Great pay. Great perks. Great hours.
Why Drive with Hopelink?
Being a Hopelink DART driver is about so much more than just driving. It’s an opportunity to build a stable career with dependable pay, develop lifelong skills, make a difference in your community, and be a part of a workplace passionate about supporting others. From paid Commercial Driver License (CDL) training to excellent pay and benefits, applying to become a driver with Hopelink is a direct route to a career you can count on for years to come – and have fun along the way.
Why Apply?
- Competitive pay at $26/hr
- Paid training at $24/hr
- $4,500 new hire bonus
- Career advancement opportunities
- and more!
Hiring Bonus
We want to help get you in the door and behind the wheel. New operator trainees will receive a $4,500 New Hire Incentive, disbursed as drivers meet certain milestones:
The $4,500 New Hire Incentive is split into three (3) equal $1,500 Award Payments made on the corresponding pay dates that are three, six, and nine months after the driver completes training and is assigned a supervisor.
Pay & Benefits
- New hires who don’t yet have their CDL complete their training at $24/hr
- New hires who have their CDL and those who complete their CDL with Hopelink start at $26/hr
We want to help get you in the door and behind the wheel. New operator trainees will receive a $4,500 New Hire Incentive, disbursed as drivers meet certain milestones:
The $4,500 New Hire Incentive is split into three (3) equal $1,500 Award Payments made on the corresponding pay dates that are three, six, and nine months after the driver completes training and is assigned a supervisor.
- Full medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability
- Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
- 401k retirement savings plan with employer matching
- Employee assistance and discount programs
- An array of trainings and professional development opportunities
- Leadership development opportunities
Hiring Process
Submit your application
Submit your application online!
Phone Screening
All applicants will be invited to a telephone screening.
Submit your required documents
- Clear image of the front and back of your valid WA State drivers license
- Your DOT Medical Certification (if you already have one)
- DOL Abstract dated within the last 30 days. You can obtain this at the Department of Licensing or online
- Proof of lawful permanent residency as required by the Department of Transportation. Approved documents are:
- US Passport
- US issued birth certificate
- Perm Resident Card
- Cert of Naturalization
- Cert of Citizenship
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad
In-person interview
Applicants who pass minimum qualifications will be invited to an in-person interview with the hiring manager.
Conditional offer
- Based on the results of your interview, you may receive a conditional offer of employment to start in a training class. Applicants who receive a conditional offer must complete all portions of the Pre-Employment Process (PEP) within five (5) business days of receiving the conditional offer.
- You will receive a formal offer once you have passed the following steps:
- Department of Transportation (DOT) medical exam (paid for by Hopelink)
- 5-Year driving record review
- Pre-employment drug screening (including marijuana and other illicit substances)
- Criminal background check
- Employment verification
CDL bus driver training
If you don’t already have your CDL, once all pre-employment steps completed you will start our paid CDL bus driver training program at $24 per hour. Classes meet Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and attendance is required every day of class.
Start your career with Hopelink
Congratulations! After graduating training you will convert from a trainee to a full-time Hopelink DART Driver, holding a Class C CDL with Passenger Endorsement. Your rate of pay will increase to $26 per hour and you will now be eligible for the $4,500 new hire incentive payments. Welcome aboard!
Frequently Asked Questions
Nope! You must already have had a valid driver’s license for at least five years within the US and the ability to obtain a CDL (Commercial Driver License) Learner’s Permit with Passenger Endorsements. Hopelink provides paid training to complete your CDL exam.
Since 1971, Hopelink has provided stability-building programs for people experiencing poverty, immigrants and refugees, and people with disabilities in north and east King County. The agency’s nine programs work in tandem to fill gaps, supporting each family or individual’s unique needs. These include housing, food assistance, financial assistance, adult education, energy assistance, financial capabilities, family development, and transportation. Visit our About Us page for more information.
Hopelink’s Transportation Department consists of three programs: Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), Mobility Management, and DART (Dial-A-Ride Transit).
A King County Metro service, DART (Dial-A-Ride Transit) is a fixed-route transit service Hopelink operates with smaller vehicles that have the flexibility to perform a limited number of off-route deviations upon request. In addition to operating fixed routing on a regular schedule, DART vehicles can also go off route to pick up and drop off passengers within a defined service area. Fully accessible DART vehicles are smaller than Metro coaches, wheelchair lift-equipped, and have bicycle racks.
Yes, as required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which administers Commercial Driver Licenses (CDLs) and as a safety-sensitive role, Hopelink drivers must pass a drug test prior to employment, which includes marijuana, and be subject to random screenings. While legal in Washington State, CDL drivers are required to test negative for marijuana.
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Must be able to provide Proof of Permanent Residency
- Must be able to pass a Department of Transportation Medical Exam
- Must have reliable transportation to get to work
- Must be able to speak, read, and write in English
- Must have an accessible work history and employment references
- Must have had a valid driver’s license for at least five (5) years in the US.
- Must have an acceptable driving record at the time of offer (see more below)
In addition to holding a valid driver’s license for at least five (5) years in the US, Hopelink DART Drivers must have the ability to obtain a CDL Learner’s Permit with Passenger Endorsements, and no suspensions or revocations of their license in the last three (3) years, in addition to none of the following in the last three (3) years:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Driving while under the influence of drugs
- Negligent homicide arising out of use of a motor vehicle (Gross Negligence)
- Operating a motor vehicle during a period of suspension or revocation
- Using a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony
- Aggravated assault with a motor vehicle
- Operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s authority
- Permitting an unlicensed person to drive
- Reckless driving
- Speeding contest
- Hit and run
- Three (3) or more moving violations in the past three (3) years
- Three (3) or more collisions, regardless of fault, in the past three(3) years
- Any combination of accidents and/or violations which equal four (4) or more in the past three (3) years
The Commercial Driver License (CDL) training includes a six-to-seven-week paid training course for potential drivers to prepare for the CDL exam. First, potential candidates will study for and obtain their Commercial Learners Permit. After successfully obtaining their learners permit, candidates will pass two written exams before moving to phase two for their road tests. Once these requirements are met, the candidate will schedule and take the CDL exam. For more details on the training process, email rhayes@hopelink.org.
Hopelink services 14 DART routes across King County. See the full list here.
Hopelink DART Drivers work a full-time schedule, for which there’s a variety of options available including mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Email us at rhayes@hopelink.org or call us at 425-864-1094
“Our drivers are so important. Without drivers, a lot of Hopelink’s Transportation department wouldn’t be here, our maintenance shop wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t be here, and our technicians wouldn’t be here. So, I always put our drivers at the forefront, making sure they’re well taken care of and have everything they need to be successful in their routes.”
– Shawn N.
Fleet Maintenance Shop Manager
“The best aspects of my job are meeting other people and getting to know different people from all races and genders. It’s a game-changer to know that the work I do can make a difference in someone’s life. This is more than just a driving job, but an opportunity to help your community and make a difference in people’s lives.”
– Quellis
Hopelink DART Driver
“Coming from working at dealerships where I often did the same maintenance tasks over and over, I’m excited that I get to explore diagnosing and repairing so many different issues as a technician with Hopelink. It’s given me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and I’ve gained the confidence to tackle things I would’ve been previously intimidated by.”
– Brandon H.
Automotive Service Technician
“Hopelink provides such a great service to our community and being a part of it is such a blessing! It energizes me to see the individuals we pick up day-in and day-out, expecting our services. Those who don’t have vehicles depend on public transportation and playing this role in our community motivates me to do my job each day. You can make a big impact here too.”
– Lawrence T.
Hopelink DART Driver