bus driver

shop assistant

reservation agent

security engineer

facilities maintenance technician

VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT

Being a bus driver can be stressing, got to have tough skin n to deal with people.  Not a place for veterans, in order to get better job opportunities with VIA, seniority is the main concern; So, if you are educated with a Bachelors or Masters Degree, VIA would not take that into consideration to get other jobs within.  The only way to get good jobs with VIA is through Seniority and time.  You start out as a part timer, paid training for two months with strict rules on timeliness to class and getting from DPS a commercial drivers license.  Once you graduated, you would start working, put on probabation for 4 months.  As in every job, you start from down in the barrel, you will be working holidays without 1.5 base pay per hour, this to relieve Full Timers that have more time.  Life balance is bad for next 5 years until you gain seniority.  If you are seeking admin jobs, forget about it to probably after 5 years.  Management is more concern how they look to the public, part timers are requested a lot in appearance and standards. Yet you will see others not abiding by standard and since they are full time, they get away with the BS.

I came in with no CDL license they had training available but trainers got a little pushy at times when stuff wasn't making sense when practicing for exam. If you have no wife/girlfriend or kids or family I'll recommend this job you'll make good money but be prepared to sign your life over to via. After graduation you will be on the board (what ever shifts that are available on that day) you don't get a set schedule or guaranteed your two days off during the week be expected to work 6 days a week and holidays. They are so quick to deny your day off even though you put it in months in advance. There is no communication there station foreman will walk all over you  and take advantage of you if you call in the day before be prepared to do a late line up (last bus route) or early morning 2am  plus evening shift you will be working up to 14hrs sometimes even 15hrs a day. If you are considering this job ride all the bus routes you can now before graduation because all you have to help learning bus routes is a piece of paper so know your way around the city and remember land marks. HR dept were always rude you go in there for assistance or issues and front desk always had an attitude i recommend to join the union UNION was always there to talk and assist I rather deal with them the VIA office staff. 

Everyday I drive for eight hours to maintain a clean, and safe bus route through out the city of San Antonio. I have to clean all bus shelters, cut grass, report any damages, and make sure path is clear from debre, tree limbs, or any other hazard materials on the road.
I have learn to operate many differnt trucks, and machineries. Also, I have learned all the roads and back roads plus the out skirts of San Antonio.
I've been working with many different foremans (managment) within the ten years I've been there at the company. I have great relations with with all forms of managment.
Many of my co-workers are the closest friends that I have. We've all been working together for all the years that I've been there for.
The hardest part of my job is working in the hot and humid wheather, and also all inclement weather. Other than that my job is great! The most enjoyable part of my job is that there are over 10 different jobs i can do within the company, and it's all based on senority.

At VIA you will work all hours, weekends, and holidays. Start pay is low compared to other companies. Cannot call in sick without being hit with a work failure. Six work failures in a year and you will be terminated on the next one. Sick hours are earned every month but operators are not allowed to use them. They have forced physicals and physicians are instructed by VIA to flag certain things. Health insurance is expensive and employees pay a large amount. Via has their own doctors that they want employees to use. Cannot see your doctor of choice if not in network. Job is stressful and time off is very limited. Puts a burden on family time. Parking for operators is deplorable. Admin has their own assigned parking. One week vacation up to three years of service. After three years, you get two weeks.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Stable employment and minimum supervision.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Driving. You are contending with highly unsafe motorists and unpredictable customers.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Overall the culture is amicable, but the working environment is very stressful due to the high standards of operating a “safe” bus under hostile conditions; which requires long hours of complete focus. Not for everyone.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You have a daily routine of: operating the bus under strict standards due to safety and liability. A typical day requires focus,

What is the best part of working at the company?
When you get your own route and know what you are doing daily.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
They play favorites, if you are a favorite on extra board  you get good runs.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is stressful no matter what you do if something happens on the job the company never stands by the drivers they always blame them. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Clock in if you have a run wait for your time to precheck your vehicle . Do your inspection wait for your five minutes to roll out and leave to start your Rte. If on extra board you wait for an assignment.

There is no support for you as an operator at via. They do not enforce or have your back if you try and enforce rules towards any patrons. They look for any little mistake you make and will use it against you, also they have you work the board which will leave you working all the time as in 15 hours a day but not paid for all of it, and only give you an 8 hour break between, which equates to about 4 hours of sleep by the time you do turn around. They still expect you to be safe while exhausted of course and watch every single glee thing you do...highly micro managed.

The place is nepotism galore.  VIA has entire families working there, married couples and their kids, brothers and sisters, mother/daughter they all work there.  It is hard to get in from the outside unless you know some one to get you in.  They have stopped hiring from with in and have begun hiring from the outside.  You have people that have worked at VIA 15, 20, 25, 30 years.  Hard to advance with so much longevity from their employees.  Sad to say that the only way to possibly advance is if someone retires or dies.  Things are slowly changing but people are resistant to change and like all thing change doesn't happen overnight.

The workplace culture values integrity, inclusion, and service. People take pride in the work they do, and there’s a shared commitment to serving the community. My favorite part about VIA knowing that your work has real impact. There’s a sense of pride in being part of something bigger and helping people move forward in their lives through access to transportation. Management at VIA is supportive and committed to employee growth. Leaders are accessible, and there’s a genuine effort to communicate goals and involve staff in moving the organization forward.

This company is a fraud. The present themselves as a government agency. Yet they aren't, they are private and definitely FOR PROFIT! They have tricked the Bexar County voters to elect them as the transit authority. They take your tax dollars and do not put it back into the transit system. They will even tell the public that you can be trespassed from their, PRIVATE PROPERTY! They risk public safety by not allowing drivers adequate time off for rest which causes fatigued drivers. They say they dont have to adhere to DOT laws. Someone needs to find a way to expose them and take them down.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Bus driver 9 salaries reported	$22.32 per hour
Shop assistant 2 salaries reported	$15.43 per hour
Reservation agent 1 salary reported	$14.73 per hour
Security engineer 1 salary reported	$6,425 per month
Facilities maintenance technician 1 salary reported	$5,307 per month

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