Bus Shop Manager

Mustang Transportation; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Growth opportunities

Professional environment

Fleet maintenance impact

Job summary

Mustang Transportation in Idaho Falls is seeking an experienced Shop Manager to oversee maintenance and repair of our fleet, including school buses and coaches. The role blends hands-on work with leadership to keep vehicles safe and reliable.

You will inspect, diagnose, and repair systems, manage daily shop operations, assign work, mentor mechanics, and ensure on-time service. This role requires a proactive leader who can balance hands-on work with planning and safety compliance.

Qualifications

• Must have extensive diesel fleet maintenance experience including buses and coaches.
• Strong leadership, supervision, and team development skills.
• Ability to diagnose complex vehicle systems and plan repairs effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily shop operations and manage workload for mechanics.
• Inspect, diagnose, and repair buses and fleet vehicles.
• Develop and implement preventative maintenance programs.
• Ensure safety compliance and accurate maintenance records.
• Coordinate with operations for schedules and downtime.

Skills

Diesel fleet maintenance

Shop management

Leadership & supervision

Diagnostics & repairs

Safety compliance

Communication

Education

CDL license with endorsements

Job description

Mustang Transportation is looking for an experienced, hands-on Shop Manager to oversee the maintenance and repair of our fleet of school buses, shuttle buses, motor coaches, and other company vehicles. This position is responsible for keeping our fleet safe, reliable, clean, and ready for service while managing the day-to-day activities of the shop and supervising our mechanics.

The Shop Manager will be both a working mechanic and a manager. The successful candidate will spend time performing inspections, preventative maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs on our buses and vehicles while also assigning work, managing priorities, supporting and developing mechanics, and ensuring maintenance is completed properly and on schedule.

Key Responsibilities

Fleet Maintenance & Repair

• Perform hands-on mechanical work on school buses, shuttle buses, motor coaches, and other fleet vehicles.
• Diagnose and repair mechanical, electrical, air brake, suspension, steering, HVAC, and other vehicle systems.
• Perform preventative maintenance and scheduled services according to manufacturer recommendations and company requirements.
• Conduct and document inspections and identify maintenance issues before they become safety or reliability concerns.
• Troubleshoot breakdowns and respond to vehicles requiring roadside or emergency repairs when necessary.
• Ensure buses are properly prepared and mechanically ready for daily school routes, charters, shuttle services, and other operations.
• Assist with inspections, repairs, and maintenance on vehicles at other Mustang locations when needed.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and ensure required documentation is completed.

Shop Management

• Manage the daily operations and workflow of the maintenance shop.
• Prioritize repairs and preventative maintenance based on safety, operational needs, vehicle availability, and upcoming schedules.
• Assign work to mechanics and monitor progress to ensure repairs are completed correctly and on time.
• Personally perform repairs and maintenance rather than functioning solely in a supervisory capacity.
• Inspect completed work to ensure quality, safety, and proper operation before vehicles are returned to service.
• Maintain an organized, clean, and safe shop environment.
• Manage shop tools, equipment, parts, supplies, and inventory.
• Coordinate outside vendors and specialty repairs when work cannot be completed in-house.
• Communicate vehicle status and maintenance needs with operations and management.
• Help develop maintenance schedules that minimize vehicle downtime and disruptions to operations.

Mechanic Supervision

• Lead, train, and supervise other mechanics.
• Establish expectations for workmanship, productivity, safety, cleanliness, and documentation.
• Provide hands-on guidance and assistance to mechanics when diagnosing or repairing difficult problems.
• Monitor mechanic workload and redistribute assignments as necessary.
• Identify training needs and help mechanics develop their technical skills.
• Address performance or workmanship issues in coordination with management.
• Foster a professional, team-oriented shop environment.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all maintenance and repair work is performed safely and in accordance with company policies and applicable regulations.
• Maintain compliance with applicable DOT, FMCSA, state, and manufacturer maintenance requirements.
• Ensure safety-related repairs are addressed promptly and vehicles are not placed into service when they are unsafe.
• Maintain required inspection and maintenance documentation.
• Promote a culture where safety and proper repairs take priority over simply getting a vehicle back on the road.

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a diesel mechanic, fleet mechanic, heavy-duty mechanic, or similar position.
• Strong diagnostic and repair skills involving diesel-powered vehicles.
• Experience working on buses, motor coaches, heavy-duty trucks, or similar fleet vehicles preferred.
• Previous experience supervising or leading mechanics preferred.
• Strong understanding of preventative maintenance programs and fleet operations.
• Ability to diagnose problems and determine appropriate repairs.
• Ability to read and understand service manuals, wiring diagrams, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple maintenance issues in a fast-paced transportation environment.
• Ability to work independently while also leading a team.
• CDL with appropriate endorsements is preferred, or the ability to obtain one.
• Must have a valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is someone who knows how to fix things and knows how to lead people.

This is not a desk-only management position. The Shop Manager should be comfortable getting dirty, diagnosing problems, turning wrenches, and jumping in alongside the mechanics when the shop gets busy. At the same time, this person must be able to step back and manage the bigger picture - knowing what needs to be repaired first, who should handle it, when a bus needs to be back in service, and when an issue needs to be escalated.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the condition and reliability of Mustang's fleet and will hold themselves and the maintenance team to a high standard.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform physically demanding mechanical work.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, and work in and around buses and heavy-duty vehicles.
• Ability to lift and carry tools, parts, and equipment as required.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures and shop conditions.
• Ability to safely operate shop equipment and tools.

Schedule

The Shop Manager will work primarily during normal shop operations but must be flexible to address fleet maintenance issues, breakdowns, and operational needs outside normal hours when necessary.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay: Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications.

Mustang Transportation offers a professional work environment, opportunities for growth, and the opportunity to play a key role in maintaining a fleet that provides transportation to students, athletic teams, businesses, and communities throughout our service area.