Detroit announces big pay bump for bus drivers, bonuses for good attendance

DDOT announces increase in wages for bus drivers

The pay bump will help attract and retain more employees to enhance the reliability of DDOT buses for passengers – as numerous individuals have complained about being tardy for work due to bus delays.

(FOX 2) - Bus drivers working for the Detroit Department of Transportation will see their hourly wages rise by several dollars following an agreement between the city and union that represents employees.

Under the new plan, drivers could make up to $25.61 per hour. All drivers will see an immediate $3 increase to their hourly wage, bringing the starting pay for new drivers up to $19.15 an hour.

Along with the wage increase is a new incentive structure that will include $1,500 bonuses every quarter for drivers that have no more than three unexcused absences per quarter. About three-quarters of active drivers met that requirement during the last quarter of 2023.

"An immediate $3 per hour increase in pay with the ability to earn up to $6,000 more per year is going to do two things for us. It’s going to help us retain the drivers we have and it's going to be a tremendous boost to our recruitment efforts," said Interim Transit Director Michael Staley.

In a release from the department, Staley said one of the issues that has consistently come up from drivers is a need for more money. DDOT has suffered from a lack of bus drivers, which has fed into less reliability for pickups while also making it tougher to attract new employees without more money.

Attracting and retaining more employees will enhance the reliability of DDOT buses for passengers – as numerous individuals have complained about being tardy for work due to bus delays.

"I know people, personally, that got fired for not being on time (because the bus was not on time)," said Devon, a DDOT passenger.

"It's ridiculous when I'm late –or anybody else is late– getting to work," another passenger, Kathy, said.

Others say the issue is not only about drivers, but maintenance as well.

"We have a shortage of mechanics," said Muneer Islam, the president of Local 312. They say we're about 30 short –we see it as a higher number– and as you know… if we don't have the buses on the street, they can't drive."

Brother Cunninghan, a transit activist, said the increase in wages is a good first step.

"They're going to have to work on bathrooms for the drivers, they're going to have to work on paying the mechanics more, but this is a start," Cunninghan said.

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Detroit is aiming to have 600 drivers on the road by the end of the year. Currently, it has 400 drivers with 30 new drivers expected to graduate later this week.

"This is a great day for DDOT. I drove for DDOT for 34 years and know how important this wage increase is for our drivers," said Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26 President Schetrone Collier. "But this is just as much for the public as it is our drivers."

The agreement still needs to be approved by the city council. If it's cleared, it will be active until July, 2025.

Anyone interested in becoming a DDOT driver can click here.