Not everyone who starts Palm Tran’s rigorous eight-week bus operator training program finishes it. Only those committed to meeting the demands of being a professional bus operator and adhering to strict safety standards complete the program. Palm Tran recently celebrated its newest class of eleven bus operators at a special graduation ceremony on November 8, 2017. In attendance were: Palm Beach County Assistant County Administrator Nancy Bolton, Palm Tran Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1577 President Dwight H. Mattingly.
“Palm Tran’s core business relies on having bus operators on the road picking up customers. We are proud of our graduates who understand this is not just a job, this is a career,” Palm Tran Executive Director Clinton B. Forbes said. “The comprehensive training we provide ensures we have the best and the brightest drivers on the road providing superior customer service and always keeping safety at the forefront.”
To become a Palm Tran bus operator, candidates must pass examinations in customer service training, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sensitivity and a variety of other safety programs. Candidates also need to complete behind-the-wheel training that coincides with receiving their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Overseeing the training are Safety & Training Supervisors: Jafari Bowden, Michael Ganpath, Mary Pierce and Fred Richardson.
Family and friends attended to celebrate the momentous occasion. Jessica Trujillo attended to celebrate her husband Rodrigo Trujillo’s graduation as one of the newest Palm Tran operators.
“I have always been by his side, and I am very proud of him that he made it through his training. I pray to God that he can make all his career and finalize his retirement at Palm Tran,” she said. “It is an excellent company. He is a professional and responsible person, so I know he will do it.”
“I feel happy because it is an achievement,” Rodrigo Trujillo added. “We made it through the weeks under the trainers. It was a very comprehensive program, so we learned a lot about all the regulations, policies and customer service. Thank God we started and finished it. I feel happy for the whole group and myself.”
Willphgems Leger commended his twin brother Wollphgems Leger’s hard work and determination in completing the program.
“I feel so great for my brother to have this kind of opportunity. It is a pleasure, so I congratulate him,” he said.
“Palm Tran is a very good company. I thank them for giving me the opportunity,” Wollphgems Leger said. “[The training] was challenging. I had to put in my efforts because we had to be tested, but we did what we had to do.”
