JULY 27 — The National School Transportation Association Annual Meeting & Convention in downtown Philadelphia featured a record win at the School Bus Drivers International Safety Competition, as well as federal updates.
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NSTA officials reported that 138 delegates registered to attend the event, which runs through Wednesday.
Over the weekend, 68 drivers competed in the 48th Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition held at the Wells Fargo Center. The results are posted in a table below.
Once again, the big winner was Larry Hannon of Pennsylvania, who topped the Conventional Bus category for a record ninth time. Other category winners were Josh Simpkins of Virginia, who won Small Buses, and Victor Garza of California, who won Transit Buses. Next year’s competition will be held on July 21-22, in Austin, Texas.
The keynote presentation on Monday afternoon was made by Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, there were a number of concurrent educational workshops, industry updates, committee meetings and networking opportunities.
Blake Krapf, NSTA president, commented that, “I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our supplier partners for providing the financial support that is needed to make this event possible.”
He added that the association’s premier event of the year provides the “opportunity to meet friends, colleagues and new contacts from across the school transportation industry. There are many NSTA members in attendance, including contractors, supplier partners and state association representatives.”
Events included:
- Safety Competition Dinner & Awards Ceremony
- Sponsor Showcase
- President’s Welcome
- First Observer Plus Training Program (Jimmy Beasley, Transportation Safety Administration)
- Driving Students to Success (Pastor Alfred L. Reeves, Harford County P.S.)
- Keynote Presentation (Congressman Lou Barletta)
- Supplier Member Roundtable (Lee Edwards, Wells Fargo)
- HR in a Digital Age (Richard Landau, Jackson Lewis, P.C.)
- Investigation of Harassment Claims (Richard Landau, Jackson Lewis, P.C.)
- Maximizing Uptime (Brian Julius, TRP Bus Parts; PACCAR, Inc.)
- Manufacturer’s Panel (Blue Bird, Collins Bus, IC Bus and Thomas Built Buses)
- Social Media: Don’t Post That! (Grace Kelly, RC Kelly Law Associates)
- Mid-Year U.S. Economic Outlook (Charlie Dougherty, Wells Fargo Securities)
- Legislative, Regulatory and Seatbelt Updates
NSTA acknowledged the safety competition winners on Sunday, July 22, at the NSTA Safety Competition Dinner & Awards Ceremony, which was sponsored by IC Bus, LLC. Banquet festivities were held at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia, Pa.
NSTA President Blake Krapf said, “This great event showcases excellence in school bus knowledge, maneuvering and skill. School bus transportation is the safest form of transportation to and from school. In fact, children are 70 times more likely to get to school safely when taking a bus instead of traveling by car. All of the drivers in the International Competition are truly the best of the best on and off the road. We congratulate all of the drivers in this International Competition. We also recognize and honor the winners in each vehicle category.”
The contestants began the International Competition on Saturday, July 21, with an orientation and a written exam testing their understanding of the rules of the road. Then, on Sunday, July 22, the drivers jumped behind the wheel of a school bus and completed a road course. Drivers competed in one of three categories: small bus, conventional or transit.
According to NSTA, the competition provides school bus drivers from across the U.S. and Canada with a unique opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills, while allowing them to compete for the international title. In order to be eligible, a driver must have competed and won in a state or province competition in their designated school bus class during the last year. The driver must also enter the International Competition in the same designated school bus class that he or she won at the state or province level. The driver with the highest score in each school bus class for a public sector carrier, and the driver with the highest score in each school bus class for a private sector carrier, are eligible to compete in the International Competition.
NSTA was founded in 1964, to coordinate regulatory and legislative efforts on behalf of the private school bus industry, and recognize outstanding service among contractors in North America.
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48th Annual School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, July 21-22
Small Buses
Name Company/Organization State Score Rank
Josh Simpkins Montgomery Co. Public Schools VA 554 1
John Labus Cabell County Schools WV 508 2
Dorothy Dorman First Student, Inc. KS 445 3
Bryan Brooks West County Transportation Agency CA 418 4
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Conventional Buses
Name Company/Organization State Score Rank
Larry Hannon Centennial School District PA 621 1
Billy Wiseman Kanawha County Schools WV 611 2
Michael Castaneda North East ISD TX 560 3
Cathy Graham Montgomery Co. Public Schools VA 513 4
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Transit Buses
Name Company/Organization State Score Rank
Victor Garza Newport Mesa USD CA 553 1
Dee Dee Lewis Allen ISD TX 527 2
Sergio Duenas Durham School Services CA 490 3
Mike Webster Brightbill Transportation PA 485 4
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