Applying to be a Transit Operator at Roam

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Transport customers and courteously respond to their needs.
• Safely operate transit fleet in a variety of road and weather conditions, and in accordance with policies and procedures. 
• Interpret and apply information regarding schedules and routes.
• Inform customers of appropriate fares and issue transfers.
• Communicate with office staff (Dispatchers, Field Supervisors, Transit Technology Specialist, etc.)
• You must be willing and able to work various shifts (weekdays, evenings and weekends)

Whether you are applying to be a transit operator you will first need to meet the minimum requirements for the job posting: 

• 18+ years old.
• Legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Full Alberta class 5 operator’s licence – no probationary Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL).
• No more than three demerits against your licence in the past two years.
• A minimum of one year’s experience working with customers for the community operator position, or a minimum of two years’ experience working with customers for the transit operator position.
• A high school diploma or GED obtained from an accredited institution. You are encouraged to have your foreign credentials assessed, prior to applying.
• If you have credentials from a country outside of Canada, please obtain a Canadian equivalency to demonstrate that you meet the minimum job qualifications.

How to Apply:

• Applications are accepted through the Careers link on our website: here
• You can also view current career opportunities on Indeed

There are various steps that Roam Transit incorporates in the recruitment process.  Below are some of the steps that you can expect during this process:

• Human Resources will review your application: If you are considered to be a qualified candidate, you will receive an email requesting and a Pre-Screening Phone Conversation.  You can expect Human Resources to inquire regarding your experience, education and background.  This also allows you to ask any questions that you may have regarding the position or our organization.
• In-person or Online Interview: During this process, you will meet our Human Resources team, and a hiring a manager. 
• Reference Checks: Please be prepared to provide two professional reference checks. 
• Offer of Employment.  If you are the successful applicant, you will be provided an official Offer of Employment. 
• On-Boarding: This stage will allow you and your direct supervisor to connect regarding this role.

If you are a successful applicant, you will be required to complete Roam’s mandatory training program. This program is designed to provide trainees with the knowledge, confidence, and skills required to become a Transit Operator.

From start to finish, the full training process — including license upgrade, Roam training, and mentorship (ride-alongs) — takes approximately six weeks to complete before you are cleared to operate independently.

License Upgrade (Class 2Q)

All successful candidates will be upgraded to a Class 2Q license.

The license upgrade includes a written and road test, which may be completed in-house or through a partnering training school in Calgary, depending on staff availability, buses, and space. This upgrade must be completed before starting the Roam training program, which coincides with your official start date.

The license upgrade typically requires approximately 15 hours of training, spread over four days, which may be non-consecutive.

Air Brake Endorsement (Q)

The air brake endorsement (Q) is completed outside of Roam. It is a 12-hour course that must be completed before starting Roam training. Once completed, you will be required to write the air brake test at a registry.

Roam Training Program

Once you hold a Class 2 (or higher) license, you will begin the Roam training program.

This portion of training runs for three consecutive weeks, five days per week. Upon successful completion, you will move on to the final phase of training: mentorship (ride-alongs).

Training hours are typically 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, for the three-week period. Some training days may start as early as 5:00 a.m. or finish as late as 10:00 p.m., depending on operational needs.

Mentorship / Ride-Alongs

After successfully completing the Roam training program, you will begin mentorship training, also known as ride-alongs.

During this phase, you will operate buses on-route alongside a senior operator to gain hands-on experience across the system. This portion typically takes approximately two weeks to complete and may be scheduled to accommodate part-time hours, if required.

Ride-along shifts may occur any day of the week, with start times as early as 4:30 a.m. and end times as late as 1:00 a.m. Both day and night shifts are required during this phase.

What should I expect from the Driving Training Program?

The initial portion of training focuses heavily on safety and bus operation. Training will take place in the yard, on the road, and in the classroom.

Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

• Pre-trip inspections on five or more buses
• Downtown and urban driving
• Winter driving techniques
• Cornering and turning
• Customer service expectations
• Fare technology
• Smith System of driving
• Additional operational procedures

Throughout the program, two formal driver evaluations will be conducted, along with a final written exam at the end of training.

How should I dress during the training program?

Trainees are expected to wear comfortable, professional clothing appropriate for outdoor weather conditions. Sunglasses are strongly encouraged and closed shoes are mandatory during training.

Once you successfully complete the Roam training portion of the program, you will be issued a uniform.

Uniform Expectations

At Roam Transit we offer Transit Operators a Uniform Allowance.  This includes:

• Employer provided Uniform shirts
• Sweater or vest
• Summer or winter jacket
• Summer or winter hat
• Name plate

How should I dress as a Transit Operator at Roam Transit:

• The dress code at Roam Transit is meant to be comfortable, practical and represent a positive professional image
• You are required to wear black pants (no cargo pants for safety reasons).
• Jeans of any color are unacceptable.
• Shoes must be black, polishable, and have good traction.
• No open toe shoes are permitted.
• We recommend warm and water-resistant shoes.

Working as a transit operator at Roam is a fun and rewarding career. This job is very dynamic and changes daily.

Working Conditions:

• Transit Operators drive fixed routes each shift can access their shifts daily on our scheduling platform.
• Since we provide transit routes in Banff, Canmore, and Lake Louise, all transit operators are required to know each route.
• At Roam we do not operate on a typical 9-5 schedule.  The working hours will depend on the shifts allocated.  Please be advised that you will be expected to work all shifts (weekdays, evenings, and weekends).