Mayor Duggan welcomes group of 30 new Detroit Department of Transportation drivers get their badges

DETROIT – Mayor Mike Duggan helped welcome 30 new Detroit Department of Transportation bus drivers.

Friday’s (Jan. 5) group of graduates completed months of classroom and on-the-road training to receive their official operator badges.

Their graduation came just one day after Duggan announced a pay raise for DDOT operators.

“This is one of the largest classes we’ve badged in DDOT history,” said a man speaking at the podium.

The ceremony was a celebration of hard work — the graduates completed months of classroom and on-the-road training to receive their official operator badges.

“The key focus of what we needed to do, first, was to be safe,” said graduate Olealcha Gray-Woods. “Practice safety. They gave us the tools and the weapons on these roads to overcome any obstacles on our routes.”

The grads cheered each other on — saying their class was like a family.

“Helping each other, making sure we got to class on time and work on time, we were more like a family group that held it down,” said another graduate.

Duggan was one of the speakers at the ceremony, emphasizing the value they bring to the city.

“Yesterday you got the news, you thought you were making $16.50 an hour and now you’re making $19.50 an hour,” Duggan said.

One by one, the operators came up to get their certificates. And from there, they’ll be ready to get behind the wheel.

Approximately 45 more DDOT drivers are expected to graduate next month.

Click here if you’re interested in becoming a DDOT driver.