A driver completes a maneuver at the Provincial School Bus Roadeo on Saturday, June 8 in Red Deer. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

wheels on the bus

Drivers show off skills at Provincial School Bus Roadeo

Jun 8, 2019 | 12:32 PM

Drivers were put to the test on Saturday at the 39th annual Provincial School Bus Roadeo at Red Deer’s Notre Dame High School.

The competition featured drivers from across the province, including 55 in the large bus category and 11 in the small bus division.

“All our best drivers have to gain a Class 2 license, and right now with the Class 2, it’s 53.5 hours that are the minimum requirement for all bus drivers,” says Corinne Varga, Manager of Operations, Prairie Bus Lines.

“The obstacles they’re doing today and the written exam today are based on “S” endorsement qualifications. We practice for the roadeo, our best drivers have a lot of fun and are competitive against each other, so it tightens up their skills.”

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Kelli Pickett, Safety and Training Coordinator for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, says the competition sheds an important light on bus drivers for parents and students.

“In conjunction with the heavy training that they go through, the Provincial School Bus Roadeo is really a time for them to showcase their skills with a lot of these obstacles,” she says.

“The obstacles are measured to a tee, and the tight spaces showcase their ability to maneuver a big bus through these tiny spaces, which takes years of training. it should show families the skills of these drivers.”

Winners from each category will travel to Austin, Texas in July for the 49th annual International School Bus Roadeo, courtesy of the Alberta Student Transportation Advisory Council (ASTAC).

The event held Saturday was hosted by Prairie Bus Lines, Red Deer Catholic, and Chinook’s Edge School Division.