:1 match in our TMRS Retirement Plan
• 11 paid holidays
• Generous paid time off
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
• Supplemental life insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Award-winning Infants at Work Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Ongoing professional development