Bus Driver, Transportation II

Tri Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.; Thief River Falls (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K/Roth

PTO accrual

Paid holidays

ESST

Employer paid life/LTD

Health/dental/vision

Job summary

Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is hiring a Bus Driver II to transport passengers on the Tri-Valley Heartland Express routes in Thief River Falls, MN. The role requires CDL with Passenger Endorsement and focuses on safety, customer service, and on-time performance.

You will operate and train with the bus fleet, perform pre/post trip inspections, and assist passengers including those using mobility aids. The position includes weekend/shift flexibility and benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience working with the public and ensuring passenger safety.
• Ability to mentor substitute and new drivers.
• Strong communication and documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Safely transport passengers on scheduled routes.
• Inspect and maintain bus safety and cleanliness.
• Operate wheelchair lift and assist passengers as needed.
• Enforce passenger policies and ensure seat belts are used.
• Report delays to Route Coordinator and complete required records.

Skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Communication

Safety procedures

Mentoring

Tools

Wheelchair lift operation

Job description

Transportation - Thief River Falls, MN, 524 Barzen Ave, Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 6:00 AM | Expires Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 5:59 AM

SUMMARY OF PRIMARY FUNCTION

The Bus Driver position has primary responsibility for the safety of passengers transported by the Tri-Valley Heartland Express Bus. The Bus Driver position has considerable contact and interaction with the public, requiring exceptional positive and professional customer service skills. Other duties include but are not limited to inspecting and maintaining the safety and cleanliness of the bus, applicable paperwork, marketing program services, answering customer questions and collecting fares.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Daily Operations

• Positively and professionally represents Tri-Valley Heartland Express and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc., showing respect and appreciation to clients and the general public.
• Acts as a positive and professional role model for peers; working as a team to help each other learn and succeed. Is respectful of co-workers; appreciating their contribution to the success of daily operations and Transportation programs overall.
• Mentors substitute and new drivers; training and assisting with daily and monthly forms.
• Safely transports passengers to their destination; maintaining specified routes and destinations as scheduled. Adheres to passenger pick-ups and drop-offs as closely as possible.
• Safely operates the wheelchair lift as needed; properly securing passengers in wheelchair securement area, as trained.
• Safely assists ambulatory passengers with walkers or folding carts on and off the bus as needed.
• Assists passengers on and off the bus as needed.
• Advises all passengers to be seated and use seatbelts provided.
• Respectfully enforces passenger policies, maintaining a safe and positive environment.
• Effectively operates the communication equipment, maintaining positive, respectful, and appropriate communication at all times.
• Immediately reports delays of any kind to the Route Coordinator or designee to adapt route and/or communication with customers as appropriate.
• Completes records and reports on a daily and monthly basis, as required.
• Completes training, paperwork and attends meetings as requested by supervisor.

Public Relations and Marketing

• Performs public relations and marketing duties to increase ridership and public awareness.
• Sells tickets and collects fees

Safety - Compliance

• Remains alert and always focused on driving; is aware of potential weather and/or driving conditions that may affect the safety of passengers and route schedule.
• Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Vehicle Safety Inspections according to checklist before each starting route and again when route is finished. Promptly reports vehicle problems to the Transportation Fleet Supervisor.
• Immediately reports vehicle accidents, regardless of damage, break downs, and passenger accident/incidents to the Transportation Program Manager, and Transit Route Coordinator to minimize disruption to scheduled services.
• Immediately reports employee injuries of any kind to Transportation Program Manager and completes a worker's compensation accident report form as soon as possible, no later than the end of the shift.
• Participates in mandatory Drug and Alcohol training; complies with required and requested testing. Ensures vehicle is compliant with MN/DOT regulations regarding; fire extinguisher, spill kit, first aid kit, flashlight and securements in addition to the pre/post trip inspection. Is aware of safety equipment on bus and responsible to safely use as needed.
• Complies with traffic laws and regulations.
• Safely performs Tri-Valley Transportation Driver Certification criteria to maintain employment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Current Medical Examination Card; upon hire and maintain thereafter.
• Minimum age of 21 years, if required to drive bus across state line.
• Pass pre-employment drug screening and background search requirements as listed on Conditional Job Offer; upon hire and continuously meet requirements thereafter. Participate in subsequent drug/alcohol testing and background searches as appropriate.
• Acceptable MVR results upon hire, and annually thereafter.
• Minimum of three years of driving experience.
• Pass Tri-Valley Transportation Driver Certification training and observation provided upon hire; must pass to continue employment.

Bus Driver II: Valid Commercial Driver's License with Passenger Endorsement; upon hire and maintain thereafter.

Don’t Meet the Requirements

Tri-Valley will work with unqualified bus drivers and provide the following to help obtain CDL with passenger endorsement within 90 days from employment:

• Up to 10 hours of entry level driver training and classroom instruction to pass the written CDL with passenger endorsement test and to administer the ELDT knowledge test.
• Up to 30 hours of 1:1 training time to learn and practice driving with a Tri-Valley bus.
• Up to 15 hours of ride along training time to observe qualified drivers on the job.
• Bus and driver to take the behind the wheel test.

Wage for an unqualified bus driver: $21.75/hour

Tri-Valley is a non-profit community action agency. We believe in the value of all human beings. It is that belief that drives our efforts to identify needs, seek resources and provide opportunities for people to thrive.

Our work is committed to strengthening our communities so that its citizens have better places to live, work, worship and enjoy.

The mission of Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is to provide opportunities to improve the quality of life for people and communities.

If you are an applicant with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact Human Resources at 218-281-0536 or [e-mail] .

Employee Type: 12-Month

Shift Schedule: This position requires a CDL Passenger Endorsement. It's Friday thru Monday. Friday and Monday are 10 hr. shifts. Monday's will require driving a 40passenger bus for the school students in the am & pm with a standard bus between times. Saturday & Sunday will be a standard bus, and it includes an additional $5.00 hour differential pay on weekend shifts. This totals a 33-hour work week.

Service Area Coverage: Thief River Falls, MN

Benefits: 401K/Roth, PTO Accrual, Paid Holidays, ESST, and Employer Paid Life/LTD, Optional benefits such as Health, Dental, Vision, HSA, FSA, Aflac/Colonial Life and Short-Term Disability

If any questions about the position, please contact: Michael Beedy, [e-mail]

Transportation - Thief River Falls, MN, 524 Barzen Ave, Thief River Falls, Minnesota, United States of America