Bus Roadeo Toolkit

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Registration

Participant Eligibility Standards

You will want to ensure your eligibility requirements align with those of the national roadeos, so that your winners are able to compete in those events. Please see below for links to national bus roadeos: 



The eligibility standards should be included in the initial mailings to the participating transit agencies as part of the registration form. A list of Suggested Eligibility Criteria is provided. An example of Driver Qualification Criteria comes from the Connecticut Roadeo.

Develop a Registration Process

An online registration process is the most convenient way to register drivers, judges, and volunteers. This will also make it easier to build a database of participants. Free online tools such as Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, Zoomerang, or Surveygizmo can be used to collect this information. Ultimately, you will download the information into a spreadsheet or Word document to create lists of contestants, start times, judge assignments, name tags, and other event materials. 



It may be more convenient if you have the transit agency’s main contact complete the registration form for each driver. A list of items for the Registration Forms is provided.

Driver, Judge, and Volunteer Registration Templates

A bus roadeo registration template is included to register drivers, volunteers, and judges. This template can easily be replicated or tailored to your event. A Participant Registration Form in provided in Excel format. The Driver Registration Form from the Indiana Paratransit Roadeo is  provided for reference. A Judges Registration Form from the Indiana Paratransit Roadeo and a Volunteer Registration Form from the Connecticut Roadeo are excellent references. 



An informational packet with event details should be provided to all confirmed participants. A Driver Information Packet from the Indiana State Roadeo is included as an example.

Registration Fee

In some states, a registration fee is charged to help offset event costs. Registration fees will vary by event location and agency and depend on sponsorship opportunities from local and regional vendors, industry and corporate organizations, State DOTs, state transit associations, and local municipalities. Registration fees from state roadeos can range from $40 (Indiana) to $250 (Texas). A discount may be offered for each additional driver registered. Fees for state roadeos may cover event registration, a lunch ticket, awards banquet ticket, and t-shirt. The registration fee for national events is notably higher, ranging from $525 per driver (CTAA) to $1,175 per driver (APTA). Costs are from 2026. The fee for national events may cover access to events, including orientations, training, workshops, swap meet, awards ceremony, and the after party. As a general guideline, the fee can be estimated at roughly ten percent (10%) of the overall roadeo budget.


The Toolkit includes a Budget Sheet that will help estimate a registration fee. Please refer to the Budget section later in the Toolkit for additional information.

Assign Start Times

There should be an established start time for the event to begin to ensure the flow of the event keeps participants engaged. Depending on the type and size of your roadeo, you may have one or up to three vehicles on the course at one time to allow enough time for everyone to complete. Each driver has seven minutes to complete the course, with scoring cut off at eight minutes.  Timing for releasing vehicles will depend on the flow of the course and how drivers are maneuvering through, but a standard interval would be five minutes after the first vehicle begins on the course. The start times are included in the driver registration packet. 

Check In for Judges on the Day of the Event

The registration spreadsheet can be used to create name tags, assign judges to obstacles, and assist with judge check-in on the day of the event. Judges should arrive at least one hour before the roadeo begins to check in, receive judging instructions, and familiarize themselves with their assigned obstacle and the overall course. This also allows the judge coordinator time to fill any vacant positions if someone does not arrive. Upon check-in, judges should receive a safety vest, a judge’s packet, and, if available, a commemorative item such as a baseball cap or shirt. A list of information for the Judges’ and Contestants’ Packets is provided for reference. A sample is included under National, State, and Tribal Roadeo References located at the end of the Toolkit. The check-in process can be applied to volunteers.

Check In for Contestants on the Day of the Event

As with the judges, the registration spreadsheet can be used to check in contestants and prepare name tags. At check-in, contestants are assigned their starting times and/or team assignment, along with a copy of the contestant packet. Contestants should also arrive at least one hour before the event, regardless of their scheduled start time. Those who do not check in at least one hour before the event may be disqualified from participating. In most cases, transit agencies are permitted to have one alternate contestant.



Some roadeo competitions are strictly individual competitions, while others include a team component. Whether the roadeo is individual or team-based affects both registration and scoring. A team roadeo involves a group of operators or mechanics working together to complete tasks that test coordination, communication, and shared operational or technical skills. Performance is evaluated collectively. An individual roadeo focuses on a single participant’s technical skill, precision, and adherence to safety standards.

Updated August 10, 2026