Transit Driver Appreciation Day!
March 18 is National Transit Driver Appreciation Day!
To celebrate, we are featuring several amazing Metro drivers all week! Meet some of the friendly faces of Metro.
If you would like to recognize a driver, please email us at mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com and we'll make sure it gets passed along!
Surendra - 22 years
Meet Surendra! 22 years ago, he started working as a Transit Operator at Metro. After moving to the states, he wanted to find a job that had great benefits and was not in a typical office setting. He enjoys the camaraderie with his coworkers, meeting new people on the bus and helping riders get to their destination. When he’s not driving a bus, he likes to go on walks in his neighborhood, traveling and spending time with his family.
Thank you, Surendra, for all your hard work and for being a great driver!
Zamil - One year
Zamil is one of our newest Operators here at Metro. He recently passed his one-year probationary period with great attendance, which was something Operations Supervisor Will thought was very remarkable. Before coming on board, he worked as a chef that had long days, so he set off to look for a job with better hours and benefits for his family. During his training period, Zamil mentioned that he had a ton of support from coworkers and supervisors that made it easy for him to learn the ropes around here. Driver Instructors Joleen and Jeff were a big help and Zamil credited them for being able to stick through training. Zamil has enjoyed working on the Extraboard, which lets him have a different route to drive each day. When he’s not at work, he likes to spend time with his family and go to the gym.
Thank you Zamil for all your hard work!
Finch - 2 years
Finch came to Madison in late 2021, where she wanted to put her five and a half years of experience of being a coach operator from Denver to good use. “Madison is a pretty and nice city…the best place to be.” Finch has been driving buses in Madison for almost two years now, and says most of the people she encounters are nice. When she is not working, she enjoys watching anime and reading manga. Finch is also a life-long artist - drawing and painting. Her artistic style varies, but also reflects manga-influenced characters, demonstrating incredible fashion sense.
Finch’s supervisors say she is always extremely positive, friendly and courteous with everyone. She is willing to help out whenever asked, whether it is by a fellow driver or supervisor.
Thank you for being awesome Finch!
Jose - 3 years
Say hello to Transit Operator, Jose! He’s been driving for almost three years now, and says he enjoys it very much. Before coming to Metro, Jose worked as a machine operator for about 20 years and one day decided he wanted to do something different. When he saw that Metro was hiring for drivers, he took a chance and hasn’t looked back since. “I should have applied YEARS ago!” Jose says. He feels helpful knowing that he’s getting riders to their destinations every day, meeting new people, and helping folks navigate the bus system. When he’s not driving, Jose likes to spend time at home working on small projects/fixing things.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication. We appreciate you!
Nate - 7 years
Nate started as a part-time Metro Transit driver in 2016. He knew early on in his career that he wanted to become an Operator Instructor. Operator Instructors are required to have a minimum of five years experience, and Nate, being the great driver he is, became a trainer as soon as he hit his five year mark!
Nate most enjoys working with people who want to learn new skills and develop a career that could really change their lives for the better. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling internationally and supports Wisconsin-based sports teams like the Badgers. He has impressed students and supervisors with his talent for helping new operators learn the job.
Keep up the great work, Nate!
