JTA Bus Operator Sweeps the State Competition for the 3rd Time

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is proud to congratulate bus operator, Ramon Farfan, the 2015 State of Florida Triple Crown Bus Roadeo Champion. Ramon defended his title at the competition held April 10-11 in St. Petersburg, Florida. This is Ramon’s 3rd state championship.

“I am so proud of Mr. Farfan,” said JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. “It is satisfying to know that JTA is home to one of the finest bus operators in the country. We wish him the best of luck in the international competition.”
Ford also commended the JTA maintenance team, The Fighting Machinists, who placed 3rd out of eight maintenance teams in a timed competition to identify and diagnose defects that mechanics may experience while servicing buses. The team included Tommy Crews, James Ratliff and Rick Ballard.

Farfan competed against 17 bus operators from other public transit agencies across the state on a competition course designed to test every phase of operation a bus operator encounters in normal driving situations. He also won the individual 1st Place Award for Pre-trip Inspection.

Ramon will represent JTA and the state of Florida at the 2015 International Bus and Maintenance Roadeo, May 1-5 in Fort Worth, Texas. Ramon has competed seven times at the International and won it in 2012. The Fighting Machinists will represent JTA.

The International Bus Roadeo includes competition events for both bus operators and bus mechanics. Awards are given in each practice area and there is an overall grand prize for the transit system with the highest combined score for the bus operator and bus maintenance team.