Drive for Metro
Part-time bus driver recruitment is now open.
Do you have what it takes to become a King County Transit Operator (Bus Driver)?
Good pay. Good perks. Good hours.
If you’ve got a passion for people, we’ve got the perfect job for you! Metro is currently hiring part-time employees to operate the transit buses and interact with the public.
Begin your career today
- Start at $26.05 per hour!
- Medical, dental, vision and more!
- No experience or Commercial Driver License (CDL) required.
- Variable schedules based on seniority.
It's a great job and has good benefits. It pays good and you should try it.
Interested in full-time employment driving for Metro?
If you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you've come to the right place. To be considered, in addition to already having a CDL, you must submit an online application when a full-time operator recruitment comes available. Don't want to miss out on this opportunity? You can subscribe to receive a job alert by visiting the King County Careers page. Once subscribed, for 12 months you will receive an email notification each time a position opens with King County whose category matches one of the categories you've chosen.
Job description
As a new Part-time Operator, you’ll have subsidized premiums for: medical, dental, vision. And you’ll receive paid vacation and sick leave and start at $26.05 an hour. King County offers great additional benefits and resources to its employees—check out the full list at our employees page.
No commercial driving experience required—we offer PAID training ($19.49/hour, 33 consecutive days).
Folks who do well in this job have a strong customer service background, love people, and have a general aversion to cubicles.
- Be at least 21 years old at the time you apply.
- Hold a valid Washington Driver License, and have the ability to obtain a Commercial Learners Permit with the Air Brake and Passenger endorsements.
- Have a minimum of two years of experience providing customer service to the general public.
- Have an acceptable driving record at the time of offer. Any of the following violations within the last five years will automatically disqualify you from consideration:
- Reckless or negligent driving.
- DWI/DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).
- If you received a ticket for causing a hit-and-run incident.
- Vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.
- Open container violation.
- More than one “at fault” accident within the past year.
- Any license suspension for a moving violation.
- Two or more license suspensions for non-moving violations.
- Have reliable transportation to work.
- Be able to speak and write in English.
- Have an acceptable work history and employment references.
- Be available for morning and afternoon shifts.
Transit operators must be able to meet the Federal Physical Qualifications for Commercial Driver License (CDL) holders as found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 49 CFR 391.41. Medical waivers will be accepted only for insulin-dependent diabetes.
The job also includes:
- Sitting for extended periods of time.
- Lifting or pulling up to 40 pounds.
- Performing repetitive body movements to operate controls.
- Working independently with a minimum of breaks.
- Operating a transit vehicle in heavy traffic and (rarely) in emergency or hazardous situations or conditions.
CDL pre-trip inspection
- New hires will have variable schedules based on seniority.
- Minimum guaranteed pay is two hours and 30 minutes per day.
- Assignments change three times a year and are chosen by operators in order of seniority. Metro cannot guarantee that you will work the hours, routes, or base location of your choice.
Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587 represents this job.
Successful applicants will be invited to participate in an online assessment survey. The most competitive candidates will then be invited to interview for the position, with successful candidates being issued conditional offers of employment. At that time, more details about the following requirements will be provided:
- DOT Physical and drug screen. (This includes marijuana.)
- Commercial Learners Permit with Air Brake and Passenger endorsements.
- Criminal conviction record evaluation.
- Current five-year complete driving record abstract.
All newly hired part-time drivers must complete Metro’s 33-day training program, which includes classroom and coach practice instruction. We offer either a morning or afternoon class schedule (see below). Metro does not require new hires to already have a Commercial Driver License (CDL) or prior transit driving experience. Attendance is required at every class; no make-up classes are allowed.
Both in training and once graduated, being at your assigned location, ready to work and on time is required.
Training schedule *
| Class | Mon-Fri | Sat-Sun |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | 7 AM - 11:30 AM | 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM |
| Afternoon | 12 PM - 4:30 PM | 8 AM - 4:30 PM |
* subject to change
Pay and benefits
- Pay: $26.05 per hour upon completion of paid training.
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits, with the option of family and domestic partner coverage.
- Paid vacation.
- Sick leave.
- Retirement and deferred compensation plans.
- Membership in Amalgamated Transit Union Local 587.
- Variable scheduling based on seniority.
Hiring process
Here are the steps and timeline to become a Metro Transit Operator—please note it can take up to 16 weeks between the day you apply and completing our 33 day paid training program.
Submit your application: 2-3 weeks for review
*Note: no resume or cover letter accepted, all information must be included in the application.
Testing and interview: 2 weeks for testing and interview
If your application is found to be competitive, you will be invited to participate in an online assessment survey evaluating your match for the Transit Operator position. Candidates passing the survey assessment will then be invited to an interview.
Conditional offer: 4-6 weeks to complete pre-employment
Based on the results of your interview, you may receive a “conditional” job offer to start in a training class. You will receive a formal offer when passing the following steps:
- Obtain a Commercial Learners Permit, this requires passing written exams for the General Knowledge, Air Brakes and Passenger endorsements at a Department of Licensing office.
- Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exam—paid for by Metro Transit
- 5-Year driving record review
- Drug screening (this includes marijuana)
- Criminal background check
- Employment verification
Paid Part-time Transit Operator training: 33 days to complete
Once all pre-employment steps are completed you will start our 33-day paid Transit Operator training program at $19.49/hr. Classes meet 33 days straight on weekdays and weekends, and attendance is required every day of class. You will be offered a choice of a weekday morning or afternoon class to accommodate your schedule (both options include full-day weekend training days.)
Both in training and once graduated, being at your assigned location, ready to work and on time is required.
Training is a mix of classroom and driving with our experienced training staff. After passing the CDL test in class, you will pick your first Metro driving assignment and spend the rest of training practicing out of your assigned base.
Start your career with Metro!
Congratulations! After graduating training you will convert from a trainee to a Part-Time Transit Operator for King County Metro, holding a Class B CDL with Passenger endorsement. Your career with Metro is underway!
Frequently asked questions
All applicants for positions defined as “safety sensitive” are required to pass a drug test prior to employment and will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing. This includes testing for marijuana.
No, work experience that demonstrates good performance, strong customer service, reliability, and good communication within the last 10 years will be considered. Persons, that are self-employed and stay-at-home parents are also encouraged to apply.
Metro Transit does not require part-time applicants to have a CDL to be hired for the bus operator position, but candidates must get a Commercial Driver Permit with Airbrake and Passenger endorsements before entering a training class and starting the training process.
If you have had an out of state license in the last 5 years, Metro staff will obtain that driving record. You will only be responsible for obtaining your current Washington driving record at the specified time.
If you are self-employed, you will be required to submit specific tax-related information for the years you were self-employed. We will also request that you provide us with the names and phone numbers of three client references for each business you have owned.
You will be required to list experience in your application that meets employment standards in regard to customer service and communication. This can include volunteer service and other activities.
Transit operators are represented by Local 587 of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
Applicants will be required, before being hired, to provide a current, five-year driving record abstract from Washington State Department of Licensing. Transit Operators must have a responsible and safe driving record. Abstracts will be reviewed for evidence of a safe and responsible driving record. The severity, recency, and number of violations will be reviewed. Any of the following traffic code violations within the last five years will automatically disqualify you from further consideration:
- Reckless or negligent driving.
- DWI/DUI (driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs).
- If you received a ticket for causing a hit-and-run incident.
- Vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.
- Open container violation.
- More than one "at fault" accident within the past year.
- Any license suspension for a moving violation.
- Two or more license suspensions for non-moving violations.
Those with Conditional Offers will undergo an evaluation of a 10 year criminal background records verification. Records are evaluated based on severity, recency, and possible threat to the public and/or employees and property of Metro. A conviction will not necessarily bar you from employment consideration.
Part-time Operators are guaranteed a minimum of two hours and 30 minutes per day and cannot be scheduled to work more than seven hours and 29 minutes per day. Work is picked by the Operator three times each year and schedules are defined by pick choice. Shifts fall between the hours of 3:45 AM and 9:30 PM Scheduled routes have varying lengths. There are also many ways to drive additional hours, outside of those you are scheduled for.
Both in training and once graduated, being at your assigned location, ready to work and on time is required.
Interested in full-time employment driving for Metro? To be considered, you must submit an online application when a full-time operator recruitment becomes available.
Contact us
Each job announcement should include information on who to contact for more information. If you have questions that were not answered in the job announcement description, please contact Employee Services at 206-477-6000 or send an email to DriveforMetro@kingcounty.gov.