Transit Equipment Dispatcher (Vehicle Maintenance)

King County; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Union representation

Overtime eligible

Job summary

King County is seeking a Transit Equipment Dispatcher to manage coach assignments, monitor fleet readiness, and coordinate maintenance within the Vehicle Maintenance Division. You will ensure safe, on-time starts for operators, using multiple systems to track locations and readiness.

The role emphasizes accuracy, collaboration, and the ability to handle weather and shift variations, including night shifts. Previous King County Metro experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• At least 1 year of intermittent Relief Transit Equipment Dispatcher experience at King County Metro.
• Knowledge of coach types and sign-in/out procedures.
• Understanding of vehicle inspections and maintenance schedules.
• Safe driving with Class B CDL and acceptable driving record.
• Basic computer skills to enter and extract information from maintenance systems.
• Strong math and problem-solving abilities for mileage calculations.
• Excellent attention to detail and accountability in documentation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily coach assignments and equipment statuses for in-service and yard operations.
• Decide on equipment placement and route pairing, including specialized features.
• Monitor mileage and coordinate maintenance and inspections for timely readiness.
• Verify vehicles are prepared for service before sign-out.
• Coordinate equipment availability for maintenance, cleaning, and repairs.
• Maintain coach location awareness through base yard inventories.
• Support operators during sign-out and resolve issues delaying departures.
• Assist fleet movements between bases and optimize yard layout.
• Use multiple software apps to record, retrieve, and update dispatch data.

Skills

Sign-in / sign-out procedures

Vehicle inspections knowledge

Base operating practices

Safe driving and CDL

Basic computer skills

Data entry / reporting

Math & problem solving

Attention to detail

Tools

Fleet scheduling tools

Maintenance scheduling software

Automated vehicle maintenance systems

Job description

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

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.

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. operate 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.

We are looking for candidates who have the following minimum 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.
• 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

Shift and Location Details: This position works onsite every day at a King County Metro Transit Vehicle Maintenance base location. Our Vehicle Maintenance repair facilities operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and work assignments are picked by seniority multiple times per year so applicants must be willing to work any shift or location assigned. Shift differentials of 5% (swing shift) and 7.5% (graveyard) are applied if working these shifts. This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and is eligible for overtime with supervisor approval.

Safety Responsibilities: Employees

• Responsible for understanding the Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety.
• Report all safety concerns.
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training.
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.

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

Classification Code: 9330100 Transit Equipment Dispatcher

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us. King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.