DAYTON, Ohio – In the midst of a months-long bus driver shortage, Greater Dayton RTA is hosting an interactive job fair to give prospective employees a little hands-on-wheel experience.

The Montgomery County-based transit agency penciled in Sept. 27 at the University of Dayton Arena as the date of its most recent job fair. Interviews will take place from 7 a.m. to noon, and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Candidates must bring and hold a valid driver’s license, along with a copy of their resume.

After successfully completing an interview, RTA trainers will be on hand to assist applicants with a vehicle test drive, and ensure the ride goes smoothly. Prospective bus drivers can choose to drive a big bus, a small non-CDL bus or both.

“You don’t know what it’s like driving a bus until you try it, and this way candidates get to ‘test drive’ their new job,” Brandon Policicchio, RTA’s chief customer and business development officer, said in a written statement.

Policicchio started his career driving a bus as a 19 year old. He described the job as a “cool and rewarding experience.”

“Normally, it would take a week or so for a new hire to get behind the wheel,” he said, but he hopes offering some earlier in the process will be attractive to potential candidates.

That was the case for Shawnta Parker, who RTA hired during the agency’s last interactive hiring event in June.

“The RTA trainer is very hands-on. They not only train you, they help you during the whole process from beginning to end,” said Parker, now a driver for RTA Connect, which handles things like para-transit and on-demand services.

“I chose the Connect bus because I always wanted to drive for RTA, and I decided to start small and go big,” she added.

The push to hire comes as RTA and bus service providers across the country continue to struggle to keep and attract new drivers. 

In a February 2022 American Public Transportation Association survey, 71% of the 117 responding agencies reported having to either cut service or delay service increases because of worker shortfalls, according to a report by TransitCenter, a public transportation advocacy group. 

The report showed more than nine in 10 public transit agencies, regardless of size, have had difficulty hiring new employees, with bus operator positions being the most difficult to fill. And nearly two-thirds of transit agencies stated they’re having difficulty holding on to employees, per the report.

To address the driver shortage, RTA's held several hiring events over the past several months, including the interactive job fair in June.

Before that event, an agency spokesperson told Spectrum News that RTA wanted to hire at least 50 CDL bus drivers and 35 non-CDL drivers. RTA extended 35 following the event, per the spokesperson. 

As of Tuesday, the agency wrote in a statement it was looking for 50 CDL bus drivers and over 30 non-CDL drivers.

The starting wage for CDL bus drivers is $18 per hour. Pay goes up to $30 per hour after seven years. Non-CDL drivers start at $15.75 per hour. 

RTA will cover the cost of CDL training and licensing for “the right candidates,” per the spokesperson.

Benefits for drivers include a 14% contribution to the state pension account, as well as paid time off, dental insurance and up to $26,000 a year toward family medical insurance. Employees also have access to on-site fitness centers.

To help get people to the event, RTA is offering a coupon code for a free Uber or Lyft ride to and from UD Arena from anywhere in Montgomery County.

Beyond that, RTA is offering free bus transportation from its downtown transit center, Wright Stop Plaza. Those interested need to locate an RTA Transit Ambassador at the transit center and let them know they’re requesting a ride to the hiring event.

The agency is requiring a completed COVID vaccine for all new hires.

Those unable to attend the career fair can apply for open positions on RTA’s career website.