Motor Vehicle Operator

Clarification from the agency

Special authorities include: Former overseas employees and foreign service employees. Clarification for these authorities is provided in the questionnaire. First AOC (Area of Consideration) is Facility employees; Second AOC is VA Agency; Third AOC are all other eligible applicants.

The Motor Vehicle Operator operates a variety of vehicles, including wheelchair accessible vans, passenger vans, buses, stretcher transport vehicles, and other specially equipped vehicles used to transport patients. The work requires the safe operation of motor vehicles, assistance to passengers with mobility limitations, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and Department of Veterans Affairs regulations governing transportation operations.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Provides transportation services for Veterans and other authorized passengers utilizing a variety of government owned vehicles.
• Conducts scheduled and unscheduled transportation assignments between VA medical centers, community-based outpatient clinics, private healthcare facilities, residences, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, physician offices, transportation terminals, airports, and other approved destinations.
• Carries out assigned transportation routes and trip schedules, ensuring timely arrival and departure from designated pickup and drop-off locations.
• Coordinates changes to transportation schedules or routing requirements with dispatch personnel and supervisory staff as necessary.
• Evaluates traffic flow, roadway conditions, weather conditions, construction activity, and other travel-related factors to select safe and efficient travel paths while ensuring compliance with established transportation schedules.
• Utilizes Mobile Data Computers (MDCs), global positioning systems (GPS), two-way communication devices, and other transportation technologies to receive trip assignments, monitor route information, document transportation activities, and maintain communication with transportation personnel.
• Coordinates with dispatchers, transportation coordinators, healthcare providers, and support staff regarding passenger transportation needs, schedule adjustments, delays, road conditions, and other operational matters affecting transportation services.
• Promotes a positive transportation experience by providing courteous, professional, and responsive service while ensuring passenger comfort, dignity, and safety throughout transportation activities.
• May operate additional government-owned vehicles on an occasional or incidental basis in support of organizational transportation requirements.
• Provides assistance to passengers with physical disabilities, age-related limitations, temporary injuries, and chronic medical conditions requiring specialized transportation accommodations.
• Ensures passengers are safely positioned and secured prior to vehicle movement and continuously monitors passenger safety during transport.
• Immediately reports medical emergencies, accidents, injuries, or unusual incidents to appropriate authorities and follows established emergency procedures.
• Performs comprehensive vehicle inspections before, during, and after transportation assignments to identify safety hazards, equipment malfunctions, fluid leaks, tire deficiencies, lift equipment problems, or other conditions affecting vehicle operation.
• Cleans vehicle interiors, removes debris, disinfects passenger contact surfaces, and follows infection prevention and control procedures to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
• Maintains accountability for government property, vehicle keys, fuel cards, communication devices, and assigned equipment.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm PST
Position Description Title/PD#: Motor Vehicle Operator/PD309560
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Pre-employment physical required
• A valid, state-issued driver's license, have a safe driving record, and ability to demonstrate that you are medically qualified to operate the appropriate motor vehicle safely.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/28/2026.

EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards.

SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, Ability to perform the work of a Motor Vehicle Operator without more than normal supervision. Examples include: perform the work required of motor vehicle operation; operate various types of motor vehicles in the transportation of passengers, records, cargo, etc.; operate passenger buses and operate vehicles that are larger and longer; inspect vehicles before operating them to ensure that they are clean and in safe operating condition; and use radio communications and locate, extract, and present information in a clear and effective manner, providing accurate information to management, employees and patients. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated.

The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements:

• Drive Safely
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)
• Motor Vehicles
• Reliability And Dependability
• Without more than normal supervision
• Work Practices

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work requires frequent use of the hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate vehicle controls, wheelchair lifts, ramps, and other transportation equipment. The incumbent assists Veterans and other passengers with medical conditions, physical limitations, and disabilities during transportation activities. Duties regularly require bending, stooping, reaching, kneeling, climbing, pushing, pulling, lifting, and securing passengers, wheelchairs, stretchers, oxygen equipment, and other mobility or medical devices. The incumbent helps passengers enter and exit vehicles and properly positions and secures wheelchairs, stretchers, and related equipment using approved restraint systems and safety procedures.

The work requires lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds and occasionally heavier items with assistance or approved lifting equipment. The incumbent must use proper body mechanics and follow established safety procedures when handling passengers, equipment, and other heavy objects. The position requires extended periods of sitting while operating vehicles and continuous attention to safe transport of passengers on assigned routes under varying traffic, road, and weather conditions. The incumbent must maintain the physical and mental ability required to safely perform transportation duties and meet all applicable medical qualification requirements for vehicle operation.

The incumbent must successfully complete and maintain required medical certifications and physical qualifications and comply with all applicable Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Transportation medical, drug, and alcohol testing requirements.

Working Conditions: Work is performed indoors and outdoors and requires operating transportation vehicles under a variety of environmental conditions. The incumbent is exposed to changing weather conditions, including rain, snow, ice, heat, cold, and other seasonal conditions while transporting passengers and assisting with loading and unloading activities.

The work includes operating vehicles on rural roads, highways, residential streets, congested urban roadways, construction zones, medical center campuses, and other transportation routes. The incumbent is exposed to normal driving hazards, traffic congestion, vehicle exhaust, noise, dust, and adverse road conditions.

The incumbent regularly assists passengers with mobility limitations and may be exposed to risks related to loading, unloading, and securing wheelchair and stretcher patients. There is potential for strains, sprains, cuts, bruises, and other minor injuries associated with patient handling, vehicle operation, and transportation equipment.

The position may require work during evenings, weekends, holidays, irregular tours of duty, or emergency situations to meet patient transportation needs. Overtime may be required to support operational requirements and ensure uninterrupted transportation services.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Job title
• Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Salary/Rank etc.
• Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
• References, current or recent supervisor

Do not include the following types of information in your resume:

• Classified or Government sensitive information
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Photos of yourself
• Encrypted and digitally signed documents
• Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. The experience stated in your resume must support your assessment responses.

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee
• An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade
• Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade.
• Examples of appropriate SF-50's include:
  • Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
  • Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
  • SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

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