MARTA bus operators honored for “Million Miler”

MARTA recently honored two veteran bus operators for driving more than a million miles without a preventable incident. Bus operators Arluther Deadwyler and Coy Dumas Jr. received MARTA’s Million Mile Safe Driver Award — earning an elite designation among their peers nationwide.

For more than four decades, Deadwyler and Dumas navigated busy streets across MARTA’s service areas.  While Deadwyler and Dumas’ routes may have changed over the year, their commitment to safety never wavered.

“I’m thankful to have been recognized,” said Deadwyler, who has driven more than 1,290,000 miles incident free. “We have a job to do and rules to guide our work that puts safety first. There’s no better feeling than being appreciated for the work we do.”

Despite traveling more than 1,330,000 miles without a preventable incident, Dumas considers mentorship his greatest on-the-job accomplishment, as he continues to share his passion for safety with other operators. “The work we do here is on the same level as emergency teams because we carry the most valuable cargo — human lives, and one of my many roles is being an instructor and a mentor,” Dumas said.

MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker says it is no accident these two, long-time employees are joining this prestigious group.

“This award speaks to the daily commitment our bus operators have to drive safely and provide the highest level of customer service at all times,” Parker said.

As MARTA continues to expand both its rail and bus options across the region, safety remains the Authority’s top priority.

“Our operators play an essential role helping more than 400,000 MARTA travelers reach their destinations safely on a daily basis,” Parker said. “I applaud Mr. Deadwyler and Dumas for their ongoing commitment to being a shining example of exemplary safety and customer service to our riders.”