Q. What is the hourly rate for Bus Operator Trainee?
A. The training rate is $25.00 per hour; up to 10-weeks. You receive an increase to $26.01/hourly (Step 1) at the successful completion of the training. Step increases are scheduled every six months until you reached 31st month of employment date at the hourly rate of $34.68 (Step 6).
Q. How can I apply for the Bus Operator job?
A. You can apply online at www.smctd.com/jobs.
Q. Who can I contact if I have problems when I am applying?
A. Please contact the Human Resources team by emailing your question to hr@samtrans.comor call at 650-508-6308. Our normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays.
Q. I applied online. What happens next?
A. You will receive an automated confirmation after the successful submission of your online application. Please ensure that you check your inbox or spam for the confirmation email. All correspondences will be transmitted using email.
Q. What are some reasons I might be rejected/disqualified during the selection process?
A. As with any other career opportunity, our goal is to hire and retain the most qualified candidate. You may be disqualified or rejected for reasons below:
- Your DMV record may not meet District safe driving standards
- If you have more than 3 moving violations in the last 5 years
- If you have an at-fault accident in the last 5 years
- If you have a âFailure to Appearâ or âFailure to Payâ (FTA or FTP) or a Suspension in the last 3 years
- If you have violations such as reckless driving or DUI within the last 7 years
- If your DMV record shows a pattern of irresponsible driving or repeat offenses, even if violations do not fall within the automatically disqualifying time limit
- You may not meet other minimum qualifications specified in the job announcement
You will be notified by a Human Resources staff member on your status, regardless if you meet the minimum qualifications or if you are eligible to move on to the next step.
Q. If I am rejected, when can I re-apply?
A. Once you’re rejected, you must wait a minimum of six (6) months before re-applying for the same position. If you do re-apply within this 6 month period, your application will not be considered.
Q. What are the next steps after the Written Assessment?
A. You must receive a high enough assessment score determined by the Human Resource department to be eligible to be invited to the Expedited Process.
Q. What to bring to the next step?
A. Await for an invitation via email and bring your K4 (10-year driving record on the date of the event). The K4 has to be within the last 30 days.
Q. What is expected at the Expedited Process?
A. Review of the your K4 (10-year) driving record from the DMV to determine if you meet the âGood Drivingâ record standard set by SamTrans. You may be disqualified or rejected for one of several reasons:
Your DMV record may not meet District driving standards
- If you have more than 3 moving violation in the last 5 years
- If you have an at-fault accident in the last 5 years
- If you have violations such as reckless driving or DUI within the last 7 years
- If your DMV record shows a pattern of irresponsible driving or repeat offenses, even if violations do not fall within the automatically disqualifying time limit
Panel Interview
- Scheduled for a 20 minutes oral interview with a panel consisting of three individuals
- Assess your oral communication skills and other required competencies deemed critical to be a high quality Bus Operator for the District
Seat Test
- Assessment of physical condition in two different size buses to determine your ability to operate the vehicles and equipment.
Q. What is the Pre-Employment Process/Conditional Job Offer?
A. Upon receiving a satisfactory result from the selection process, you will proceed to the Conditional Job Offer phase. During this phase, you will be undergoing the following steps:
- Criminal background investigation
- Education and Employment reference check
- Department of Transportation (DOT) required a physical assessment with Drug & Alcohol screening from a designated Medical Clinic
- Department of Transportation (DOT) history check
- License/Permit â You must obtain your Class B permit with Passenger & Airbrake endorsements; if you have a class A license, you must obtain a Passenger endorsement at the time of your assigned New Employee Orientation date.
Q. Are benefits offered with this position?
A. Yes. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, CalPers pension plan, Long term disability, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, employee assistant program, credit union, flexible benefits plan and free bus transportation for you and your family. (More benefit details may be found on https://www.samtrans.com/about/Jobs/DriveWithUs.html and click on the âBenefitsâ link.
Q. Do you provide special arrangements for persons with disabilities?
A. SamTrans Human Resources Department provides reasonable accommodation when applying for a position and/or for the testing process to eligible individuals requesting assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please contact Human Resources at 650-508-6308 if you require assistance. The Human Resources Department's normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding weekends and holidays.
Q. Does SamTrans require drug testing for a professional bus operator?
A. All applicants for positions defined as âsafety sensitiveâ are required to pass a drug test prior to employment and, subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion testing.
Q. I already have a Commercial B (or Class A) license. Do I have the right license to drive a SamTrans’ bus?
A. Not necessarily. Look at the front of your Class B or A license. Make sure you have a âPâ (Passenger) endorsement. Then look at the back of your license. If you have a â48â³ restriction, you are restricted to vehicles without Airbrakes and you must get the restriction taken off. If you have a â74â³, â75â³, or â76â³ restriction, you must obtain a new permit for Class B with Passenger and Airbrake endorsements (even if you already have a B/P license). If your license has only a â64â³ restriction, you are OK, since all our vehicles have automatic transmission.
Please be advised that if your license has not been issued within the last 12 months and you need to remove any restriction or add an endorsement, you may have to take all parts of the CDL Permit exam again (General Knowledge, Passenger, Airbrakes etc. â please consult the Commercial Driver Handbook for requirements). https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/commercial/commercial
Q. How long is Bus Operator Training Class?
A. Bus Operator training ranges between 8 to10 weeks, 40 hours per week. The normal schedule is Monday through Friday with starting time between 5AM â 8AM.
Q. What should I expect on my first day of training?
A. You must provide your Commercial B Permit with the Air Brakes and Passenger endorsements and Medical Certification to the Transit Instructor. Without possessing the proper driving documents, you will not be allowed to continue employment with SamTrans.
Attendance is also critical during Training and Probationary Period. You are expected be prompted, be present and maintain a 100% attendance record. Tardy or missed time from work will prevent you from being successful during the training/while employed.
Q. What happens after training is complete?
A. After training, Operators go into service alone and are placed on a 90 day probationary period. They will be ride checked, evaluated on such things as attendance, miss outs, consumer reports, ability to understand their daily schedules and safely operate the vehicle to District Standards.
Q. Will I be able to choose my route and schedule?
A. As a new hire, you will have low seniority, so your choice will be based on what is available and may not be a route and/or schedule you prefer. This will change as you gain seniority. Routes are chosen at sign-ups three times a year.
Q. What is âseniority’?
A. Seniority means the length of time you have been employed at SamTrans. Those who have been with SamTrans’ longer will have seniority over those were hired at a later date. Run and shift assignment sign-ups are done by seniority, which means that those with higher seniority will get to pick their runs before those that have lower seniority. As a new Operator with the lowest seniority, you will likely have limited choices in the route or shift that you will be working.
Q. Will SamTrans provide me with a uniform?
A. The District shall, upon initial hire, supply each Bus Operator with an initial set of uniforms consistent with District standards. Thereafter, a uniform allowance will be provided by a credit or voucher system. The credit or voucher will be given to the employee effective January 1st of each year in the amount of $500 (per CBA).
Q. What kind of shifts will I be required to work?
A. You may have to work at any time during the day or night, on weekends, and on major holidays. Our first shift starts as early as 0400 hours. Most shift ends at Midnight.
Q. Which Location will I be assigned to?
A. You will be assigned to the either the North Base (South San Francisco) or South Base (San Carlos), wherever the need is greater. As you gain seniority, however, it is possible to be reassigned to the location that you request.
Q. Will I receive Paid Time Off (PTO)?
A. Employees shall earn and accumulate Paid-Time-Off (PTO) at the rate of 6.5 hours per biweekly pay period of paid employment up to a maximum accumulation of 100 days. PTO increases at your five (5)years, fifteen (15) years and twenty-five (25) years of continuous service.
SamTrans is an equal opportunity employer. www.smctd.com/jobs.html