The 2016 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina began on Sunday with the best of the best bus operators and maintainers from the United States and Canada competing for top honors.
Leading up to this year’s International Bus Roadeo there was a lot of discussion and debate as numerous state and city governments imposed travel bans to North Carolina in the wake of the state’s new law that many feel discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
There were some competitors missing as a result, but everyone there was excited to compete, to test their skills and to meet up with old friends.
There were a total of 61 bus operators competing: 39 in the 40’ competition and 22 in the 30’ competition. They represented 30 U.S. states as well as four cities from Canada. The maintenance competition saw 25 teams from nearly 20 states and one province.
Daniel Schmidt, coach operator from Ben Franklin Transit, said there’s at least five of the top competitors not at the event in Charlotte due to travel restrictions. For him, this would be his last time competing as he’s moving into a supervisor role. He’ll still be a part of roadeos, however, as he said he has helped in training others and will continue to do that in his new role. This was his 84th roadeo competition and he has won more than 40.
“We’re like a family,” said William Webb, fixed route opertator for Delaware Transit Corp., as he waited for his turn in the competition. Wanting to drive a bus right out of high school, he has been an operator for 23 years and is competing at the international level for the 13th time this year. He has also won the customer service challenge four times.
Competing in the International Bus Roadeo is his motivation every day on the job, he said. To compete, operators have to maintain standards, such as remaining accident free of preventable accidents and have to have excellent attendance. “It keeps me alert,” he said of looking forward to the annual competition.
The competition also gives them an appreciation of driving different vehicles and a different working environment. “You find out secrets from others,” said Christopher Carames, York Region Transit bus operator. He and Transdev's Cynthia Cain, director, safety & training for York Region Transit, came down early for him to practice. Cain said at one point she was driving the course and he coached her, which let him see some things he hadn’t seen from behind the wheel.
“All the fun is great,” said Cain of roadeos, “but honing their skills is what’s really important.”
With a background as a school bus driver, Cain has spent many years behind the wheel and on a roadeo course. She mentioned that at one point when she was a school bus operator competing in roadeos, it all stopped because of expenses and lack of funding, so she understands the value of maintaining the competition. “This lets people know how much you appreciate them.
“To be a good manager, you need to understand the driver’s challenges.”
Justin Martin, a bus operator with Lane Transit District (LTD) was competing for the 7th time at the international level. As he, Carames and Cain were talking about the camaraderie and how they all learn from each other, he mentioned that they even have a Facebook group of transit roadeo operators, so they can keep in contact all year long.
Hoping to defend their agency’s title as International Bus Roadeo Grand Champion was the team from Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Tom Belcher, vehicle maintenance trainer, Joel Chsesser, mechanic coach repair, Clayton Jackson, director, vehicle maintenance, Don Readnour, mechanic, electrician, Jamie Shaner, mechanic/electrician “A”, and Howard Yoder, bus operator. While most have competed at the national level before, it was Chesser’s first time. And while all of the maintenance competition events are challenge, the competition hones their skills. And, Belcher added, coming to the event gives them the opportunity to see new things.
Having a combined 31 years of experience competing at the national level was the maintenance team from Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), James Furino mechanic, Lewis Wheeler, mechanic, and Anthony redmon, lead mechanic – bus. After competing within their agency and that at the state level to make it, they were looking forward to representing their agency.
While initially Gary Thomas, DART president/executive director, joked that he was there to make his team nervous, he said he comes out to the roadeo to support his team as they are the ones that make things happen every day back home. He stressed, “This is why we do what we do.”
Shawn Donaghy, chief operating officer/vice president at the Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) echoed Thomas’ sentiment. “We’re proud of what they do,” he said. It’s important to put the employees on stage at the international level to showcase their skill; they’re excited to compete. “It’s a small investment for the employee morale.”
