Volume 25 · Number 3 · Spring 2008
Dirty Work and Dream Jobs: David Cortez
(Photo: Karin Higgins/UC Davis)
Senior in philosophy and political science from Oxnard
Job: Bus driver, route supervisor and assistant driver trainer for Unitrans
Learning to drive a bus is not so hard, says David Cortez. He ought to know: Not only has he driven Unitrans buses for more than two years, he teaches other students how to drive them — how to navigate streets and traffic circles, maneuver sharp corners and even parallel park the 40-foot-long behemoths. Unitrans’ part-time student drivers receive at least 25 hours behind-the-wheel training and earn a commercial Class B driver’s license before taking passengers. “I think anyone can drive a bus. Really,” Cortez says. “Most people get intimidated when they first start driving one; I was scared. But as long as you’re safe, you use your mirrors and take your time, you’ll be fine.”
Turning points: One of the biggest lessons in learning to drive a bus is how to take a corner, Cortez says. “You can’t turn the same way in a bus as you do in a car. If you do, the back end of the bus will hop up on the curb. You go out straight and find your turning point.” Using the turn signals is different, as well; foot pedals instead of hand levers control the blinkers. But Cortez says he adapted so well that “I would drive home and would be looking for the floor pedals with my foot in my little truck.” Some buses are easier than others to drive. “I like single decks. I don’t really like driving double-deckers — they don’t have power steering.”
Multi-tasker: As a route supervisor, Cortez fills in for a variety of jobs, including dispatcher, driver and, one of Unitrans’ most popular positions, conductor — the orange-flag bearer on the back of a vintage London double-deck bus. “I like conducting. It’s really fun. You get to hang out the side of a double-decker; the wind’s flowing in your face.”
Move on back: Cortez says some of the biggest challenges include steering buses through the busy bike circle near the Silo and driving any route in rainy weather, when road conditions get more hazardous and the buses get the most crowded. Cortez says he still gets surprised by the degree of riders’ cooperation on those wet days. “As a bus driver, when I’m packing a bus, I don’t know why anybody’s listening to me. We’ve got to ask people to squeeze next to someone.”
Job mobility: Cortez says the pay was a major lure of the Unitrans job in the first place; drivers’ hourly wages start at $9.25. But the camaraderie of the student-run organization and the many opportunities to advance were among reasons he stayed on. “What’s really valuable is you can work in different positions,” says Cortez, who plans to apply to law school next year. “It’s a really great experience. . . . It’s great that this company gives us a chance to go into management and supervisor positions at such a young age.”
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