Monday, March 18, marks Transit Operator Appreciation Day! It’s time to thank the people that safely, often with a smile, keep us moving!

UTA employs 1,314 operators — that’s roughly half of UTA workforce. It breaks down to 60 FrontRunner engineers, 184 TRAX operators, 1,070 bus operators, and 127 Special Services operators.

Give an Operator Shoutout

We are also asking you to give your operator a shoutout on UTA Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Tell us about the operator that makes you smile, goes the extra mile, or simply makes your day brighter. Share your gratitude for the person that drives you to work, school, or home today.

Meet Brandon, UTA TRAX Operator

In celebration of the day, we are highlighting a long-standing TRAX operator: Brandon. He grew up in Sandy, Utah. As a kid, he enjoyed reading books, playing video games, and riding TRAX “because it was fun and fascinating.” After graduating from Jordan High School, he worked for his friend's carpet cleaning company before herniating a disk in his back. This, for him, meant it was time for a new career.

“I remember waiting at a crossing for TRAX, as the lights flashed, I told my friends I wonder if UTA is hiring?” Shortly after that, Brandon applied and was hired as a bus operator. A couple of years later, he became a TRAX operator and now has been with UTA for 13 years. “As a TRAX operator, you must concentrate on signals, radio calls, pedestrians, and cars. But I feel confident, I have had plenty of training and on-the-job training.”

The best part of working at UTA for Brandon? It’s his coworkers. “They make me feel like I have a family away from home. Plus, I get paid to do something I love.”

In addition, Brandon says, “UTA is one of the most stable jobs out there. People always need someone to get them to places. We have limited space to add more roads, which means more jobs to drive buses and trains. Plus, you get amazing pay and benefits, especially without having a college degree.”

Consider a New Career

We are always hiring operators for bus, TRAX, and FrontRunner. If you are interested in driving for UTA, head to rideuta.com/careers.

Don’t Forget to Give an Operator Shoutout

Don’t forget to drop your shoutout on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We’ll be sharing your comments with operators throughout the organization in the following weeks.