Volkert told her he would have to come to her, because chasing him wouldn't get her anywhere. Heading off to work, Volkert radioed the driver she would be replacing to let him know she was at the base. Grabbing her check list, I followed her out the door as she rushed to jump on her shuttle. To become a shuttle driver, students fill out an application, then have an interview with Beverly Cray, the bus services assistant manager. In addition, a student receives training from an employee at bus services, during which he drives without passengers on back roads and practices the shuttle's loops.
Drivers also have to take a defensive driving class, which lasts a day.
The student is paid for the training, which makes up for the money spent on the tests. Stopping at the Gables, signifying the end of one loop, Volkert writes in a chart how many students used the shuttle in that one loop. As she pulls away from the curb with an empty bus, except for one TNH reporter, she decides to relate her most embarrassing experience driving the UNH shuttle. According to Volkert, last summer she was driving a charter bus to and from the Alumni Center. She was used to driving the Handivan, which is smaller than the shuttle buses, and there were five to 10 passengers in the shuttle.