Bus Operator

Salary: $23.66 Hourly
Location : La Crosse, WI
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 00676
Department/Division: Transit
Opening Date: 04/07/2025

Description

The City of La Crosse is currently accepting applications for full-time Bus Operatorsto join the Municipal Transit Utility team. This position requires excellent human relations skills in serving a diverse customer base and must have great communication skills. Successful candidates must have a valid driver's license and the ability to obtain and maintain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class B with airbrakes and passenger endorsement, and possess a good driving record. This position requires working various hours/shifts, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Candidates must be available to report to work within 30 minutes of being notified of changes to the schedule.

Starting wage for this non-exempt unionized position is $23.66 per hour. The City offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical benefit plan, Wisconsin Retirement Plan, deferred compensation, Roth IRA, life insurance, income continuation insurance, voluntary dental and vision plan, paid holidays, vacations and sick leave.

Candidates selected will be subject to a background check and post-offer/pre-employment drug screen, physical and physical capacity screen. The City of La Crosse supports attaining a representative workforce and workplace equity.

Applications accepted until positions are filled.

Purpose of Position

The purpose of positions in this classification is to provide transportation services to the public.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Incumbents operate transit utility vehicles, including buses, conforming with time constraints, in providing a unique, customized public transit service. Position requires a professional demeanor and excellent human relation skills to serve the public. The work is performed under the supervision of the Transit Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this classification. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Performs routine visual safety inspections on vehicle prior to taking the vehicle onto public roadways.

Operates transit vehicles to transport passengers over established routes, according to set time schedules. Must be able to adhere to a strict pre-planned route schedule.

Monitors radio communications while on route to ensure safe and timely arrival and departure times.

Provides public information to passengers concerning routes, schedules, transfer points, street locations, and how to use the transit system.

Answers passenger inquiries.

Regulates heating and cooling for passenger comfort.

Maintains change fund.

Receives fares and records money, tokens, and transfers received.

Keeps route ticket to log mileage, tokens, and cash flow.

Reports mechanical defects to immediate supervisor as soon as noticed.

Provides special care and treatment to elderly and handicapped individuals.

Assist wheelchair bound passengers in situations where bus ramp is inoperable.

Performs all functions of the job in a courteous manner to provide optimal customer service to the public and passengers.

Must be able to maintain a flexible work schedule.

Must be able to report to work promptly and on a regular basis.

Must be able to take direction and work well with others.

Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

High school diploma or equivalent with prior responsible work experience. Incumbents must possess excellent human relation skills. Valid WI drivers license required. Must possess CDL permit upon hire, and must be able to obtain a commercial driver's license with passenger endorsement within 14 days on the job; must be able to maintain CDL for employment. Must be able to maintain a good driving record. Knowledge of traffic laws and defensive driving techniques.

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

Ability to effectively communicate through the use of two-way communication devices.

Ability to read and understand street maps and directions.

Ability to administer safe workplace rules and procedures to fellow employees, along with the ability to identify occupational hazards and safety precautions of the work.

Ability to maintain effective public relations. Ability to communicate effectively and courteously with department personnel, general public and police department.

Ability to explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well established policies, procedures and standards. Ability to follow specific instructions and respond to simple requests from others.

Mathematical Ability

Ability to add and subtract, multiply and divide.

Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability

Ability to use functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities.

Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against measurable criteria.

Physical Requirements

Ability to maintain correct operating speeds with the safety and speed regulations in conforming with time constraints.

Ability to safely operate a large vehicle in traffic and close quarters.

Ability to be seated in a vehicle for prolonged periods of time.

Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing movements requiring skill and training, such as operating transit utility equipment and vehicles.

Ability to recognize and identify individual characteristics of colors, shapes, and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials, and tasks.

Ability to exert very moderate physical effort in sedentary to light work, typically involving some combination of sitting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling. Must be able to push/pull weight of manual wheelchair bound passenger.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work under conditions which require exposure to environmental factors such as odors and temperature variations and extremes. This exposure may cause some discomfort and presents a risk of injury.

The City of La Crosse Municipal Transit Utility is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
To follow is a brief summary of the benefits the City of La Crosse offers to its employees. Benefits and benefit eligibility will vary by position. Detailed benefits information can be found on the City's website under Department>Human Resources>Employee Benefits.

1) Medical Benefit Plan - Offered to all full-time, non-represented or unionized employees. Coverage for eligible medical expenses and prescriptions. Note: Employees hired full-time on or after 1/1/14 are not eligible for retiree medical benefit plan coverage.

2) Pension (Wisconsin Retirement System-WRS) - Automatic enrollment for full-time positions. Eligibility for part-time positions varies by position and is determined by the number of hours and duration of the position. For eligible positions, contributions begin date of hire. Employer contributions are paid by the employer. Employees are required to pay 50% of the total WRS contribution rate for "general" employees. 2026 rate is 7.2% of pre-tax earnings.

3) Life Insurance - (follows WRS eligibility) Up to five times the employee's annual salary is available. Spouse/dependent coverage options also available.

4) Income Continuation Insurance - (follows WRS enrollment) A short or long term disability insurance. Various options available for waiting periods.

5) Section #125 Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a flexible spending account to defer money from your paycheck pre-tax in a dependent care or medical account.

6) Vision Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee.

7) Dental Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee. Employees can choose between two different dental plans.

8) 457 Deferred Compensation Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for pre-tax and Roth payroll deductions to be placed in a retirement investment account.

9) Roth IRA - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for payroll deductions to be placed in a Roth IRA.

10) Paid Leave Time - Vacation, sick leave, personal business leave, family care leave, and holidays. Actual leave accrual determined by employee handbook or union contracts.

11) Accident Insurance - pays a cash benefit when you or your covered family members suffer injuries sustained in an accident. The enrollment period for new hires is within the first 30 days of hire. The effective date is when the completed, timely form is received by the employer.