Colorado school bus drivers, technicians advance to nationals
Drivers and maintenance staff test their skills in the Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association’s school bus roadeo and technician safety contests.
PUEBLO, Colo. — School bus drivers and maintenance staff from across the state tested their skills in the Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association’s 2015 school bus roadeo and technician safety contests.
The events were held at Colorado State University, Pueblo, on June 16.
Here are the results of the technician contest:
• 1st — Don Hough, Adams 12 Five Star Schools
• 2nd — Aaron Wilmoth, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8
• 3rd — Justin Beddow, Academy School District 20
• Best in Mechanical Station — Justin Beddow, Academy School District 20
• Best in Inspection Station — Kurt Rostin, Colorado Springs School District 11
• Best in Written Test Station — Aaron Wilmoth, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8
Hough and Wilmoth qualify to represent Colorado at the 2015 America’s Best Tech/Inspect competition, which will be held during the National Association for Pupil Transportation Summit in Richmond, Virginia, in November.
Here are the results of the Colorado school bus roadeo:
Conventional
• 1st — Denise Nelson, Widefield School District 3
• 2nd — Craig Walker, Harrison School District
• 3rd — James Buchanan, Cherry Creek School District
Nelson and Walker qualify to represent Colorado at the 2015 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, to be held in Minneapolis on July 18 and 19.
Special needs
1st — Robert Leach and Birt Turnwall, Academy School District 20
2nd — Jesse Hill and Brandon Hill, Academy School District 20
3rd — Chris Fritz and Syd Sertich, Academy School District 20
The top two teams, Leach/Turnwall and Hill/Hill, qualify to represent Colorado at the National Special Needs Team Safety Roadeo in Louisville, Kentucky, in March.
More Management

Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
Zum Reaches 19 States With New York Expansion
The addition of the Empire State to the student transportation company's roster marks a growing expansion in the Northeast as it scales its tech and school bus services.
Read More →
First Student Updates Its Parent App
First View connects both yellow bus and alternative transportation, giving families one platform to track student trips for the new school year, with 15 languages supported.
Read More →
The Back-to-School Checklist Every Director Should Complete Before the First Bell
Help your transportation team start the school year strong with these tips for contingency planning, communication, fleet visibility, technology, and trip management.
Read More →
How a New York District Cut Nearly $1M in Transportation Costs While Expanding Bus Access
A data-driven overhaul with BusRight reduced Poughkeepsie City School District's planned routes from 26 to 17 while extending school bus service to about 1,200 additional students.
Read More →
Budgets Down, Enrollment Shifting: What the Data Says Districts Should Watch
School transportation departments face two converging challenges this year: tightening budgets and shifting enrollment. Most districts still address these issues separately, but the assumption that either trend will simplify operations is proving incorrect.
Read More →
These 8 School Transportation Companies Made the 2026 Inc. 5000 List
Find out which school transportation contractors, technology providers, and suppliers ranked among America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Read More →The Link Between Emotional Intelligence and School Bus Safety
How can emotional intelligence help transportation pros navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships? Listen to find out.
Read More →What Emotional Intelligence Has to Do With School Bus Safety
In this video, discover how emotional intelligence can help transportation leaders and drivers navigate stress, manage change, and build stronger relationships. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
Beyond Two-Way Radios: School Bus Communications Evolve With Push-to-Talk Over Cellular
PRYME Radio and PositionPTT join forces to advance hands-free radio use and reduce distracted driving. See how PoC compares with traditional radios on range, cost, safety, and connectivity.
Read More →

