DDOT wants to hire more than 100 bus drivers

Wanted: Bus drivers in Detroit.

The city says it wants to hire more than 100 bus drivers as part of its efforts to improve Detroit Department of Transportation service.

"We are making significant progress at DDOT and we have a lot of opportunity right now for individuals who have a Commercial Driver's License or are willing to let us train them," DDOT Director Dan Dirks said in a written statement. "Adding 100 additional bus drivers to our team would help us significantly toward Mayor Duggan's commitment of having DDOT meet its published schedule as soon as possible."

During a news conference in January to show off the first seven of 80 new buses the city was rolling out, Mayor Mike Duggan pledged that before the end of the year, city buses would regularly be on time for the first time in 20 years.

"I have a goal that we are going to run a first-class bus system in the city of Detroit. We're not close to that goal yet, but we're heading in the right direction. And 2015 is going to be the year that DDOT actually runs bus service according to its published schedules," Duggan said at the time.

As of earlier this year, DDOT had 295 buses in its fleet. DDOT has 425 active bus drivers, according to Tiffany Crawford, a spokeswoman for Duggan.

Fred Westbrook Jr., president/business agent of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26, said the addition of 100 drivers should "definitely take some of the stress off the existing manpower."

"It's good news based on what I hear from my members," Westbrook said, describing how past cuts to employee numbers and bus limitations had increased stress and led to verbal abuse against drivers.

"In 2010, we had 800 drivers, and we started out 2013 with a little under 400," Westbrook said, indicating that the numbers are increasing.

He said that officials think that service at night that was cut several years ago could be restored with the additional bus drivers.

Westbrook pointed out that the increase in the starting wage from $9.38 per hour to $11.38 should help attract candidates.

The statement noted that the hirings represent the latest in a series of DDOT improvements, including the addition of the 80 new buses. Most of those are 40-foot buses, but 10 of those are to be 60-foot articulated buses scheduled for delivery in August. Those larger buses would be used for DDOT's busiest routes.

The release also noted the implementation of the federally funded JARC, or Job Access Reverse Commute, and New Freedom programs. JARC allows DDOT to contract small bus service to get residents to jobs not serviced by public transportation up to 20 miles from Detroit, and New Freedom links senior citizens and disabled residents to non-emergency medical appointments, the release said.

In addition, accidents are down by 50% and incidents on buses are down by 40%, the release said, although it did not provide a date range or specific numbers.

DDOT also unveiled a bus app earlier this year that is free for Apple and Android smartphones.

The app allows riders to check, in real time, the status of their bus and when it will arrive, plan a trip and send suggestions with photos directly to DDOT.

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @_ericdlawrence.

Bus driver requirements

To be eligible for one of the bus driver positions, applicants must have the following qualifications:

■Completion of high school or G.E.D.

■Must be able to obtain a Michigan Commercial Driver's License with Group A or B designation and Passenger and Air Brake endorsements.

■Preferably, two years of experience operating automotive vehicles, as demonstrated by a State Driving Record.

Applicants who meet the minimum entrance requirements will be invited to take a written examination. There will also be a six- to eight-week training program with a new class starting each month. After training, applicants must be able to obtain a commercial driver's license with an A or B designation, and a passenger endorsement. Hiring preference will be given to applicants who already have a valid commercial driver's license.

To apply for the Transportation Equipment Operator (bus driver) positions, go to http://www.detroitmi.gov/Detroit-Opportunities/Find-A-Job.

Source: City of Detroit

Job fairs

■10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Wayne County Community College District Job Fair, Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner.

■9 a.m. May 9, LGBT Detroit Job Fair – Charles H. Wright Museum, 315 E. Warren.

■9 a.m. May 9, Motor City Career Day – Considine Little Rock Family Life Center, 8904 Woodward Ave.