The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is launching a recruitment effort to hire more bus drivers and mechanics.
Bus driver candidates are not required to already have a CDL. RTA says it offers competitive salaries, benefits and college reimbursement, among other incentives.
"RTA is looking for local talent to join our team," said RTA Acting General Manager/CEO Floun’say Caver. "We are excited to be hiring bus drivers as well as mechanics and to be an important part of spurring on the economic recovery that we are all hoping to generate post-Covid."
Once hired, RTA offers free training at Tri-C to prepare candidates to take the temporary CDL test. Once operator candidates have obtained the temporary CDL, then they begin the 12-week training program.
"We’re promoting the competitive pay, great benefits and the promising career path that comes with working at RTA," Caver said.
RTA regularly needs to hire part-time and full-time drivers (bus, paratransit and rail) to keep up with the ability to connect the community. In any given month, 10 to 12 drivers retire from employment, and it is critical to have a pipeline of qualified candidates to replace them.
RTA says it offers a wide range of comprehensive benefits and programs to support the health and wellness of employees and family members including health benefits (medical, dental and vision), a wellness incentive program and participation in the Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS).
The training wage for drivers is $16 per hour. Once training is complete, the current starting wage for bus/rail operators is $18+ per hour, but pay advancement is rapid and by the end of the first five years the pay is $31+ per hour.
RTA is also seeking mechanics to provide hands-on support for the maintenance of RTA’s bus fleet. Mechanics start at $23+ per hour and, like drivers, advance rapidly in pay increases. After four years of full-time work, mechanics earn more than $33 per hour. Promotional opportunities in vehicle maintenance, troubleshooting and repair are plentiful.
