Pennsylvania School Bus Competition to Mark 40 Years

HARRISBURG, Penn. — Preparations are underway for the 40th anniversary of the Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition.

To mark the occasion, the Pennsylvania School Bus Association (PSBA) has unveiled a commemorative logo for the event.

The competition debuted in 1976 as the Pennsylvania School Bus Road-e-o. The name was changed to the Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Safety Competition in 1994. Over four decades, thousands of drivers have competed in the annual event, according to PSBA.

The 40th Annual School Bus Driver Safety Competition will be held on Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25, at Mount Nittany Middle School in State College.

On Friday evening, participating drivers will be given an orientation and will take a written examination. On Saturday morning, the drivers will return to the middle school and compete in the skills portion, where drivers are tested in a number of areas, including physical and verbal bus inspection, curb line parking, height judgment, simulated bus stop, and railroad crossings.

“We look forward to watching these professionals put their knowledge and skills to the test,” said Dallas Krapf, vice chairman of Krapf Bus Companies and coordinator for the Pennsylvania safety competition. “It is a true recognition and celebration of these everyday heroes, who drive our children to school every day in communities across the state.”

During the spring, regional competitions are held across Pennsylvania to determine which drivers will take part in the state competition. The top two drivers in the conventional and transit categories in the state event qualify for the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, which this year will be held July 17 in Greensboro, North Carolina.