News

Driving Force Behind Bus Operator Mentor Training

Posted April 2024

Seventeen mentors in CapMetro's (Austin TX) new program, “Driving Force,” engaged with ITLC’s Senior Workforce Development Advisor Maurice Beard last month, as he led a mentor training program for bus operator mentors in the transit agency's paratransit arm, Demand Response. ATU’s Director of Apprenticeships and Workforce Development Jamaine Gibson also attended, providing a perspective from the international union. Demand Response Operations Manager Belinda Wilson spoke of seeing other programs succeed, observing "A mentor program would be beneficial for both the clients and the operators here at Metro.”

The operators spoke passionately about the clients they serve, who regularly require special consideration and patience. Driving Force Program Coordinator Pam Moore said, “I enjoyed the discussions with the other operators. Most of us have been mentoring for quite a while before there was a program. I learned new things about people that I’d known for years. We have all been mentored in one way or another throughout our careers.” 

Driving Force is the second operator mentorship program at the agency, following a fixed-route operator mentor program that was established over a year ago by CapMetro and ATU Local 1091. Driving Force is a collaboration that brings together paratransit and fixed route operations of CapMetro to ensure that future operators have a greater opportunity to succeed.