Careers

JOB TITLE: Bus Operator

DEPARTMENT: Operations

REPORTS TO: Operations Supervisors

SALARY: Nonexempt; $18.73 hourly     

SCHEDULE: Varies

DATE POSTED: Continuous

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Bus Operator is responsible for operating KAT vehicles to provide safe, reliable, and courteous public transportation services. This role ensures compliance with all State of Tennessee traffic laws and KAT policies while driving in diverse weather and traffic conditions. Operators serve as the face of KAT, delivering exceptional customer service and prioritizing passenger safety at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Follow a route and schedule.
• Pick up and drop off passengers at designated stops.
• Help passengers board and exit the bus, especially those with disabilities.
• Obey traffic laws and transit regulations.
• Follow procedures to keep passengers safe.
• Provide excellent customer service.
• Adhere to company policies and ADA laws.
• Report to duty at designated times or as assigned, well-groomed, in full regulation uniform and in possession of all necessary equipment.
• Perform pre-trip inspection of assigned vehicle and report any defects.
• Follow both written and oral instructions and operate vehicle in accordance with printed schedules.
• Have full knowledge of routes, schedules and fares and provide this information to passengers in a courteous and professional manner upon request.
• Properly operate vehicle over prescribed route, following a time schedule.
• Use correct safety procedures to operate lift and secure passengers in wheelchairs and other assistive devices when assisting passengers with disabilities. Must also be sensitive to their needs.
• Collect proper fares and punch transfers.
• Operate two-way radio system in accordance with KAT policy.
• Submit written reports on accidents and unusual occurrences, as required.
• Make announcements, as required by the ADA, upon approaching designated intersections.
• Be an outstanding representative of the Company and the City of Knoxville at all times.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be a minimum age of 18 years.
• Possess a valid Tennessee Driver’s License with required endorsements.

Education and Experience

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• A good knowledge of the street and highway systems of Metropolitan Knoxville.
• Must be able to add, subtract, multiply, divide, tell time and read a map.
• Must be able to communicate with passengers and write reports of activities in English.
• Must be able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Knowledge of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) rule, regulations and guidelines.
• Knowledge of metropolitan Knoxville Street systems, peak traffic times and locations, and the effects of weather on street conditions.
• Knowledge of the State of Tennessee Motor Vehicle Code and City of Knoxville ordinances and regulations related to motor traffic control.
• Knowledge of routes, schedules and fares and provide this information to passengers in a courteous and professional manner upon request.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The ability to sit in a transit vehicle up to ten hours; use legs to apply pressure for braking of transit vehicles.
• Use arms, wrists and hands to turn steering wheel of transit vehicle and to adjust all vehicle mirrors to gain necessary line of vision to maneuver vehicle safely.
• Maneuver approximately 350 pounds (passenger in wheelchair)
• Maintain full and complete use of all limbs to operate vehicle controls.
• Reach, climb, stand, walk, bend, stoop, crouch and kneel to inspect vehicle or assist passengers; push, pull or maneuver passenger mobility devices.
• Lift approximately 30 pounds.
• Maintain distance vision acuity of at least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual acuity corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) in both eyes with or without corrective lenses; maintain field of vision of at least 70 degrees in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing standard red, green and amber; Hear unimpaired or correctable to minimum requirements of Section 391.41 CDL Physical Standards; meet all other minimum requirements of Section 391.41 CDL Physical Standards.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Responsibilities are carried out in a multi-passenger transit vehicle and require safely operating and navigating through a range of weather conditions.
• The employee is exposed to noise, fumes or airborne particles, vibration, contagious or infectious diseases, and occasionally to inclement weather.
• Employees engage with a diverse cross-section of the general public and may encounter a variety of environmental and situational factors during interactions.
• The employee may occasionally experience workplace pressure.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.