Transit Equipment Dispatcher (Vehicle Maintenance)

King County, WA; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent medical, dental, and vision

Life and disability insurance

Retirement plan

Transportation program and ORCA pass

12 paid holidays

Generous vacation and paid sick leave

Flexible Spending Account

Job summary

King County Metro Transit seeks a Transit Equipment Dispatcher to oversee daily coach assignments, track fleet readiness, and coordinate maintenance and inspections to ensure on-time service. You will manage dispatch flow, monitor mileage, and support operators for timely routes.

The role emphasizes accuracy, collaboration with maintenance teams, and ability to work across shifts and bases, with safety-sensitive requirements and CDL prerequisites.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of intermittent Relief Transit Equipment Dispatcher experience at King County Metro.
• Knowledge of coach types and sign-in/sign-out procedures.
• Understanding of vehicle inspections and preventive maintenance schedules.
• Valid Washington State CDL or ability to obtain Class B CDL within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily coach assignments and equipment statuses for buses in service and in yard.
• Monitor mileage and schedule inspections, washes, and fleet movements.
• Coordinate equipment availability for maintenance, cleaning, and repairs.
• Provide professional support to operators and maintenance teams.

Skills

Dispassionately manage dispatch

Coordinating with operators

Data accuracy

Problem solving

Customer service

Education

CDL knowledge

Tools

Dispatch software

Maintenance systems

Job description

This is an internal recruitment for King County. Only applications from qualified King County Employees will be considered.*

Summary

Reliable transit service in King County depends on well-planned, well-maintained equipment, and the Transit Equipment Dispatcher is at the center of making that happen.

In this role, you will help ensure every coach that leaves the base is safe, ready for service, and aligned with maintenance and inspection schedules. You’ll manage coach assignments and dispatch flow within the bus yard, track mileage, schedule inspections, schedule washes, and support operators so they can locate their coach and start their routes on time.

This position plays a critical part in keeping the fleet moving and maintaining compliance with federal reporting standards. Your attention to detail and planning abilities directly influence service reliability, maintenance workflow, and the accuracy of information reported to the FTA. You’ll work with multiple systems, evaluate coach availability, forecast mileage, and help maintain a balanced flow of equipment through service and repairs.

If you are analytical, coachable, goal-oriented, and take pride in accuracy, this role offers the chance to make a visible impact on service reliability and the community every day.

Safety Sensitive Position: This position is considered safety sensitive. Applicants for positions defined as safety sensitive are required to undergo drug testing prior to employment, and subsequent to commencement of employment, will be subject to random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, return to duty and follow-up drug and alcohol testing in compliance with Federal DOT alcohol and controlled substances testing program protocols.

Recruitment Information: This recruitment will be used to fill two (2) career service Transit Equipment Dispatcher positions within the Vehicle Maintenance Division. In addition, this selection process may be used to generate an eligibility list for future Special Duty Assignment (SDA), Term Limited Temporary (TLT), and Career Service (CS) vacancies that may occur in this classification within this workgroup. If created, the eligibility list would remain active for 12 months, and may be used at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who may apply: This is an internal recruitment, and we are only accepting applications from qualified King County Employees.

Job Duties

Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As a Transit Equipment Dispatcher, you will:

• Use computerized dispatching tools and systems to oversee daily coach assignments and equipment statuses for buses in service and in the yard, ensuring reliable coverage for scheduled bus routes and runs.
• Make strategic decisions about equipment placement and route pairing, including assignments requiring specialized onboard features.
• Monitor fleet usage and maintain accurate mileage records, anticipating upcoming maintenance needs and adjusting plans as needed to support timely inspections and continuous service.
• Review operational information to confirm vehicles are prepared for service and meet any required readiness standards before sign-out.
• Coordinate equipment availability for maintenance, cleaning, and repairs, keeping records aligned with established servicing workflows.
• Maintain awareness of coach locations and readiness by completing multiple physical inventory counts of the base yard each shift in all types of weather conditions.
• Support operators during vehicle sign-out and resolve issues that could delay departure (such as refueling/servicing a coach, or reassigning equipment as needed).
• Assist with fleet movements between bases and help maintain an organized yard layout that supports efficient daily operations.
• Use multiple software applications to record, retrieve, and update information needed for dispatching, maintenance coordination, and fleet oversight.
• Provide professional and service-oriented support to operators, maintenance teams, and other employees involved in the delivery of daily bus services at Metro Transit. Work independently and collaboratively as part of a team to uphold service requirements and maintain effective working relationships across operations.

Physical Requirements

The job requires physical skill and may require bending, crouching, and crawling, occasional lifting of heavy material such as paper boxes up to 50 pounds is required. Requires frequent walking, standing, and climbing stairs into and out of coaches (3 or 4 steps) up to twenty or more times in an eight-hour shift.

Work Environment

Work is performed both inside and outside in all types of weather conditions, with frequent exposure to diesel exhaust fumes and moving buses. Many calls and issues that come to the Equipment Dispatcher require immediate action, which can result in some stress on the job.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

• At least 1 year of intermittent Relief Transit Equipment Dispatcher experience at King County Metro.
• Knowledge of coach types and sign-in/ sign-out procedures.
• Strong understanding of how vehicle inspections work, including preventative maintenance servicing schedules and intervals.
• Knowledge of base operating practices, and procedures.
• Safe driving skills and the ability to maintain a Class B CDL.
• Basic computer skills are required to enter and extract information from automated vehicle maintenance systems and related software applications.
• Math and problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze and solve complex mileage-based equations.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy to avoid errors in documentation and record keeping. Demonstrates strong coachability skills, including the ability to accept constructive feedback and make immediate and sustained improvements in performance.
• The ability to communicate effectively and professionally with diverse employees. Strong customer service and interpersonal skills are required.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team, interact appropriately with others and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of staff involved in the delivery of daily bus operations.
• Requires skill in the use of personal computer programs, using data software, and multiple computer programs on a daily basis.

Desirable Qualifications Include (but Are Not Required)

• Hands-on experience with any fleet or maintenance scheduling tools.
• Any past experience where accuracy in data reporting and tracking information was critical.
• Experience as a Transit Equipment Service Worker, including knowledge of equipment servicing and refueling tasks.

Necessary Special Requirements

• Applicants must be willing to work any shift (day, swing, graveyard) and at any base location assigned.
• A valid Washington State Driver License and acceptable driving record.
• Within 90 days of hire, a candidate must be able to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) with a passenger endorsement, and with the air brake restriction removed. All candidates without a current CDL must have a Class B Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), with correct endorsement and restriction removed, prior to receiving a formal offer. After hire, King County Metro Transit will provide you with paid training on our equipment so that you can earn a Class B CDL, which is required for this position.

Please note: to obtain a CLP in Washington State, you must be able to provide your current license, Social Security number, and proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency. For more information visit the official Washington State Department of Licensing official website at: http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/cdlcdip.html

Supplemental Information

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.

Union Representation

This position is represented by Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 587.

Classification Code

9330100 Transit Equipment Dispatcher