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SamTrans > News Archive > SamTrans Honors Veteran Employees
SamTrans Honors Veteran Employees
1976 was a year to remember – America celebrated its bicentennial and the newly formed
San Mateo County Transit District launched its county-wide bus service at San Bruno’s
Fourth of July parade.
It also was the year that Bus Operator Vincent Gavin and Utility Worker David Carlson
started working for SamTrans. This year, the two long-time employees were selected
for the district’s highest honor – Bus Operator of the Year and Maintenance Employee
of the Year.
Gavin started his career driving a bus for the Belmont Urban Service before it was
annexed by SamTrans. Although he makes his home in Petaluma – 50 miles, three
counties, a major metropolis and a bridge away – Gavin has never been late for work.
Dependability is highly valued in an industry where minutes make the difference
between success and failure. SamTrans bus operators are considered late if they
clock-in one minute after their official report time.
“The dispatchers appreciate his dependable good nature,” said Elizabeth Waters,
assistant superintendent of bus transportation. That good nature has not been
overlooked by his riders. Gavin drives local Routes 110 and 112 in Pacifica, Routes
141 and 143 in San Bruno and the afternoon express Route DX out of San Francisco. His
passengers run the gamut from lively high school students to weary commuters and, over
the years, Gavin has received compliments from many of them. Gavin said that he makes
an effort to maintain a positive attitude and has learned not to let aggressive,
impatient drivers bother him. “I let them do their thing and I do mine,” said Gavin,
“and I get paid to drive the bus safely.”
Gavins’ shift begins at 5:56 a.m. and ends at 6:45 p.m. Although he is away from them
for many hours every day, his first priority is his family. Gavin said he appreciates
the good benefits SamTrans provides to employees and their families. Gavin also
credits his wife Cris, who works part-time and takes care of their two daughters, for
her support. “She puts in a long day too,” said Gavin. In fact, Gavin plans to share
his award with his wife – he will buy her a plane ticket to visit her parents in
Texas.
David Carlson, of Pacifica, has seen both sides of SamTrans. For his first 10 years
with the district, he worked as a bus operator, driving Route 30B from Pacifica to San
Bruno and Route 3B, which served the airport. When he decided he needed a change,
Carlson became a utility worker.
SamTrans is well-known for its clean buses. Every bus is washed every day. Carlson
is one of the unsung heroes responsible for cleaning and maintaining the district’s
fleet of 281 buses and 63 paratransit vehicles. “We take pride in what we do,” said
Carlson. “I know what the drivers need and I enjoy providing them a clean, safe bus.”
During his career, Carlson has been selected by his co-workers as Employee of the
Month four times. “The Employee of the Year Award is an honor that is long overdue,”
said Bus Maintenance Superintendent Jerie Moeller.
Among his co-workers Carlson is known as an avid fisherman. He has fond memories of
fishing as a boy growing up in San Francisco. “We used to take a bus to the municipal
pier or go out in wooden row boats on Lake Merced.”
Nowadays, Carlson travels to his favorite spot near the Tioga Pass or to Alaska in
pursuit of his hobby. The largest fish he ever caught was a 135-pound halibut on an
Alaskan fishing trip. On his 40th wedding anniversary Carlson could think of no
better celebration than to take his wife on an Alaskan cruise. “I wanted her to see
the awesome beauty of that rugged country,” said Carlson.
SamTrans employs 328 full-time bus operators, 62 mechanics and 29 utility workers.
The fixed-route bus system consists of 55 routes.
The transit district also offers Redi-Wheels paratransit service for persons with
disabilities who are unable to ride SamTrans. The district also provides shuttles
that link transit centers with major employment sites; is the managing agency for the
San Mateo County Transportation Authority, which administers the expenditure of
Measure A funds; and, is a partner in Caltrain rail service and the BART extension to
Millbrae.
3/21/05
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