Ricky Ray wanted to find a work-life balance. He found it at Metro Transit.
“I’m finally getting some time back with my family and grandkids,” Ricky Ray said.
Before becoming a bus operator, he owned his own car dealership. However, as most entrepreneurs know, you’re often filling in for a host of roles.
“I was the sales rep, accountant, mechanic, janitor,” he said. “I was always on, and after a while, it became too much.”
So he decided to apply to Metro Transit after seeing advertisements about the pay, benefits, and the work-life balance operators enjoy.
“It was a monumental decision to close shop and begin at Metro Transit,” Ricky Ray said. “I used to feel guilty taking a day off, but now I have them every week.”
And that’s when he spends more time with his grandchildren. Sometimes, they even visit him on the job. Recently, his daughter organized a surprise for her children to be picked up by grandpa on a Route 7 bus.
“I enjoyed opening the door and hearing them yell, 'grandpa!'’” he said.
Beyond spending time with family, he also is reconnecting with people operating routes where he grew up in South Minneapolis.
“Some people I haven’t seen in 20 or 30 years, but then I meet them on my bus,” Ricky Ray said. “It’s why I love the local bus, you have so many interactions with customers.”
And if all this extra time to spend with family and reconnect with the community wasn’t enough, he enjoys the pay any benefits. He used to rely on his wife’s corporate benefits, but now he finds his family now relies on his.
“My health benefits are now better than hers!” he said. “And the pension is a win-win.”
Today, Ricky looks forward to putting in more years and earning more seniority, and of course, spending more time with his family along the way.
We’re hiring!
Bus operator applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis. You’ll earn $28.84 per hour to start – even during training – with annual pay increases and outstanding benefits. If you work second or third shift, you’ll earn up to $30.86 per hour. That’s on top of a $5,000 bonus if you have your CDL (with passenger endorsement and no air brake restriction) or a $3,000 bonus for those without a CDL. Apply here.