Despite the fact the transit industry is making inroads to help solve the workforce issue, it is still an ongoing problem for transit agencies around the nation, and it’s not just a driver and maintenance tech issue.

For that reason, the topic will be discussed during the “Best Practices for Recruiting and Retaining Transit Employees” at the inaugural Public Transit Conference (PTC), which will be held in conjunction with the Government Fleet Expo and Conference (GFX) in Louisville, Ky., May 7 to 10.

This informative session will feature Mark Szyperski, president/CEO for On Your Mark Transportation, and Daniel Resch, provider network manager at UZURV Holdings LLC.

Not Just an Operator Issue

Over the last couple of years, there have been notable studies conducted by APTA and the Transit Center, which have identified just how much of an issue the operator shortage is in the industry. However, that issue also applies to maintenance technicians and trickles down to management and operations.

In October 2022, APTA  released the first of its two-part report, "Transit Workforce Shortage: Root Causes, Potential Solutions, and the Road Ahead,” which outlined the state of the transit workforce shortage and provided insight into what agencies and the industry can do to deal with this issue.

According to the report, 96% of agencies surveyed reported experiencing a workforce shortage, 84% of which said the shortage was impacting their ability to provide service.

Meanwhile, Transit Center also directed its attention to bus operator issues with its report entitled “Bus Operators in Crisis,” detailing the challenges American operators are facing.

One cause of the struggles they found in recruiting and retaining new workers is the steady decline of the bus operator position.

This session will not only discuss effective ways to recruit transit employees, but also focus on the best ways to retain them, with a focus on how the retention end of the process can help keep your already trained employees, and in the long run, help your operation save money.

PTC at GFX

Recruiting and retention joins automated vehicles and cybersecurity as just some of the topics on tap for PTC, which is hosted by METRO Magazine.

Registration is now open for this one-of-a-kind event. Save $200 with the Early Bird discount until April 5, 2024.

Stay tuned for even more announcements about the PTC’s educational program, the shared show floor with GFX, and much more.