05/19/2026
Staff Highlight: Steve Freeman 🚏
After more than three decades behind the wheel, Operator Steve Freeman is getting ready to retire at the end of the year, wrapping up 31 years of service with MTD.
Over the years, Steve has seen just about everything the job can offer, and that's the thing that’s kept him going: the variety. “Every few months you can reinvent what your day looks like. That keeps it from ever feeling stale,” he shared. From different routes to new faces, no two days are ever quite the same.
That sense of variety is matched by the people he meets along the way. “You meet people you’d never come across anywhere else. That’s what makes it interesting.” Whether it’s students, families, or longtime community members, those everyday connections have been a constant throughout his career.
From his first day learning routes to decades of steady service, Steve has been a familiar and reliable presence for riders across the Champaign-Urbana community. As he looks ahead to retirement, we’re grateful for the years he’s spent helping keep MTD moving and for the countless rides, stories, and moments along the way.
Thank you, Steve, for 31 years of dedication and service, and for the countless memories you’ve helped create. As he heads into retirement, Steve also wants to thank the community for the great memories over the years. 👏🚌
