Driver - Wapato Shores Accessible Transportation - FT in Portland, Oregon at Ride Connection

RCB Wapato Shores Accessible Transportation is seeking reliable, compassionate individuals to join our team as full-time drivers for the greater Portland Metro area.

As a Driver at Wapato Shores, you’ll play a vital role in providing safe, friendly, and dependable transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, and others in our community by providing Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) rides. This is more than just a driving job—it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who rely on your care and reliability every day.

This is a non-exempt position with an hourly range of $21.48 – $26.43.
Starting pay is based on directly comparable experience, with most new drivers starting at $21.48 per hour.

Enjoy a four-day workweek (10-hour shifts) with three days off—at least two of which will always be consecutive. There’s also the potential for occasional overtime if you’d like extra hours.

You’ll primarily drive one of our larger passenger vans, and may occasionally be asked to drive a fourteen passenger bus. No CDL is required—just a clean driving record for the past five years, reliability, and a kind heart.

Because we serve riders with a range of mobility needs, all applicants must be able to:

• Assist clients with loading and unloading

• Push and maneuver a wheelchair safely

• Bend, crouch, and work within enclosed spaces while securing mobility devices

If you take pride in helping others and want a role that strengthens your community, we’d love to meet you.

• Safely transport customers to and from destinations such as medical appointments and other essential errands.

• Follow trip schedules and directions provided by the Program Manager or Dispatcher.

• Assist passengers with boarding and exiting using ramps or lifts, secure mobility devices, and escort customers to their destinations as needed.

• Ensure customer comfort, safety, and dignity throughout each trip.

• Provide friendly, respectful, and professional service at all times.

• Observe all traffic laws and safety regulations, especially when transporting customers with mobility challenges.

• Conduct pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections and maintain appropriate fuel levels.

• Respect and protect customer confidentiality.

• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record with no more than two infractions of any kind in the past five years.

• At least five years of driving experience as recorded by the DMV.

• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds safely, push a wheelchair with an adult client, and secure wheelchairs in enclosed spaces.

• Access to reliable transportation.

• Comfort using smartphones and tablets.

• Ability to pass a National Criminal Record Check (*this will include fingerprinting). If a record exists, we’ll review and discuss the nature of the charges with you—many situations are not a barrier to employment.

*This position includes “Safety Sensitive” duties per Federal Transit Administration (FTA) guidelines and requires participation in the FTA Drug and Alcohol testing program, including pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident testing.

To ensure the safety of our riders and staff, this position requires the ability to read, write, and speak English, including reading trip notes, communicating with dispatch, and interacting clearly with riders in real-time.

We value language diversity and can provide training materials in multiple languages, but for safety and emergency communication, a working fluency in English is essential.

• Bilingual or multilingual communication skills in addition to English

• Prior experience driving or providing customer service

• Experience, lived or professional, working with older adults or individuals with disabilities

• Competitive pay with opportunities for advancement

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 403(b) retirement plan with automatic employer contribution plus a 2% match

• Flexible Spending Account with up to $500 annual employer contribution

• 140 hours of PTO in your first three years, with regular increases

• Six paid holidays, plus MLK Day of Service and Juneteenth Day of Learning

• 60 hours of annual sick leave

• TriMet annual public transportation pass

• Supportive training and a welcoming team culture

• The satisfaction of knowing your work directly enhances the independence and quality of life of your neighbors and communities

Join us in helping older adults and people with disabilities enjoy the freedom and independence they deserve.

You can learn more about what we do at www.rideconnection.org and www.wapatoshores.org

We move lives by providing safe, personalized transportation for people who need it.