WMATA

A typical day at work was greeting your co-workers and preparing yourself to go out and be of service to the customers. I learned that all other problems had to be put on hold and many people can not do that, but in this type of business which it never fails, you always seem to meet someone that is in a far worse situation than you. Management was management, it was normal and sometimes you would catch a manager who was under a lot of pressure, but understanding their responsibilities including yourself, made it so you could not take anything personal. Most of the co-worker stayed to themselves, the type of job we had we had to stay composed at all times, so many of us rested on our breaks and some mingled with each other during lunch time. The hardest part was having to be away from your family on special occasions, by us being unionized, you had to work your way up the seniority list to have special days off, and if you were near the bottom you can imagine how many felt. The enjoyable part was meeting all types of people from all walks of life and being able to ride the public transportation free when needed.

WMATA is an excellent company to work for and great opportunity for the person who is serious, customer friendly and poses good work ethic and dependable.

As a Bus Operator you are responsible for the safe transportation needs of thousands of passengers ensuring their safety while following the WMATA SOP.  WMATA has one of the TOP training programs that I have ever experienced in preparing you for what is to come as a Bus Operator.

Your co-workers work together as a team that you have to experience and that I have appreciated.  The hardest part of the job is when you are assaulted for feel threatened by a passenger.  The most enjoyable part of the job is greeting your customers and developing their trust that you will deliver them safely to their destination and that there is a safe and trusting environment.

This is where I was really happy working because it was a temporary job through an agency. I learned a great deal about Washington Metro Transit Authority. Hired as a Legal Secretary and worked with a number of people on all kinds of litigation documents, documents for the Court of the District of Columbia. I really had to learn the job on my own but asked a lot of questions from the friendly people around me, the other secretaries. It was a great experience. The bad part of the job was that I had to leave because Management hired their own secretary, a job that had been open for a long time. But again I learned a tremendous amount about the transportation system in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It started off a really nice place to work although the hours were whatever they kind of wanted to give if you were new I still enjoyed going in everyday & working. After a while the people became unhelpful & untrustworthy. The pedestrians & other drivers on the street have no regards for a huge vehicle barreling at them or any care whatsoever for their lives. This job for someone new would be considered very stressful, you are constantly told during your probation that your job could end at any moment no matter the issue, whether small or big. The pay & benefits are some of the best around but thanks to Management from all the way up top it's very hard for a new person to go far or thrive considering the Circumstances of the stressful job around you.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Putting a product on the road that you know is safe for the public

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
I really didn’t have any stressful situations. You get any problems and you just deal with them 

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It changes from shop to shop but most people have a pretty up beat feel for the organization. You always have the complainers

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
I was a frontline supervisor for Wmata. My day started with checking my emails then get my priorities in line. We would always start the shift with a toolbox safety meeting then move to the shifts priorities. Always number one making getting our busses on the road. Afterwards whatever work we had from that point. Pms major work and general Repaires

Operating Commercial Vehicles has to be something a driver/ operater love to do in order to do it effectively. This is a career that should be taken very seriously because it involves people's lives. When Operating Commercial Vehicles an Operator should be able to perform duties using high observation while stretegically performing duties as a safe Operator..

When operating Commercial Vehicles an Operator must have a love for peoole, respect for commercial equipment , as well as understand how to add to their company's mission. This helps organizations to run more smoothe and effectively. 
Every driver/ operator should always remember that they are not only a driver but they are also a marketing role model for an organization as well as their families.

WMATA is going through a lot of changes at the moment, I have worked for the company for a long time and have seen many regimes come and go.  If you are in upper managment, this company will break you. Union personnel have it better than non-represented personnel.  The pay is good but you will go years without a raise. There is no longer any pay for performance so there is no financial incentive to go above and beyond.  The benefits used to be really good but the new managment is making changes that drastically affects employees in a negative manner.  The new policies are no longer in the best interest of the workers.  We are losing benefits and paying a lot more for health insurance with less coverage.  Morale is low, and many people are bailing ship.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Incentives are the best perks..the wide range of operation choices.. the bonds that are created within the ranks of operators.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Disorderly passengers that may have a very tainted view of overall service that is provided throughout the dmv area

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Very positive and encouraging for all involved in the development process.. are a brotherhood and sisterhood one big family ready and willing to be our best selves

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
The workday is usually easy and steady outside of a day that might consist of heavy road closures or detours

What is the best part of working at the company?
I enjoy my coworkers, my supervisors, my clerks, mechanics, the customers, the responsibility of moving people through the city and the pay, the benefits and retirement are the icing on the cake.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The people driving their cars not respecting the bus, the pedestrians being selfish using the whole clock timer to cross the street not giving way for the bus, scooters and bikes weaving in and out of traffic and cutting in front of the bus.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Diverse and energetic, fun but stressful at times. I love it all.

Start off with a safety meeting
Employees call in from there remote locations
Employee time is entered.
Check all lines from the previous day to make sure they are entered.
Monitor all rail lines for mechanical failures. If a failure occurs, an email is generated stating the failure and how long we have delayed our patrons.
Send out notices of what cars are due scheduled maintenance
Support our  7K group with making new cars revenue ready.
Send out daily reports.
Tally up what Shops will make revenue for the evening....
Give a turnover report to the team that is releiving me.

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