Bus Roadeo Toolkit

Judging

Judge Check In

Judge check in procedures are covered in the registration section of this Toolkit. You may also want to establish a sub-group or committee dedicated specifically to judging. While another sub-group or committee may be doing registration, the Judging Committee can monitor registration to ensure there are enough judges and back-up judges. Each obstacle requires two judges, and the information collected during registration will help assign judges to their locations based on their experience and preference. 



State or local police can be invited to judge the Judgement Stop obstacle. They can bring the radar gun required to measure the driver’s speed. If you are not able to secure a volunteer from the police department, obtain and train someone to use a speed gun.

On-Board Judge

This judge is in the vehicle with the driver. The judge is the timekeeper and determines the degree of professional appearance, smoothness of operations, and on-board safety habits. Depending on the size of your event and the availability of volunteers, you may choose to have three on-board judges. One person can do the appearance for all drivers before they get on the vehicle, one judge can be the timekeeper, one to evaluate the smoothness of operation, and one to evaluate on-board safety habits.

Course Judge

This judge is assigned to the obstacle course and is responsible for evaluating each obstacle from the completion of the previous obstacle through the completion of the obstacle they are judging. The course judge must provide a completed score sheet for each contestant. 

Stationary Event Judge

The stationary event includes the pre-trip inspection. Judges assigned to the stationary event should be familiar with the event they are judging and understand the scoring criteria for their assigned event. Judges for the stationary event must verify that the driver both performs and verbalizes key tasks during their performance.

Wheelchair Securement Judge

For the wheelchair securement event, two judges are recommended, with one of the two judges being a certified trainer. Judges for the “wheelchair securement” event must verify that the driver both performs and verbalizes key tasks during their performance.

Judge’s Packet

The judge’s packet provides essential information about judging, but a walk-through of the course obstacles is also necessary. In Connecticut, two techniques were used. In the first, a Course Marshal walked with all judges through each obstacle before the competition began. This approach allowed judges to see the full course layout and each obstacle. However, this can also be confusing because some of the judges may not hear everything the trainer is stating and may miss the details of judging their assigned location. In the second technique, a trainer for each obstacle instructs the two judges assigned to that obstacle. Connecticut found the latter to be more effective, as long as there is enough time to do the individual instructions. Indiana provides a roadeo prep webinar for drivers and judges in addition to the walk-through on the day of the event. In this two-hour webinar, the driver and judges review each obstacle and associated score sheet. 



The judging packet should include a map of the course, general instructions outlining the judge’s role, and the scoring sheets for the obstacle assigned to that judge. Connecticut provided a guide for both the contestants and the judges so that everyone would be familiar with the roadeo event, the course layout, rules of conduct, and scoring.. To access, download the Judge’s Packet.

Scoring

Judges must be consistent when scoring contestants and provide an objective evaluation of a contestant’s performance. Listed below are some general rules of thumb and ten obstacles with instructions on how to score each obstacle. Some of the information listed below and score sheets are taken from the Connecticut guidelines.

General Guidelines

The sheets listed below show the preferred locations of where the judges should be standing. The judge must not interfere with the contestant’s ability to complete the obstacle. Judges should be careful not to walk with the vehicle and be aware of facial expressions that could send a signal to the driver that could help or hurt them. Judges must mark on the scoring sheet which barrels, balls, cones or curbs are hit or touched (“hit”) by the vehicle. A hit occurs when any part of the vehicle (e.g. body, bumper and tire) comes in contact with the barrels, mini-cones, etc. A contestant is not penalized a second time if they hit the same barrel, cone or curb more than once. Judges must reset the barrels, mini-cones, etc. once the contestant has cleared the obstacle. If a cone is stuck under the vehicle it will usually come out on its own. The Course Marshal may determine if the vehicle must be stopped to remove the cone. The on-board judge must stop the clock while the cone(s) is removed and start the clock again once the vehicle is placed back into motion. If the obstacle does not require a vehicle stop, but the contestant stops, the clock continues to run. Click here to download the judges’ scoring templates. For scoring templates that are not numbered, click here for the PDF, or download the Word version.

Serpentine

The serpentine tests the contestant’s ability to maneuver turns. The cones most likely to be hit are the two entrance cones, the point and the pivot cones. No transmission shift into reverse is permitted, but would count as a standard, five-point deduction if taken to avoid hitting a cone. Since contestants are likely to stop and shift in reverse, you must remember to check if cones are hit when the vehicle is traveling backwards.

Offset Street

The serpentine tests the contestant’s ability to maneuver turns. The cones most likely to be hit are the two entrance cones, the point and the pivot cones. No transmission shift into reverse is permitted, but would count as a standard, five-point deduction if taken to avoid hitting a cone. Since contestants are likely to stop and shift in reverse, you must remember to check if cones are hit when the vehicle is traveling backwards.

Right Turn

The right turn tests the contestant’s ability to maneuver a 90-degree right turn. Note the location of the right, outside rear tire as it crosses the 45-degree line from the pivot cone. This is the point at which you must decide which interval the tire has crossed. If any portion of the line marking the next 6” increment on the 45-degree line is visible as the tire crosses the 45-degree line, penalty points are earned. The cones most likely to be hit are the driver’s side entrance cone (tail swing), the pivot cone and the exit cones. A turn signal is required. No transmission shift is required for this event and would result in a standard, five-point deduction if taken.

Left Turn

The left turn tests the contestant’s ability to maneuver a 90-degree left turn. The two entry cones are the ones most likely to be hit. Remember, they each have a 25-point value. Watch for the right entry cone being hit by the tail swing of the vehicle. The turn signal is required. No transmission shift is required for this event and would result in a standard, five-point deduction if taken.

Diminishing Clearance 

The diminishing clearance obstacle tests the contestant’s ability to judge the position and speed of the vehicle. In this obstacle, the vehicle must travel at least 20 mph before entering the barrels. The radar display, not the vehicle speedometer, is the official speed measurement device, so judges must watch the display or refer to the operator of the radar. The vehicle can reach this speed at any point before entering the exercise. Judges should be careful to stand clear of  the barrels. Barrels travel fast when hit at 20 mph. In Connecticut, a safety officer was present with radar equipment and signaled to the judge that the contestant achieved 20 mph. The signal can be a thumbs up/down or even the flashing of lights. Sirens are not recommended as they can be a distraction to other competitors at the event.

Judgement Stop

The judgement stop tests the contestant’s ability to judge the stopping distance between the bus and a small object, in this case, a cone, directly ahead. When measuring the distance between the cone and the front bumper of the vehicle, it is very important to be consistent in your measurements. Measure the distance from the cone to the bumper by placing the yardstick on top of the cone, with the 1” increments on the yardstick starting at the end toward the vehicle. The yardstick should be kept parallel to the ground (level), and perpendicular to the front of the vehicle. Read the distance where the yardstick crosses the outside of the cone. Measurements are rounded up. If you measure 8-1/4” or 8-3/4”, it should be recorded as 9” on the score sheet. The driver is only permitted one stop so if the driver stops more than once there is a point deduction for extra stops.

Smoothness of Operation and Safety Habits

The on-board budge will determine if the contestant makes any sudden starts, stops or abrupt turns, and will indicate whether contestants wear their seat belt/shoulder harness while driving the course. Additionally, the on-board judge will note contestant’s use of turn signals, four-way flashers and sounding of the horn while completing a number of obstacles. The judge should score all contestants consistently.

Time Penalty

The timekeeper (who also serves as the on-board judge) starts the clock when the vehicle is put in motion at the start line. The clock is stopped when the vehicle comes to a stop at the right- and left-turn reverse obstacles and the passenger stop and started again when signaled to do so by the judges (by a tap on the side of the vehicle). The clock is stopped when the vehicle comes to a final stop at the judgment stop. There is a seven-minute window for completing the course. If the driver has not completed the course after eight minutes, the on-board judges must make note of the last obstacle completed, and all scoring will cease.

Personal Appearance

It is up to the roadeo organizers whether to include this as part of the event. In Connecticut, drivers are required to wear their uniforms and are judged on their professional appearance. Evaluation criteria includes wrinkled uniforms, unkempt personal appearance, and appropriate foot attire.

Other Exercises

Your roadeo may include stationary events and/or a safety quiz.

Safety Quiz

A written quiz can be administered before the driver starts the obstacle course and used to test the contestant’s knowledge of the rules and regulations for a professional vehicle driver.

Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection

All drivers must conduct a pre-inspection of their vehicle before they start their day of service. This exercise could be part of the roadeo contest. For this stationary event, it is recommended that up to four defects be present on the vehicle. Drivers will be scored on locating the four defects and completing the inspection in a logical and systematic manner. There is a seven-minute time limit for this event. 

Wheelchair Securement

This event tests the driver’s ability to operate lift and ramp equipment, properly secure a wheelchair, and provide quality customer service. The driver should approach and treat the passenger as a customer to be transported. Participants should take all necessary steps to board the passenger and correctly secure the passenger and wheelchair. For this stationary event, drivers are also scored on their customer service skills and ability to verbalize each task performed as well as perform each task. There is a seven-minute time limit for this event.

Updated August 10, 2026