Special Transportation Driver #2203-110800-01

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 872,498 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is seeking Special Transportation Drivers to work various shifts and hours during a seven day work week.  All drivers must be able to work flexible hours and shifts to include nights, weekends, and holidays. This position includes driving a mini-bus and physically providing assistance to passengers who may use wheelchairs and have other conditions requiring assistance from the driver.

The Special Transportation Driver provides safe, courteous, and reliable door-to-door paratransit transportation to disabled, mobility impaired, and other eligible passengers in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

 This vacancy is with benefits.  Additional hours may be required as business needs change. Position will require the ability to work hours outside of scheduled hours on a consistent basis.  

Hours: 3:00pm to close (no later than 2am); Saturday & Sunday; holidays; nights and weekends.  Must be available to work various shifts.

• Provide safe / courteous / timely / dependable service while transporting CATS customers
• Operate CATS Paratransit vehicles safely on scheduled trips
• Provide stellar customer service when interacting with customers
• Ability to be flexible & adaptable to changing environments
• Boarding of customers involves:
  • bending
  • stooping & twisting while securing belts / straps
• Ensure patron & mobility device tied down safely
• Safely & efficiently operate specialized vehicle in transporting customers
• Perform pre and post trip inspection
• Use of two-way radio
• Maintain accurate log of daily activities
• Support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP
• Directly support continuous implementation and compliance of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) State Safety Oversight Program Standards (SSOPS) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations 49 CFR Part 673 and 672 related to the Safety Management System (SMS) and the CATS Agency Safety Plan (ASP). Support Safety performance goals of CATS.
• Encourage employees to proactively support and report safety concerns following the CATS Safety Reporting options as described in your training and in the ASP.
• As part of your responsibility to support the CATS Safety Culture, report safety concerns and issues through the various methods established by CATS as outlined in the ASP.
• Advocate and promote a strong safety culture within CATS with regard to transportation services, capital programs, facility operations and maintenance, worksite procedures, employees, and customers following SMS and ASP. 
• Participate in internal and external ASP audits.

• Professional driving experience with daily public contact to include:
  • mini-buses
  • vans
  • school or transit bus
• Friendliness & being courteous when speaking / interacting with customers
• Understanding the needs of disabled clients
• Ability to read / interpret maps & complex schedules
• General knowledge of the Mecklenburg County streets & traffic patterns
• Ability to follow oral & written instructions
• Demonstrate ability to push / pull person in wheelchair up to extreme weights
• Ability to Lift up to 50 lbs. or more

• Professional driving experience that includes, but not limited to:
  • mini buses
  • vans
  • school buses
  • transit vehicles
• Certified Nursing Assistant experience
• Bilingual (Spanish)

• High School diploma/GED 
• one year of relevant work experience
• Be able to obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with a P endorsement within six months of employment 
• Currently possess or be able to obtain a Department of Transportation (DOT) medical certification

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

This position is considered a security and safety sensitive position and will be subject to random drug and alcohol testing under FTA guidelines as well as all procedures and guidelines in alignment with the City of Charlotte and CATS Drug and Alcohol Policies

The City of Charlotte requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and as such, will consider reasonable  accommodations as required by law 

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.