MATA
Trolley on Main
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) is looking for new trolley operators and will host a job fair Thursday, August 23rd.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Operators also must have a valid Class A or B commercial driver’s license.
Other qualifications include being able to sit for extended periods of time, as well as lift, push, or pull 50 pounds and withstand exposure to weather conditions, dust, engine fumes, toxic chemicals, and extreme noise levels. Trolley operators are expected to interact with the public, communicate effectively with customers, and act as ambassadors for the city.
Key responsibilities include conducting daily pre-trip inspections, operating the trolley safely and on time, and writing an occasional report.
The position pays $9 an hour during training, increasing to $18.39 post-training. The job fair will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MATA’s trolley barn on North Main.
After being out of service for nearly four years, steel-wheeled trolleys returned to Main at the end of April this year. Last month, MATA officials projected that the first-year ridership for trolleys will be north of 800,000 riders or 10 percent of total ridership. MATA is currently in the process of bringing the trolley lines back to Riverside and Madison.