Bus Safety Through the Eyes of a Mechanic Inspector

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro)’s The Source profiled Sonny Flores, an inspector mechanic who has been with the agency for 45 years. Flores built a career centered on safety, precision, and pride in his craft. “My job is to make sure everything is in order with the bus. If there’s something broken, deficient, or that needs to be replaced, I’ll write it in my defect card,” he says.

Flores estimates having checked at least 3,600 buses over roughly 15 years in inspections. In his current role, he is assigned one bus a day to inspect, starting on the inside. This includes checking:

• Driver’s controls, switches, alarms, defrost system, and brake pedals
• Seatbelts for the elderly and accessibility equipment such as wheelchair fold-up seats 
• Decals, doors, stanchion bars, chime switches, windows, and emergency tools

Moving to the outside of the bus, he examines:

• Mirrors, lights, wheels, rims, tires, bike rack, wiper blades, head sign, and the license plate for visibility
• Elements under the hood, such as the engine, belts, and fire suppression system
• The undercarriage, including sensors, suspension, brakes, transmission fluids, oil, and filters

All buses meet stringent LA Metro standards and comply with safety regulations before returning to service. Inspections are more than a preventive step; they protect riders. Flores says, “There’s a lot of responsibility. Public safety depends on that. You have to be attentive in what you are doing.”

As a veteran in the industry, Flores has seen buses come a long way, from heavy-duty and labor-intensive to technologically advanced and supported by computers and electronic diagnostics. Despite the changes, the purpose of the job remains the same: making sure every bus is safe for the public.

Flores notes that teamwork is what keeps operations running smoothly. “To me this is basically a family, a home away from home.” He encourages others to consider a career like his, pointing to growth within the agency, training, and education. “Opportunities are endless here.”