PDRTA BRINGS HOME GOLD AT THE 2022 TASC ANNUAL TRAINING, EXPO & BUS ROADEO COMPETITION
AWARDS A PLENTY AT THE 2022 TASC ANNUAL TRAINING, EXPO & BUS ROADEO COMPETITION
You may be asking, what in the world is a Bus Roadeo?
Here is what you should know…
WHAT IS A BUS ROADEO?
A roadeo is a competitive driving event for motor vehicle drivers. Named as a portmanteau of "road" and "rodeo", these competitions have been held for a range of different vehicles since at least 1937. Typically, drivers compete to pass through a variety of obstacles in the smallest amount of time, although the competitions may include other components, such as a written test.
HISTORY:
The first roadeos were mainly events for truck drivers. For example, the National Truck Roadeo (now the National Truck Driving Championships, also known as the National Truck Driving Championships Roadeo[1]) was founded in 1937 by the American Trucking Associations for the purpose of publicly displaying the "incredible degree of safety, courtesy, and driving judgement [that drivers] had achieved".[2]
Since the earliest roadeos, roadeo competitions have been started for a wide variety of commercially operated vehicles. In addition to transit and school buses, competitions are available for minivan drivers[3] and paratransit bus drivers, to name only two of the classes of vehicles served. Vehicles are usually divided by class, such as the International Bus Roadeo, which divides transit buses into Ford transit, Cutaway and 35-foot divisions.
OBSTACLES:
The obstacles that drivers have to navigate may vary among competitions, but usually measure drivers' abilities to negotiate narrow paths, tight turns, or both while under a time limit.[4] At times, the clearance drivers are given by an obstacle are quite small; one obstacle that bus drivers have to navigate requires them to stop with their front bumpers less than six inches away from a traffic cone. The obstacles in a roadeo are usually meant to test drivers' ability to handle situations that would come up during usual day-to-day driving. Transit bus roadeos include: left and right turns, serpentine, off-set, left and right reverse, diminishing clearance, rear dual clearance, judgement stops, simulated passenger stops and navigating very tight spaces such as those that would be encountered while driving a transit bus. Drivers are also required to complete a pre-trip inspection as part of the roadeo competition.[6]
OTHER COMPONENTS:
Some roadeos go beyond merely testing driving skills. Most roadeos have a written component, usually a test drivers must take before they compete in the driving events. Maintenance competitions are part of many roadeos, especially those involving transit buses; for instance, the International Bus Roadeo includes a bus maintenance challenge in which bus maintenance teams have to diagnose and repair bus mechanical issues.[6] Adding to the challenge, mechanical issues sometimes need to be diagnosed under a strict time limit.[4]
NOTABLE ROADEOS:
In the United States, there are a number of national level roadeos for which drivers qualify by doing well in regional roadeos. These national roadeos usually serve one or a few types of vehicles; for example, the International Bus Roadeo only allows transit bus drivers to compete.[6]
International Bus Roadeo
The International Bus Roadeo is hosted by the American Public Transportation Association and includes bus driving and bus maintenance competitions.[6]
Now, on to some braggin’ about our awesome team here at PDRTA…
Our own Mitchell Brantley took home the honor of first place with the “2022 State Transportation Roadeo Winner-35’ Bus Category” Award.
Mitchell Brantley - First Place Winner!
Mitchell Brantley maneuvering a 35'Gillig through the roadeo course.
Our outstanding Maintenance Team lead by Maintenance Manager, Ronnie Newsome: Bo Flowers, Marquis Graham and Ricky Wright brought home the “2022 State Transportation Roadeo Winner-Maintenance Team” Award.
Ronnie Newsome, Marquis Graham, Bo Flowers and Ricky Wright.
Marquis Graham, Bo Flowers and Ricky Wright - First Place Winners!
But wait, there’s more!
PDRTA was spotlighted by TASC (Transportation Association of South Carolina) with two additional distinguished awards:
Our Executive Director, Don Strickland was recognized for his dedication to transit advocacy with the “2022 Transit Advocate of the Year” Award.
Don Stickland, PDRTA Executive Director
PDRTA Board Chairman, James Jackson was recognized with the “2022 Board Member of the Year: Urban” Award.
James Jackson, PDRTA Board Chairman
We are so proud of the dedication, hard work and support of our team, managers and board members bring to PDRTA each day. To say we are blessed would be an understatement. Thank you to those that serve here at PDRTA and to our communities for allowing us to serve you.
Don Strickland with PDRTA Board Members: James Jackson, Judy Alexander and Hattie Burns
Back row (l. to r.): Jack Pickett, Tavorous Collins, Mitchell Brantley, Jarrod Bell, Michelle Fields, Marquis Graham, Bo Flowers, Ronnie Newsome. Front Row (l. to r.) Veronica Bostic, Darryl Hickman, Cynthia Robinson, Don Strickland, Samantha Mack, Judy Alexander, Hattie Burns, Ricky Wright and James Jackson.
REFERENCES:
1. Bumper to Bumper: The Complete Guide to Tractor-trailer Operations. Mike Byrnes & Associates, Inc. 2003. ISBN 9780962168765.
2. Dempewolff, Richard F. (March 1950). "Tires". Popular Mechanics. pp. 107–111. Retrieved 29 March 2016 – via Google Books.
3. "2015 National Community Transportation Roadeo Results" (PDF). Community Transportation Association of America. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
4. "Mechanics Join Drivers At Washington D.C. Roadeo". Passenger Transport. American Public Transportation Association. 1982. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
5. "School bus 'Roadeo': Where speed doesn't matter". The Bakersfield Californian. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
6. "2016 International Bus Roadeo Handbook" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. Retrieved 29 March 2016.