Bumper to bumper: for 40-plus years, Metro mechanic Sonny Flores has kept buses safe 

Metro inspector mechanic Ines “Sonny” Flores is assigned one bus a day to inspect. It might not sound like much. In reality, that single vehicle — massive, complex and packed with critical components — demands hours of meticulous inspection inside, outside, underneath and on top.   

The goal is to ensure the bus meets Metro standards and complies with safety regulations before it returns to service. “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.   

That attention to detail comes from experience. Sonny has spent 45 years with Metro, including a dozen years with the Rapid Transit District, or RTD, that evolved into Metro. Including his decades working as a mechanic, Sonny has built a career centered on safety, precision and pride in his craft.   

His inspections begin inside the bus, where he checks the driver’s area, controls, switches, alarms, defrost system, brake pedals, seatbelts for the elderly and accessibility equipment such as wheelchair fold-up seats to ensure they work properly. 

 He verifies decals, doors, stanchion bars, chime switches, windows and emergency tools before moving outside to examine mirrors, lights, wheels, rims and tires. He also checks the bike rack, wiper blades, head sign and whether the license plate is legible. He inspects the engine, belts and fire suppression system, too.   

From there, the work continues with the undercarriage, reviewing sensors, suspension, brakes, transmission fluids, oil and filters while watching for gas leaks or worn parts. If anything does not meet standards, it is documented and sent for repair.   

For Sonny, inspections are more than a preventive step. They are about protecting riders. “There’s a lot of responsibility. Public safety depends on that. You have to be attentive in what you are doing,” he says.   

Over roughly 15 years in inspections, he estimates he has personally checked at least 3,600 buses, on top of the many thousands he serviced earlier during his career as a mechanic building expertise across the bus major systems — rebuilding engines, replacing transmissions, tackling suspension work and supporting the brake and air conditioning teams.   

After working at a printing company, Sonny joined RTD at just 19 years old and started as a service attendant. Being around buses quickly sparked his curiosity, and when a free training opportunity was offered to set him on the path to become a mechanic, he took it. “For this career, you’ve to enjoy fixing things, figure out the problem and solve it,” he says. “It’s challenging but satisfying.”  

Early in his career, he intentionally sought guidance from an experienced coworker who could mentor him. One of Sonny’s first and biggest assignments was rebuilding an engine. “I was a little nervous because you have to take it all apart. What if I forget to tighten something?” he recalls asking himself.   

He had the training and knew he could get help if needed, but Sonny was determined to see the job through. “I did it and it was a gratifying moment.”  

Over the decades, he has seen Metro buses evolve, from heavier diesel-powered and more labor-intensive to today’s technologically advanced fleet supported by computers and electronic diagnostics. “As far as the design, structure and engineering on how the buses are built now, they’ve come a long way,” Sonny says. Despite the changes, he adds that the purpose of the job remains the same: making sure every bus leaving the Division is safe for the public.   

At Division 3, located at the Cypress Park neighborhood, Sonny credits the people around him for putting in the effort to get the job done. The teamwork, he says, is what keeps operations running smoothly day after day. “I love it here. To me this is basically a family, a home away from home.”  

Over the years, coworkers became close friends. Sonny remembers cycling with colleagues outside work and building friendships that extended beyond the division, getting to know one another’s families along the way. Sonny says the support from coworkers and management, along with Metro’s training and benefits, gave him the opportunity to grow and helped him build a stable life and raise his family. “If you take care of this job, this job will take care of you.”   

Away from the shop, Sonny is a father of three now-grown adults, grandfather to five young women and a great-grandfather to a little boy. His granddaughters used to call grandpa for car help; today many handle things on their own – a lesson he’s proud to have passed on, along with seeing his children grown, independent and thriving.   

His heritage remains an important part of his life as well. Born and raised in the United States to parents from Chihuahua and Durango, Mexico, Sonny grew up speaking Spanish to them and still uses it when needed. Family traditions also continue through food and holidays, from tamales at Christmas to pan dulce y champurrado during the season. He also keeps some of his mother’s recipes alive in his own kitchen, especially her chicken soup and dishes like cocido and picadillo.   

When Sonny is not working, he enjoys traveling, particularly on cruises, and hopes to return to cycling soon. With retirement on the horizon next year, he looks forward to spending more time with family and exploring new places.   

Looking back on his career, Sonny says choosing Metro was one of the most important decisions of his life and encourages others to consider it. He points to the many paths available across the agency, along with chances for training and education that open the door to growth. “Opportunities are endless here.”  

For anyone doubting whether to apply for a bus mechanic position, he keeps it simple: “Just give it a try. You have nothing to lose, but everything to gain… You won’t be disappointed.”   

After more than four decades as a mechanic. Sonny’s legacy lives on in every bus that leaves the yard ready for the miles — and the people — ahead.   

Interested in becoming a Metro mechanic or exploring other career opportunities? Visit Metro.net/careers to learn more.