TULSA, Okla. — A school bus technician from New Jersey and an inspector from North Carolina earned the title of “America’s Best” in their respective fields in mid-September.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation’s (NAPT) annual competition, hosted this year by lubricants supplier Hydrotex and Tulsa Public Schools, drew school bus professionals from across the country.

The top competitors in the inspector category were:

1. Tim Speer — Yadkin County Schools, Yadkinville, N.C.
2. Robert Williams — Spring (Texas) Independent School District
3. Ryan Texer — Colorado Springs (Colo.) School District #11

The top competitors in the technician category were:

1. Matt Bliss — First Student, Trenton, N.J.
2. Harvey Bamford — Centralia-Chehalis (Wash.) Pupil Trans Co-op
3. Michael Lagoda — West Seneca (N.Y.) Central Schools

Speer and Bliss each received a scholarship, compliments of Bus Parts Warehouse and Zonar Systems, to attend the NAPT Conference & Trade Show in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in late October.

The contest comprises a written evaluation, a diagnostics test for technicians and an actual inspection for inspectors. The event also integrates a variety of workshops covering components and systems on school buses.