Aspen Bus Drivers: $30.60; Paid CDL Training, housing, ski pass, bonuses, and more!
Are you ready to embark on a rewarding career as a FT (Year-Round) CDL Bus Operator? Look no further! Join Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), the largest transit agency nestled in the breathtaking Colorado Rocky Mountains. We are actively seeking Year-Round Career Transit Operators for our operations in Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Servicing our Community within the Roaring Fork Valley from Glenwood Springs, Colorado to Aspen, Colorado. This River Valley feeds into the Colorado River, Surrounded by Mountains and Forests.
About Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA)
Aspen, Colorado's Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) is a vital link for Aspen's Four Ski areas and for the population of the Roaring Fork Valley. Whether you're here to ski hard on our four mountains, play hard in town, or simply relax with family and friends in the Colorado sunshine, RFTA is here to help provide for all of your transportation needs. RFTA is Colorado's 2nd Largest transit agency, with a big operation employing 200 CDL Bus Operators and nearly 400 employees in total.
RFTA has been in operation since 1983 and is now Colorado's 2nd largest Transportation Authority, the largest rural transit system in the U.S., and the first rural transit agency to construct and operate a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. RFTA's BRT System began operation in September 2013. RFTA provides commuter bus service from Aspen to Glenwood Springs (Roaring Fork Valley), Glenwood to Rifle (Hogback), intracity service in Aspen and Glenwood Springs, ski shuttle service to the four Aspen Skiing Company ski areas, the Maroon Bells Guided Bus Tours, and a variety of other seasonal services.
RFTA has received numerous awards, including the “Best Mass Transit System of North America” by Mass Transit Magazine and the best “Large Transit Agency of the Year” from the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies. In 2012, RFTA received the White House Champions of Change Transportation Innovator Award. In 2014, RFTA received the Federal Transit Administrator’s Outstanding Public Service Award and a SHIFT Sustainability Award.
The Employee Experience
Exciting Opportunity: FT (Year-Round) CDL Bus Operator Position in Aspen, Colorado!
Are you ready to embark on a rewarding career as a FT (Year-Round) CDL Bus Operator?
Look no further!
Join Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), the largest transit agency nestled in the breathtaking Colorado Rocky Mountains.
We are actively seeking Year-Round Career Transit Operators for our operations in Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
Why choose RFTA?
We offer an unbeatable compensation package that includes competitive pay, generous bonuses, and comprehensive benefits. Plus, we provide paid CDL training to kickstart your journey with us.
Here's what makes being a Year-Round Transit Operator at RFTA truly exceptional:
Competitive Compensation
Earn a wage starting at $30.60 per hour (annual salary of $63.648), with regular overtime opportunities. Receive up to $3,175 in bonuses during your first 6 months!
Comprehensive Benefits
- Secure your health and well-being with employee health, dental, life, and vision insurance. Access a range of Health Insurance plans, including a free plan for employees and highly discounted options for families.
- Prepare for a secure future with RFTA's retirement plan, as we contribute 12.5% of your income to a retirement savings account on your behalf.
- Experience the thrill of the slopes with a Ski Pass for Aspen/Snowmass (unlimited pass, blackout dates may apply), or opt for a $425 cash bonus.
Work-Life Balance
- Enjoy generous paid time off, including 22 vacation days and 12 sick leave days accrued per year.
- Travel with ease using the RFTA Bus Pass, available for employees and dependents.
- Employee housing opportunities up to Five years.
- Rental Assistance could be provided.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Transit Operator at RFTA, you will:
- Operate transit buses in revenue and non-revenue service while strictly adhering to RFTA policies, directives, and all federal and Colorado traffic laws.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of streets, bus routes, stops, fare structure, and bus pass programs within RFTA's service area.
- Represent RFTA professionally, working effectively in a diverse environment, exercising sound judgment, and delivering high-quality service to external and internal customers.
- Perform pre- and post-trip inspections of transit buses, ensuring mechanical soundness and safety compliance.
REQUIREMENTS
Education While a high school diploma is preferred, it is not required. Fluency in spoken, written, and reading English is necessary.
Licenses, Examinations, and Certifications
- Must possess and maintain a Class B Colorado State Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with a P2 endorsement. *RFTA offers paid training to obtain your CDL with a Colorado License.
- Pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination and obtain a DOT Medical Examiner's Certificate for a minimum of a 2-year qualifying period. Maintain current DOT Medical Examiner's Certification.
- We offer training courses to help you obtain your CDL Class B for the state of Colorado.
Experience/Qualifications:
- Possess at least three (3) years of licensed driving experience (non-commercial).
- Previous experience operating large vehicles is preferred but not mandatory.
- No more than two (2) minor traffic violations within the past three (3) years.
- No major violations within the past five (5) years.
- Must be at least nineteen (19) years of age. Must have three (3) years of licensed driving experience.
Job Classification, Location & Schedule:
This Year-Round position is based in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. As an incumbent, you must be flexible to complete any assigned shift, including day, night, and weekend rotations starting in Aspen or Glenwood Springs.
On-The-Job Training:
Less than three (3) months of on-the-job training is normally required to perform the job effectively. Must successfully complete the Bus Operator Training Program offered by RFTA, which includes achieving the required minimum scores on all written and driving tests and evaluations.
Equipment Utilized:
All types of transit vehicles (25 - 40-foot buses, 65-foot articulated buses, cut away vans), wheelchair lifts, brake retarders, HVAC and electronic fare boxes are utilized.
Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of the Roaring Fork Valley Transportation Authority! Apply today to start an exciting career in transit operations in Aspen, Colorado.
RFTA is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Ideal Candidate
RFTA's ideal candidate is someone with excellent customer service skills and a clean driving record. Of course our ideal candidate is comfortable driving and thinks of themselves as a good driver.
Room and Board
RFTA recognizes the difficulties in finding affordable housing in our area and we try our best to help out our Operators. We own three housing complexes in Carbondale (and Glenwood Springs) with a variety of living sizes. Additionally, we lease both year-round and Temporary apartments in Burlingame; which is located right across from Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, CO. During the interview and hiring process, we can provide you with any specific information necessary.
Housing typically costs about $789 to $1298 a month (which includes utilities) for your own Room (with shared common space) in Temporary Burlingame Housing in Aspen or a Studio Apartment in Glenwood Springs.
Employee Perks
BENEFITS YOU’LL RECEIVE AS A FULL-TIME (Year-Round) RFTA EMPLOYEE
Full-time (Year-Round) employees are hired at a wage commensurate with their experience in the appropriate wage grade for their position and are eligible for annual pay rate increases based on performance. The following is a summary of benefits currently offered to Year-Round employees at RFTA.
- Affordable Health Insurance including choice of a PPO or HDHP medical plan, vision, and dental. RFTA pays the majority of the cost. Employees pay between $0 and $30 per month for single coverage and between $274 and $464 per month for dependent coverage depending on plan and level. Employees with access to other medical coverage are eligible for an opt-out cash bonus of $3,654 annually.*
- Wellness Program. RFTA encourages employees and their families to participate in preventative health screenings and reimburses employees for the cost of participation in one of several community health fairs offered annually. We also offer a variety of fun wellness challenges with prizes!
- Short and Long-Term Disability. RFTA offers short and long-term disability insurance to employees at no cost.
- Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance. RFTA offers life and AD&D insurance to employees at no cost, with coverage equal to the annual salary plus $10,000 for single employees and five times the annual salary plus $10,000 for employees with eligible dependents. Employees are also eligible to purchase additional insurance.
- Pre-Tax Savings Plans. RFTA offers several options for employees to utilize pre-tax savings accounts including Flexible Spending Accounts for medical expenses, Dependent Care Accounts, and Health Savings Accounts. Employees on the HDHP receive between $1,000 and $1,500 annually* from RFTA for their HSAs.
- Deferred Compensation Plans. After a six-month waiting period, full-time employees are enrolled in RFTA’s 401(a) social security replacement plan. RFTA contributes 12.55% of the employee’s gross earnings to the 401(a) plan in lieu of social security contributions. Employees will see an increase in their take-home pay of approximately 6-7% when their social security deductions stop. RFTA also offers a voluntary 457(b) plan in which employees may contribute to their retirement accounts on either a pre-tax or ROTH basis.
- Paid Time Off. Full-time employees with less than five years of service accrue vacation at a rate of 8.5% up to a maximum of 6.8 hours per bi-weekly paycheck. After five years of service, the vacation accrual rate increases to 10.75% up to a maximum of 8.6 hours per bi-weekly paycheck. All full-time employees accrue sick time at a rate of 4.6% up to a maximum of 3.7 hours per bi-weekly paycheck. Sick time has no cap. Vacation accrual caps at 300 hours. RFTA also offers paid time off for jury duty and bereavement.
- Four-Mountain Ski Pass or $425 Cash Bonus. Employees pay applicable taxes on $425 regardless of their choice. Cash bonuses are issued on the paycheck before Christmas, and taxes on ski passes are deducted on the paycheck after Christmas.
- RFTA Bus Passes for employee and eligible dependents. Passes are good for unlimited rides on valley local, BRT, hogback, and City of Aspen runs; however, employees and family members must pay the $1 fare for Ride Glenwood and $2 bikes on buses fee valley wide.
- Life Crisis Fund. Funded by employee donations, Life Crisis funds go directly to RFTA employees who are experiencing a life crisis, as determined by the CEO. Donations can be made on a one-time basis, or as ongoing payroll deductions.
- Employee Assistance Program. TRIAD offers confidential counseling and referral services. Employees and their dependents are eligible for three free sessions per issue per year.
- Employee Housing Assistance. In addition to offering rental advance loans to full-time employees in their first Five years of service, RFTA has apartments available on a first-come, first-served basis. This includes long-term and temporary housing (at Burlingame in Aspen) and in two RFTA owned apartment complexes in Carbondale plus Glenwood Springs. Rent includes utilities, other than internet, cable, and phone. Long-term units at Burlingame include one parking spot. There is very limited parking for the temporary units at Burlingame with a monthly fee. These spots are on a first come first serve basis. Parking is free in Carbondale. Coin laundry machines are available. Rental payments and security deposits are made through payroll deductions.
- Other Perks: Winter RFTA Jacket, End of Season Party, Summer Aspen Music Festival Tickets and discounted memberships at the Glenwood Springs Community Center and Aspen Rec Center.
* UPDATED September 2024. THIS SUMMARY IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE ITS ACCURACY. IF A DISCREPANCY EXISTS BETWEEN INFORMATION PROVIDED HERE AND PLAN DOCUMENTS, THE PLAN DOCUMENTS WILL PREVAIL. RFTA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR UPDATE BENEFITS AT ANY TIME.
Getting Here and Getting Around
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NgyQX3dA9YFor Fun
RFTA would love for you to experience sunny Colorado and hopes that you enjoy this area as much as our other employees do. Colorado has great weather year-round due to its world-famous sunny blue skies. Outdoor living at its best. In the summers you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and camping. In the winter, though it can be cold our employees enjoy all forms of winter sports.
The heart of RFTA is in and around Aspen Colorado, which is best known as a world-class ski destination. There is always something going on, free outdoor concerts, festivals, the X- Games, and so much more. There are a lot of international people that live here as well, from South Americans, Europeans, to Australians. A small town, with big-city options.
Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, and New Castle also offer a variety of activities, dining, and fun. Set in a stunning mountain valley where Mount Sopris oversees the convergence of the Frying Pan Crystal and the Colorado River, the Roaring Fork Valley has limitless activities to offer anyone that enjoys the outdoors. Skiing, Hiking, Climbing, Mountaineering, Paddleboarding, Kayaking, World Class Fly Fishing, wonderful Hot springs, Golfing, Shopping, Amazing Restaurants, Live Music, Beer Pubs, the Marble Distillery, Film Festivals, Music in the Park, Mountain Fair, Farmers Market, Yoga, or just ‘kicking it’ in the Colorado sunshine. The opportunities here are only limited by imagination.
How to Apply
Visit our hiring page for more info & then APPLY ONLINE!
If you have questions, please contact Mark Scruton at (970) 914-8176 (Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist) or Email careers@rfta.com.
EEO/AAP/Drug-Free Employer
Contact Info
- Mark Scruton
- careers@rfta.com
- (970) 914-8176
- www.rfta.com
