Who Are We?

Sonny Merryman is one of the nation’s leading bus & people-moving equipment companies. Our vehicles transport students and the community across Virginia and as well as other states across the country. We’re a small business but a big fish in our respective pond as Virginia’s largest and most experienced bus company and one of the most respected and successful dealerships in the country. Our team of nearly 200 employees works across our four locations in Central Virginia (Evington/Lynchburg), Greater Richmond (Ashland), Hampton Roads (Chesapeake), and Northern Virginia (Bristow/Manassas). We love to help our Customers when problems arise, and our employees would tell you that we appreciate each other and treat our fellow coworkers with respect. Put simply: we’re a bus company, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll understand we’re much more than that.

Take a glimpse into what it means to be part of Team Sonny.

What Do We Do?

We are a bus dealership that sells, services, and provides parts for school buses and commercial buses used to transport community members.  Besides buses, we have supporting business units that sell trailers, rent storage containers, provide parts services to city garages, and we even operate a collection of local Napa stores.

Why Be a Part of Team Sonny?

There’s a reason many of our employees have 10+ years of service on Team Sonny. Here are a few to consider:

  1. Our Culture. It’s what we call the “Sonny Merryman Way,” and it has a very specific recipe that all comes down to the ingredients – our core values. We’re a company that believes in taking care of our customers as well as our team.
  2. Competitive Pay. We believe in a livable, fair market wage for all of our employees.
  3. Paid Time Off. Full time employees immediately start accruing time upon hire; that’s in addition to the seven paid holidays.
  4. Medical and Prescription / Dental Coverage. Multiple plans are available for you as well as your family at competitive monthly premiums.
  5. Employee-Stock Ownership Plan. It’s a company retirement plan our employees don’t pay a single dollar into but rather are awarded simply for their continued years of service.
  6. Optional 401K. In addition to our ESOP, we also provide employees with a 401k program.
  7. Growth and Advancement. We’re a team that wants to be better today than we were yesterday. We grow as a team as well as individuals.
  8. Security. Last but by all means certainly not least – job security. We keep good people for an awfully long time. Founded in 1967, we are a trusted partner of the transportation community and work hard to maintain and continue to earn the loyal business of our customers.

Sonny Merryman Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.

Think you’re a good fit for our team?

Click the button below to fill out our preliminary employment interest form and one of our team members will contact you.


Career Openings

 


Maintenance Technician I

Sonny Merryman Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Full time, Mon-Fri.

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Overview

This is level 1 of 2 for Maintenance technician.

Helps perform skilled maintenance, repair, minor construction work in the trades to ensure that facilities are properly maintained.  Duties may fall into a variety of trades, including carpentry, painting, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and keys/security systems. Works with Maintenance Technician II to learn more skills.

 

General Responsibilities and Tasks/Duties

  • Helps Maintenance Technician II performs preventative maintenance on building systems, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical.
  • Helps repairs and maintain a variety of facilities systems, components, and structures; repairs building plumbing, low-voltage, and line voltage electric systems, door hardware, fire and life safety protection equipment/systems, constructs and maintains indoor/outdoor facilities, fans, lights and related; conducts structural inspections for safety.
  • Helps maintain HVAC systems, cleans, and inspects all equipment, completes filter changes.
  • Responds to facility emergencies and closures including adverse weather to ensure that all facilities are protected and remain operational. Assists with tasks required in preparing to open facility after a closure including snow and ice removal, systems and equipment checks, and start-up operations as assigned.
  • Helps maintain appropriate records and reports.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
  • Trains on the job to be a Maintenance Technician II.

 

Expectations/Successes:    The primary goal of this position is to create a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for our customers and staff by keeping all facilities in proper and professional condition. Success can be seen in customer, partners, and employee feedback. Other successes include reduced equipment and facility downtime, and timely and economical project completions.

 

Qualifications:

 

  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Experience in facilities maintenance.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license for operation of a motor vehicle in Virginia.
  • Forklift driver certification required within six months of employment.
  • Effective Communicator with external vendor and external customers.

 


BODY SHOP TECHNICIAN

Sonny Merryman Southeastern VA Location (Chesapeake, VA) | Full time, Mon-Fri.

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If you like to work on and give new life to big stuff that transports our future and our community, we may be a match.

Who Are We?

Sonny Merryman is Virginia’s Bus Company. Our vehicles transport students and the community. We’re a small, family-owned and employee-owned business that started south of Lynchburg, and now has additional locations in greater Richmond, Chesapeake and Northern Virginia. We love to help our Customers when problems arise, and our employees would tell you that we appreciate each other and treat our fellow coworkers with respect.

What Do We Do?

We are a bus dealership that sells, services, and provides parts for school buses and commercial buses used to transport community members. Besides buses, we have supporting business units that sell trailers, rent storage containers, provide parts services to city garages, and we even operate a collection of local Napa stores.

Who Are You?

You are motivated to help others. You see a dented, scratched, faded, and sometimes even mangled vehicle as a canvas to work your art. You like to think problems through and come up with creative solutions. You have a good sense of humor and like to have fun. You like a brisk work pace and enjoy pleasing a Customer. You’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and do what needs to get done. You are honest and tend to smile a lot more than you frown (or scowl). You like to be treated as an adult and be afforded the opportunity to get your job done.

What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?

Sometimes you’ll be working on a new vehicle that gets a custom paint job or needs a touch-up here or there before delivery. More often though, you’ll be working on vehicles already in-service that need repair after an accident or parking lot oops or a fresh coat of paint after a few years of service.

What Qualifications and/or Experience Do You Need?

  • Former body shop experience required.
  • Tools necessary to perform the common duties of the position.

 

If you’re interested in this position, submit an application and one of our team members will contact you.


Senior Service Technician

Sonny Merryman Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Full time, Mon-Fri.

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Overview

A Senior Service Technician plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of our Customer’s fleet of vehicles. Our technicians are experts in diagnosing and fixing mechanical and electrical issues, performing routine maintenance, and ensuring that powertrains are functioning efficiently, in emission compliance, and safely.  Technicians will use their vast vehicle knowledge to troubleshoot and repair several different powertrains and vehicle subsystems, relying both on mechanical and electrical skills for efficient problem solving.

General Responsibilities and Tasks/Duties

Vehicle diagnostics and repairs (70% of time allocated)

  • Diagnose various Customer concerns with electronic and engine diagnosis tools.
  • Complete timely and efficient maintenance and repairs based upon diagnostic findings.
  • Utilize working knowledge on diesel and gasoline engines.
  • Troubleshoot and repair other vehicle systems such as brakes/air, steering, transmission, and suspension.
  • Leverage diagnostic tools, electrical drawings, and fault tree diagrams to properly diagnose Customer complaints.
  • Installation of supplemental equipment on new vehicles when required.
  • Communicate effectively with other team members to address concerns and provide regular updates on repair progress
  • Participate in internal technical discussions, case studies, and learnings with team members.
  • Communicate complex issues to various other internal and external support teams.
  • Stay updated on industry advancements and trends in powertrain technology through ongoing training and professional development

Organization and administration (20% of time allocated)

  • Organization of shop, workplace and assisting with 5S cleanup activities.
  • Proper documentation and recording of prevalent information for Repair Orders (RO’s)
  • Adherence, collaboration, and adherence to proper problem solving following disciplined approach of Complaint, Cause, and Corrective action
  • Contributor and advocate of safety protocols and improvement activities.

        Electrical vehicle troubleshooting and repair (10% of time allocated)

  • Utilize existing vehicle system knowledge and apply new lessons learned toward Electrical Vehicle (EV) performance and repairs.
  • Active participant in learning new EV systems and functionality, including EV charger interfaces and behaviors.

 Expectations/Successes:

The Senior Service Technician utilizes a mix of hands-on technical tasks and diagnostic work.  Mechanical and electrical knowledge will be leveraged to solve problems that lead to efficient and professional repairs.  Success can be measured in efficient repair times, safe work performance, zero comebacks, and engagement with the rest of the service team.  From fixing engine components to repairing components on other vehicle systems, the technician’s responsibilities are as diverse as the applications and industries they are used in.

Qualifications:

  •  High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Comprehensive heavy duty vehicle knowledge and experience.
  • Experienced in engine, air, brake, and transmission vehicle systems diagnostics and repair.
  • Fundamental curiosity and understanding of “how things work”.
  • Proficient in diagnostic tools and equipment, including computer systems and software.
  • Logical ability to follow written instructions, fault trees, wiring diagrams, and theories of operation.
  • Applicable engine and system accreditations are preferred.
  • Record of attention to detail, time management skills, and self-driven problem solving.
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with team members.

 If you’re interested in this position, submit an application and one of our team members will contact you.


Parts analysis

Sonny Merryman VA Location, Chesapeake Virginia | Full time, Mon-Fri.

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If you like to work on and give new life to big stuff that transports our future and our community, we may be a match.

Who Are We?

Sonny Merryman is Virginia’s Bus Company. Our vehicles transport students and the community. We’re a small, family-owned and employee-owned business that started south of Lynchburg, and now has additional locations in greater Richmond, Chesapeake and Northern Virginia. We love to help our Customers when problems arise, and our employees would tell you that we appreciate each other and treat our fellow coworkers with respect.

What Do We Do?

We are a bus dealership that sells, services, and provides parts for school buses and commercial buses used to transport community members. Besides buses, we have supporting business units that sell trailers, rent storage containers, provide parts services to city garages, and we even operate a collection of local Napa stores.

Who Are You?

You are motivated to help others. You see a dented, scratched, faded, and sometimes even mangled vehicle as a canvas to work your art. You like to think problems through and come up with creative solutions. You have a good sense of humor and like to have fun. You like a brisk work pace and enjoy pleasing a Customer. You’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and do what needs to get done. You are honest and tend to smile a lot more than you frown (or scowl). You like to be treated as an adult and be afforded the opportunity to get your job done.

What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?

Sometimes you’ll be working on a new vehicle that gets a custom paint job or needs a touch-up here or there before delivery. More often though, you’ll be working on vehicles already in-service that need repair after an accident or parking lot oops or a fresh coat of paint after a few years of service.

What Qualifications and/or Experience Do You Need?

  • Former body shop experience required.
  • Tools necessary to perform the common duties of the position.

 

If you’re interested in this position, submit an application and one of our team members will contact you.

 


Vehicle Service Technician

Sonny Merryman VA Location, Bristow Virginia | Full time, Mon-Fri.

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If you like to work on big stuff that transports our future and our community, we may be a match.

Who Are You?

You are motivated to help others. You like to think problems through and come up with creative solutions. You have a good sense of humor and like to have fun. You like a brisk work pace and enjoy pleasing a Customer. You’re not afraid to roll up your sleeves and do what needs to get done. You are honest and tend to smile a lot more than you frown (or scowl). You like to be treated as an adult and be afforded the opportunity to get your job done.

Please do not apply if…

  • You enjoy drama and gossip. We just don’t have time for that!
  • Nothing is your fault. We love to “own it” – and mistakes are the best way to learn!
  • You like a large “corporate” work environment. We like to give you enough rope to run on your own, then eliminate the rope.
  • You want someone asking you every hour “when is that job going to get done?”

What kind of stuff will I be doing?

You will be inspecting, diagnosing, and repairing all systems found a modern medium/heavy duty vehicle, as well as diesel engine.

What experience or qualifications do you need?

  • Former related experience required.
  • Tools necessary to perform the common duties of the position.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

Health insurance

Schedule:

  • Monday to Friday, 8 or 10 hr. shift

CDL Delivery drivers

Sonny Merryman Central VA Location (Evington, VA) | Part time, Mon-Fri.

If you like bringing a smile to Customers’ faces every day and taking in the beautiful views of Virginia, this may be a perfect fit.

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Who Are You?

You love a good road trip and enjoy taking in new scenery. Whether following directions from a GPS or a map, you can find your way almost anywhere. You value safety and would never consider texting while driving or any other distraction from the road. You are honest and tend to smile a lot more than you frown (or scowl). Your schedule is flexible and you can roll with quick delivery changes.

What Kind of Stuff Will You Be Doing?

You will be on the road bringing smiles to Customers’ faces when you deliver their new buses and vehicles safely and efficiently. Most of your trips will be in Virginia but occasionally you may take a trip to a neighboring state. As a driver for Sonny Merryman, you’ll also be a rolling billboard for our company along the roads of Virginia.

What Experience and/or Qualifications Do You Need?

  • Clean driving record
  • Valid CDL, minimum Class B
  • Flexible schedule

If you’re interested in this position, submit an application and one of our team members will contact you.


Once you speak with a Sonny Merryman representative, you may be asked to submit a full application. Click the link below to download a paper application or submit your application online.

Full Application