A bus stops on McCormick Road, and students board. One is reading a newspaper, some are talking animatedly on their cells and several look like they just sleepwalked out of an 8 a.m. class. As uneventful as this sight may appear to passersby, the soon-to-be-passengers' actions are startling, to say the least. Not one of them seems phased by the fact that, for the next 10 to 25 minutes, they are about to abandon their personal liberty and place themselves completely and utterly at the mercy of one person: the University Transit Service bus driver.
The phenomenon continues as the crowd of students slowly assembles into a line-like formation and calmly files into the bus. No one asks to see the driver's credentials or interrogates him as to how long he has been employed. For all these students know, the person currently in charge of their destinations, physical safety and even lives could be an escaped convict with thrill issues.
Fortunately, UTS works very hard to ensure students can safely ride their buses without worrying. These drivers are more than qualified to drive. In fact, regarding credentials, the UTS training program could best be described as high school driver's ed meets military boot camp.
Second-year Engineering student and current UTS bus driver Rachel Brown-Glazner said the training programs are set up as two-week blocks offered in January, May and August. During these periods, trainees are split up into "families" of one to three students and grouped with a trainer. Kendall Howell, administrative manager of UTS, said the training staff is largely comprised of experienced drivers, most of whom are students at the University.
According to Howell, the curriculum is organized on a 20 percent/80 percent split between classroom learning and behind-the-wheel training. Students effectively master crucial concepts including the theory of turning, how to complete time sheets, safety, PR and charter driving. Some topics covered are similar to driving a car, just on a larger scale, while others are completely new theories unique to bus driving. For example, Howell explained that the front wheels of the bus are located behind the bus driver's position, whereas in a car, they are located in front. This means bus drivers have to adapt to "the art of overhang," the extension of the front of the vehicle.
The trainees start off learning the basics of forward driving, backing and turning through obstacle courses in parking lots. Brown-Glazner said after several long 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. days of learning the basics, they take the buses out on the road. The trainers lead the trainees through the various bus routes as well as other roads with challenging situations such as construction.
Eventually, the students advance to what Howell termed "adventure driving," where they brave the routes of rustic highways, mountain roads and even Monticello. The trainees take a quiz every day that covers information on the procedures, routes and parts of the bus. Finally, at the end the two-week session, they are tested by UTS and the DMV on their driving skills, knowledge of routes and the mechanics of the buses.
Despite the grueling training process, UTS drivers manage to have a little fun on the side.
Brown-Glazner said the trainees always have a party where they watch the 1994 thriller "Speed" and point out everything the bus drivers are doing wrong. The fun doesn't end with training, either, she said.
"A lot of us become friends from training and will continue to get together throughout the year, and we always wave to each other on our routes," Brown-Glazner said.
According to Howell, most of the UTS drivers are similar to Brown-Glazner in that they are University students who were recruited by word-of-mouth or simply by seeing for themselves how much fun the experienced drivers have.
"Friends of bus drivers see how much this job is loved, and I think it's a natural draw to UTS," Howell said.
Brown-Glazner said she was inspired to join the ranks of the UTS drivers after observing the seasoned drivers, bedecked in crazy patches and pins all over their uniforms, changing their destination signs with tree branches.
An additional draw is that the work schedule is extremely flexible. Some drivers work a shift every day, either before or after their classes, while others only work a few days a week or just during weekends. And with the recent increase in minimum wage, UTS bus drivers are better compensated during the training process.
So next time you stumble sleepily onto the bus, take a good look at the face behind the wheel. Your blue-shirted driver is a student like yourself, juggling work, school and a social life. He may have questionable taste in bus tunes, but rest assured -- at least he has plenty of experience.
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