TransLink hiring over 500 drivers ahead of big bus service expansion

TransLink buses. (TransLink)

Are you a highly experienced driver? Do you like to interact with people?

Metro Vancouver’s public transit authority is looking to fill hundreds of new bus operating positions over the coming year.

TransLink says it needs to hire 525 bus operators to fulfill the bus service expansion planned in the Mayors’ Council’s 10-year vision.

Many of these positions are for running the region’s growing network of high-capacity, arterial bus routes – the four new B-Line routes that will be launched by the end of 2019. Drivers will operate a growing fleet of three-door, 60-ft-long articulated buses on these routes.

By 2020/21, overall bus service levels across the region will increase by 8%, and a $530-million investment is being made to purchase 151 new buses and implement transit signal priority projects and enhanced passenger amenities.

According to the public transit authority, about 250 drivers would be hired, making this one of the largest bus operator recruitment drivers since the run-up to the 2010 Winter Olympics. This is TransLink’s third consecutive hiring spree year; it hired 365 drivers in 2016 and 470 drivers in 2017.

The chosen design for bus driver safety barriers, which is the new standard for all TransLink buses. (TransLink)

TransLink’s unionized bus drivers make up to $60,000 annually, with pay starting with 30-days of training at $22.53 per hour. There are scheduled increases to the wage every eight-month period, reaching $32.19 per hour after 24 months, plus a host of benefits.

But there are also a number of requirements candidates must meet. They must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, be able to pass a medical examination and criminal record search, and hold a Class 5 (or higher) BC driver’s license or Canadian equivalent.

Candidates cannot have more than one driving record violation in the past three years, with the maximum points on the single violation not exceeding three points. They also must not have roadside suspensions or driving prohibitions over the past five years and more than one at-fault accident in the past three years.

TransLink says it provides employment opportunities for individuals with a criminal record on a case-to-case basis, which is determined following a criminal record search during the recruitment process.

Over 7,000 people are employed by TransLink, with bus drivers comprising approximately half of the workforce.

For more information on the opportunities, click here.

See also