Diesel Technician

Hours/Schedule: Monday-Friday, full-time second shift, 2:00 PM-10:00 PM
Union: TWU Local 100

If you take pride in keeping your community moving, this is your opportunity to make a real difference. Our team keeps students safe and on time every day-because behind every bus is a skilled mechanic who ensures reliability, safety, and peace of mind for families across our community.

While First Student is North America's leading school transportation provider-serving more than 1,250 districts and 5.4 million student journeys daily-our focus here in the greater Yonkers area is local. You'll join a close-knit team that values collaboration, safety, and community connection.

Pay Details: Pay is established by the TWU Local 100 union contract.

Hourly Rate:$28.23 per hour - not flat rate.

• Monday-Friday second-shift schedule with consistent, year-round work.
• $700 annual tool allowance.
• $200 annual boot allowance.
• $200 safety bonus.
• Company-paid ASE testing and training materials.
• Company-paid CDL Class B training and licensing.
• Excellent benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k) with company match.
• Career Advancement Opportunities: Advance into maintenance, operational, management, and leadership roles across more than 540 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Annual allowance for prescription safety glasses.
• Discounts on cell phone plans, vehicles, electronics, appliances, and more through the PerkSpot program.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling and support services for personal and work-related matters.
• Union representation through TWU Local 100.

As a Diesel Technician I with First Student, you will perform routine maintenance and basic repair work on school buses, vans, and other fleet vehicles. You will work under direct supervision while developing your technical skills and helping ensure our vehicles remain safe, reliable, and ready to serve students throughout the community.

• Ensure vehicles are properly maintained and safe for our passengers.
• Perform basic maintenance and limited repairs, including replacing light bulbs, fuses, lenses, wiper blades, belts, hoses, and batteries.
• Check fluid levels and change fluids, filters, and lubricants.
• Assist Tech II and Tech III employees with preventive maintenance, safety inspections, and annual maintenance inspections.
• Assist with repairs involving brakes, suspensions, drivetrains, transmission clutches, and other vehicle systems.
• Perform vehicle and equipment repairs under direct supervision.
• Conduct visual inspections and identify potential maintenance or safety concerns.
• Complete work orders accurately, including documenting parts and supplies used.
• Evaluate completed work and obtain approval before vehicles are released.
• Notify supervisors of potentially unsafe equipment and any corrective action taken.
• Move vehicles safely between work and service areas.
• Assist with road calls and mobile emergency repair services when needed.
• Clean vehicles as requested or required.
• Maintain an organized shop and clean work environment.
• Follow all First Student safety standards, policies, and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Basic mechanical aptitude and up to one year of automotive or diesel maintenance and repair experience preferred, or equivalent technical school education and experience.
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Vocational or technical certification in vehicle repair preferred.
• Basic vehicle diagnostic and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver's license required.
• CDL Class B with Passenger endorsement preferred.
• Ability to obtain a CDL Class B with Passenger endorsement within three months of employment; company-paid training is provided.
• ASE certification preferred.
• Willingness to participate in the ASE certification program within one year of hire.
• Expected to obtain at least one ASE certification within 24 months of hire.
• Possession of a basic mechanic's tool set sufficient to perform assigned duties.
• Comfortable using hand tools.
• Basic computer skills.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to maintain regular, predictable, and full attendance.
• Commitment to maintaining safe and reliable vehicles for our customers.

• Ability to work in a maintenance shop environment with dust, dirt, and grease.
• Ability to work under varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift at least 50 pounds.
• Ability to work in crouched, kneeling, standing, and lying positions.
• Ability to work beneath vehicles while using a mechanic's creeper.

Note: This position is subject to DOT drug testing as a safety-sensitive employee. DOT Regulation 49 CFR Part 40 does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason.

Take the wheel and drive your career forward with First Student! Make an impact in your community while enjoying consistent hours, strong union benefits, competitive pay, and unmatched career support.

First Student is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a drug-free workplace.

First for a reason:

At First Student, we are a family of 60,000+ employees who take pride in safely transporting more than 5 million students and passengers to and from their destinations each day! Our family of brands include Transco, Total Transportation, Maggies Paratransit, and GVC II. Our employees are at the forefront of safety and innovation; they create and implement the most advanced training and technology the transportation industry has to offer.

In the state of Washington, all technician and driving positions, including but not limited to van drivers and any other position requiring employees to drive a company-owned vehicle, are considered safety-sensitive and are therefore subject to drug and alcohol testing, including cannabis.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. First is also committed to providing a drug-free workplace. First will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinance, and any other fair chance law. Philadelphia's Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance Poster is at this link or upon request https://www.phila.gov/media/20210423160847/Fair-Chance-Hiring-law-poster.pdf.

About us
An industry leader famous for our yellow school buses and service and safety excellence, we’ve provided student transportation services to schools for over 100 years. Continually investing in the services of the future, we’re proud to be part of FirstGroup America – the largest provider of safe, reliable and sustainable surface passenger transportation services in North America.

Industry leader
We safely operate more than one third of all contracted school buses in North America.
Together our 50,000 school buses travel nearly 600 million miles per year — the equivalent of 1,200 round trips to the moon.
We operate in around 550 locations throughout 38 U.S. states and 8 Canadian provinces.

Innovation
We were the first school bus company to utilize global positioning systems (GPS), so at any one time we know where all of our buses are and how fast they’re travelling.
Passionate about safety, we’ve installed Safety Crossing Gates on the front of all of our school buses and use the Child Check-MateTM electronic reminder system to make sure no sleeping children remain inside a bus at the end of each route.

Awards & recognition
We won the Occupational Excellence Achievement Award from the National Safety Council two years in a row.
Dedicated to safety, FirstGroup received the National Safety Council’s (NSC) Green Cross for Safety Medal - the highest award for safety in North America.

Teamwork and trust
It takes a diverse team of skilled professionals to provide a safe, effective and efficient student transportation system. From our school bus drivers and location managers to routers, dispatchers and fleet technician mechanics, the work we do every day makes a big impact on the daily lives of students, parents, local communities and school district partners.

We’re very proud of our elite team of over 55,000 dedicated, caring and diverse professionals. And they are the #1 reason we’re trusted by over 1,400 school districts - more than any other provider. Everybody here plays their part in creating a positive school bus experience.

Our culture
We live and breathe our vision and values. They are embedded in our culture and drive our commitment to our customers and communities. Our culture fosters growth and promotes respect, reliability, responsibility and safety. And we recruit people who share these values and will work together to build strong and trusting partnerships in the communities we serve.

Safety – Although our safety record is twice as safe as the industry average, we continually seek out opportunities to enhance our operational and safety initiatives.
Learning – Through our learning culture that spans over 550 locations, we receive and share insight from our people to enhance our service now and in the future.
Making a difference - By doing our job well, we make a positive impact on many lives – including the millions of students who travel with us every school day.
Careers for all – We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and an Employer of Choice.
By consistently encouraging and supporting an open dialogue with our people and partners, we’re able to share new ideas and develop new ways to meet the needs of our customers and passengers. At First Student, you’ll feel empowered to serve your community. So join the team and start to make a difference.