Bus Roadeo Toolkit

Guidance on Practice Day Policies

A practice session gives drivers, mechanics, and judges the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the course, policies and procedures. State and national roadeo events typically include a written test, a pre-trip inspection, a wheelchair securement event, and a road course. The practice session generally covers all of these elements, except the written test. However, locations are often designated for participants to study and prepare for the written test.



The practice session will help judges understand how to evaluate each obstacle and accurately complete the score sheet for every driver. The course marshal will visit judges on the course to verify the accuracy of the scoring.

Practice sessions, and recommended time limits, are presented below.

• Pre-trip Inspection: Drivers have seven minutes to complete the pre-trip inspection. Judges evaluate whether the inspection is completed, all defects are identified, and if it is performed in a logical, systematic manner. Each system may use a different type of pre-trip inspection checklist.
•  Wheelchair Securement: The wheelchair securement and lift operations station also has a seven-minute time limit.
•  Driving Course: Each driver is allowed seven minutes to complete the driving course. A listing of obstacles on the course is presented below with descriptions addressed within the Toolkit.
• Offset Street 
• Right-Hand Reverse
• Left-Hand Reverse 
• Right Turn 
• Passenger Stop 
• Left Turn 
• Serpentine 
• Right Tire Clearance 
• Diminishing Clearance 
• Judgement Stop 

Drivers will also be judged on the smoothness of operations. The on-board judge will determine if drivers make any sudden stops, starts, or abrupt turns. The judge will also indicate whether drivers wear their seatbelt/shoulder harness while driving the course.

The timekeeper, who serves as the on-board judge, starts the clock when the vehicle is put into motion at the start line. The clock is stopped when the vehicle comes to a stop at the right- and left-hand reverse exercises and the passenger stop. The clock is restarted when the vehicle is put into motion. The clock is stopped a final time when the vehicle comes to its last stop at the judgment stop.



A point deduction is applied for each second beyond the seven-minute limit required to complete the stationary events. Timekeepers must notify the contestants when they reach the seven-minute mark and when they have one minute remaining to complete the course. Participants will have eight minutes to complete the course. If the participant has not completed the course after eight minutes, the on-board judge must note the last obstacle completed, and no further scoring will occur.

The total driving time is also used as a tiebreaker in the event of a tie score between two or more contestants. In the event of a tie, the contestant with the lower elapsed time will be scored higher.

Updated August 10, 2026