Driving may seem easy to some, but try doing it for eight hours or more in a vehicle 40-feet long while you pick up passengers, answer questions, keep on schedule, give directions and more. Then add unpredictable traffic, bad weather conditions and some tight spaces. KAT operators handle all this and more every day while helping the people of Knoxville get where they need to go.

Mayor Madeline Rogero proclaimed Wednesday, May 18th as KAT Driver Appreciation Day in Knoxville at an event today at Knoxville Station's bus platform. The Mayor also road a KAT bus to the event and honored two of KAT's outstanding bus operators, Belinda Wimes and Donnie Collins, for their good work, as representatives of the 150-plus operators that maneuver Knoxville streets every day. Belinda and Donnie have driven a combined 3.1 million accident-free miles!

Also today at the Knoxville Station, the public can pick up special bus 'thank you' notes to fill out and give to favorite bus operators throughout the day.

KAT's Director of Transit, Dawn Distler, began her career as a transit operator and knows the challenges faced by those who do it every day.

"I can really appreciate all that bus operators do each and every day," says Distler. "The job requires patience, focus, and a lot of multi-tasking. I am happy to be honoring these great members of our KAT team."

Click here to learn more about Transit Driver Day.

Click here to learn more about KAT.