Driver / Employee Selection
Employees are a transit systems' most important asset. An effective employee selection program
will result in hiring high quality staff and lead to:



Improved safety and security for passengers, employees, and the public,
Enhanced quality of transit services and public image of the transit system, and
Lower costs through reduced employee turnover, fewer accidents/incidents/complaints,
and lower insurance costs and related losses.
Safety Plan Contents
A safety plan should contain specific elements. Some of this information may be contained in
other documents, such as employee hiring policies, or with the system’s drug and alcohol policy.
Please describe what you do to address each of the items listed below. If an item is not
applicable to the system, please indicate why.
Qualifications:
 Sample of agency job application
 Copies of agency job descriptions for all safety sensitive positions
 List of standard questions asked during personal job interview
 Sample of agency’s pre-placement physical exam form
Background:
 Describe agency’s procedure for conducting a driving record check
 Describe agency’s procedure for conducting a criminal background check
 Describe agency’s procedure for verifying information contained on employment
applications
Positions To Be Included
All employees in safety sensitive positions directly involved in the movement of revenue
vehicles are included in the scope of Operator / Employee Selection. These job categories and
disciplines may include bus operators, maintenance workers, dispatchers, supervisors, and some
managers – essentially the positions identified in the FTA Regulations on Drug and Alcohol (49
CFR Part 655).
Activities To Be Included
The major steps of an effective Operator / Employee Selection program include the following:




Developing a job description, evaluation criteria, and a job application form,
Screening applications against the evaluation criteria to identify potential hires,
Interviewing process and background check to screen and identify acceptable hires,
Requiring a pre-placement physical exam (if applicable) and substance abuse test to
identify acceptable new hires
Driver/Employee Selection
1
Job Description
A job description typically provides information on: the definition of the job position,
the work requirements for the job, the qualifications (including physical qualifications)
required for the job, the work location, the compensation range and fringe benefits and
any job specific requirements. In order to comply with the American’s with Disabilities
Act, the job description must itemize “essential duties.”
Application for Employment Form
The purpose of an application form is to gather information that enables the transit
system to effectively screen applications and identify potential new hires. The
Application for Employment Form is provided by the transit system.
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation criteria are developed using the information requirements contained in the
job description. These criteria are used to evaluate the information obtained from the
application form, interview, background checks, pre-placement physical exam, and
substance abuse tests.
Application Screen
The Application Screen is used by the transit system to evaluate the information
contained in the completed application and any supporting documentation provided by
the applicant. At this stage of the Operator /Employee Selection process the driving
record, driver licensing, and driving experience of the applicant are examined to
determine if the minimum standards are met. Some transit systems may elect to conduct
some background checks at this stage rather than waiting until after the interview step.
Upon review, a decision is made whether to invite the individual for an interview.
Interview Screen
The Interview Screen is a tool to further assess the qualifications of the applicant through
direct observation and additional testing. Additional testing may include aptitude,
attitude, and capabilities relating to: verbal and language proficiency, safety, customer
service, knowledge, and physical and driving skills.
Background Check
The background check determines an applicant’s qualification for the job position. It
includes a verification of information contained in the Application Form. The
background check includes the driving record check, the criminal background check, and
any references the applicant has supplied.
Drug and Alcohol Screening
Driver/Employee Selection
2
Applicants meeting all of the job requirements and successfully passing the previous
screens must also pass the pre-employment screening required under the FTA Drug and
Alcohol Rules. Applicants who successfully pass the drug and alcohol screen may
receive a conditional offer of employment, contingent upon the results of the preplacement physical exam.
Pre-Placement Physical Exam
The Pre-Placement Physical Exam is the final screen before an applicant becomes a New
Hire. Once the pre-placement physical is completed, the safety-sensitive employee is
typically offered employment on a probationary status and placed in a training program.
Driver/Employee Selection
3