A strong transit system depends on having skilled coach operators behind the wheel. To strengthen STA’s organizational capacity, Goal 3 of Connect 2035, a cross-departmental task force recently examined how the agency recruits, trains, onboards, and retains operators.
Over the course of about nine months, the Coach Operator Recruitment and Retention Task Force brought together employees from across STA, executive leadership, union representatives, and five bus drivers with varying levels of experience. Together, they identified ways to improve the employee experience and build a stronger workforce for the future.
Some of the task force’s recommendations include improving the experience for new operators, evaluating shift and recovery-time practices, incorporating driver input into future driver-room amenities, reviewing safety-related processes, and supporting technology that could streamline recruiting and onboarding.
Rather than focusing on quick fixes, the task force developed a roadmap for continual improvement. Each recommendation will then be evaluated by the departments best positioned to implement them.
The task force represents an investment in the frontline staff who keep the region moving and in STA’s capacity to deliver reliable service for years to come.