2,4,6,8...Who Do We Appreciate?

For purposes of this particular post, Coach Operators!

Yesterday was Bus Driver Appreciation Day (March 18). While non-holiday, notable days help us give drivers of all modes of public transportation some props, we work to recognize our Coach Operators throughout the year for the good things they do every day.

Here are some of the ways we do this:

• The Reliability Award. That Perfect Attendance award you got in school translates to this award when you drive for Community Transit. This award is given to Coach Operators who have zero unscheduled absences during the quarter. In 2013, anywhere between 29-35 percent of our Coach Operators received this award each quarter (approximately 73-88 Coach Operators on average each quarter).

• Coach Operator of the Quarter. The coach operator earning this distinction has driven skillfully with no infractions, is reliable (there's that perfect attendance again!), has had no disciplinary actions, no preventable accidents, and no negative public comments during the last 12 months. Also very important-- s/he has provided great service to our customers. Each of the four Coach Operators of the Quarter automatically become finalists for Coach Operator of the Year. The reigning Coach Operator of the Year is Ray Harnish, who earned this award for 2012 and who happens to also be 2 Million Mile Driver.
  
  2013 was the last year of this quarterly reward. In its place is the Transportation Department of the Month/Quarter/Year Award which enables coach operators, dispatcher, supervisors and management staff in the department to earn recognition.

Million Mile Drivers are honored by having their name and designation assigned to a bus in our fleet.

• Million Mile Driver. We have 69 active Million Mile Drivers and eight 2-Million Mile Drivers we are pleased to call Community Transit Coach Operators. In case you were wondering, a million miles is equivalent to 40 trips around the Earth or two round trips to the Moon.

• It usually takes a Coach Operator 12 years of full-time work to rack up one million miles, but add the distinction of driving those million miles without incurring a preventable accident (not even clipping a side mirror on a tree branch!) and you’ve got one heck of a milestone. In addition to receiving a commemorative jacket and a plaque, Million Mile Drivers have their Million Mile Driver (MMD) status displayed on one of our buses. You've probably seen them around town (as shown in the photo above).

• Certificate of Appreciation. When it’s “all hands on deck” at Community Transit (inclement weather, a Super Bowl celebration parade, for example), you can be sure staff agency-wide roll up their sleeves and ask “What can I do to help?”
  
  For example, our Coach Operators have helped shuttle firefighters to forest fires in the Leavenworth area, evacuated residents from homes due to threats of flood, assisted in police transports and participated in mass casualties drills for Snohomish County.

• For example, our Coach Operators have helped shuttle firefighters to forest fires in the Leavenworth area, evacuated residents from homes due to threats of flood, assisted in police transports and participated in mass casualties drills for Snohomish County.

• Official Commendations. We welcome commendations from our customers! Compliments from you are not only appreciated by our drivers, but also earn them recognition among their peers and supervisors. When you send in a commendation (using the methods below), please include the bus and route number.

• Email riders@commtrans.org

• Call (425) 353-7433

• Send a letter to Community Transit, 7100 Hardeson Road, Everett, WA 98203, Attn: Customer Service

What does your workplace do to make you feel appreciated and recognized for the work you've done? Please share in the comments below.