Starr Wimberly boards a Wolfline bus almost every day — rain or shine.

As Transit Manager, Wimberly helped choose the contractor First Transit, which began providing staff and buses to the campus this fall.

But, Wimberly said, she has to credit Janie Jones, general manager of the University’s First Transit contract. Jones has held this position for eight years through four different contractors.

Jones keeps close tabs on her 40 to 50 bus drivers, Wimberly said.

“Your management is going to keep the morale up,” she said. “I feel confident in all their abilities.”

Christine Klein, information and communication specialist for Transportation, said the hospitable staff is due in part to a strict hiring process that included behavioral testing.

“Our contractor absolutely went after customer service folks,” she said.

Wimberly added that “some drivers didn’t make the cut.”

And according to Klein, having new buses helps the drivers as well.

“With good equipment, you also have happy drivers and that reflects in their work,” she said. “We try to do things on our end to make them happy to come to work.”

But Wimberly also said the job can be challenging.

“It’s a tough job… but they come from bigger cities where this is nothing,” she said, adding that drivers with accidents on their records had to complete extra training.

And what Wimberly and Klein don’t witness firsthand, they hear from passengers’ concerns and compliments.

“Every issue is investigated,” Wimberly said.

“It’s not like we have it at arms’ length,” Klein added. “We’re on it.”

Wimberly said she and Jones also hold monthly meetings with the Wolfline drivers and stress pedestrian safety, seat belt use, speeding and cell phone bans for drivers. The next meeting will be held Feb. 25.

On her daily rides around campus, Wimberly said she receives feedback from both passengers and drivers.

“I’m talking to the drivers and getting feedback from them,” she said. “[The drivers] talk to me everyday, talk to their manager… and communicate their needs.”

Drivers also communicate with Campus Police and Transportation by reporting suspicious activities in areas that would otherwise not be patrolled as often, according to Klein.

And for the most part, drivers are thoughtful and friendly to their riders and vice versa, Klein said.

“[Some drivers] put newspapers out on the bus for something to read on the ride,” Wimberly said.

But Klein also stressed that there is a “fine line with communication with riders,” so First Transit asks drivers to be friendly but not to the point of turning around to talk to passengers as they drive.