Meet the father and son duo driving for Kitsap Transit

Cameron Dubel, left, and his father Josh Dubel are both Kitsap Transit routed operators.

Josh Dubel admits that he never really thought about driving a bus. Both the vehicles and their operators seem invisible to most people during their daily lives.

But eight years ago, after a series of unsatisfying jobs, Dubel saw a post online that Kitsap Transit was hiring drivers. He took a shot and applied.

“I was fed up with my old job delivering and merchandising sodas to stores, like many jobs I'd had before, it wasn't great, but it paid the bills. I was almost 40, and my body couldn't take such a physical job for much longer, and I wanted to try something new,” Dubel, 46, said.

“Once I thought about bus driving, it never really left my mind.”

Early on in his career, Dubel would occasionally have a tagalong on his bus – his son Cameron. In 2019, after graduating from Olympic High School, Cameron Dubel joined his dad once again, this time as a fellow driver.

“I always enjoyed riding the bus with him, and seeing first-hand what the job was like, I think that was one reason why I took to driving the bus so quickly, because I already knew how a lot of it all worked,” Cameron Dubel said.

Cameron, now 21, remembers those early trips on the bus and says he was proud when Josh was hired at Kitsap Transit.  

Josh Dubel, 46, has driven Kitsap Transit buses for eight years.

“I'd seen my dad be really unhappy at some jobs, and sacrifice a lot to provide for our family, but working at Kitsap Transit, I could see how much happier he was, and that he felt good he could provide us with a comfortable living,” Cameron said.

Josh was surprised when Cameron applied: It was something he had always told his son he could do, but until recently Cameron hadn’t shown an interest in driving a bus. Cameron made a snap decision to apply to Kitsap Transit after an “especially frustrating day at my old job.”

“I think my dad's experience played the biggest part in my decision, since I knew how good of a job it was for him. If he didn't like his job, or had a negative experience, then I wouldn't have wanted to work here,” Cameron said.

It didn’t take long for the father-son duo to get used to the arrangement – they both say driving a bus is a rewarding career that combines customer service skills with a love of driving. Josh didn’t formally train his son after he started, but he did give him “a lot of tips and advice along the way.”

Cameron Dubel, left, and his father Josh Dubel.

“It's been great, it helps that he is a great driver, and is very involved as an employee, and everyone seems to get a kick out of the father/son thing,” Josh said.

The two carpool to work and see each other on breaks. Instead of using a driver or bus number, Cameron will occasionally radio over to “Dad” if their paths happen to cross while driving.

At home, the pair bond over their love of old movies, cars, thrift shops and the promise of a fishing trip that has yet to materialize.

“I swear, I’m going to take him one of these days!” Josh said.

Both Josh and Cameron say they want to retire from Kitsap Transit. In addition to good starting wages, Kitsap Transit offers comprehensive insurance, retirement plan, paid vacation, holiday pay and more.

Cameron Dubel, 21, has driven for Kitsap Transit since 2019.

“It's a great job with excellent benefits, the medical benefits are amazing, which is great since my wife has many health issues,” Josh said. “Kitsap Transit has been very gracious and understanding for my needs to care for my wife. Even before Cameron came here, it felt like a family here.”

“It's rewarding to provide a service to my community and to see how much of an effect it has on my passengers,” Cameron added.

Three years into his career, Cameron has a special Father’s Day message for his dad: “I wanna say thank you — you've always worked hard to provide for us, and it's an honor to get to work alongside you.”

(Photos courtesy of Cameron Dubel)