First Transit, a private provider of transit management and contracting services, recognizes First Transit bus driver Jesse Estrada for achieving more than 10 years of safe driving. Since joining the company in 2000, Estrada has not had any traffic violations or preventable accidents.
Originally from Watsonville, Calif., Estrada operates a paratransit schedule assisting special needs passengers for the San Andreas Regional Center in Santa Cruz, Calif. He has driven more than 262,500 miles and has safely transported more than 73,631 passengers throughout the city of Watsonville and around Santa Cruz County of Santa. Estrada contributes much of his success to the safety training he regularly receives from First Transit.
“Safety is an important aspect of being a driver for First Transit,” Estrada said. “Always placing my passengers’ safety first and following the company’s training practices has allowed me to have accomplished this safety honor.”
First Transit drivers go through extensive training delivered by a First Transit Certified Instructor to establish safe driving skills. Drivers starting with the company are required to complete a comprehensive classroom curriculum and one-on-one (trainer/trainee) behind-the-wheel training before they are qualified to transport passengers. In addition, drivers continuously go through training each month throughout the year reviewing various safety topics. The safety and security of the passengers First Transit transports throughout its 226 locations in North America is its core value. By training each driver on safe and defensive driving techniques, First Transit is working to promote safety and responsibility throughout the company and the industry.
“I am working at my dream job,” Estrada said. “I enjoy driving and couldn’t see myself doing anything else. Assisting my passengers and making sure they get from one location to another safely is something I take great pride in.”
First Transit focuses heavily on the safety and security of its operations, its employees and the passengers it transports daily. The importance of safety is expressed daily to the 15,800 employees First Transit oversees.
