Bus Roadeo Toolkit

Vehicles

Secure and Inspect Vehicles 

Vehicles are typically provided by the participating transit agency or agencies. The work group should confirm whether additional vehicle insurance is required, as non-transit agency employees may be driving the vehicles. The vehicles will need to be inspected to ensure all vehicles are in proper working order, with vehicle inspections taking place either the day before or early on the day of the event. Depending on the number of contestants and whether contestants will be conducting a vehicle inspection, you will need three to four vehicles for each vehicle category - three for competition and one spare. If you are including the stationary events of pre-trip inspections and wheelchair securement, you will want to secure no less than two to three vehicles for each stationary event. To ensure consistency and fairness, try to get similar makes and models of vehicles.   

Parameters for Specific Vehicles 

All vehicles used within each class should be identical in year, make, model, features, and equipment. This ensures that no competitor gains an advantage due to differences in vehicle performance and configuration.

• Wheelchair ramps or lifts must be fully functional and in proper working order.
• Variations in equipment (e.g., mud flaps, turning radius, mirror set-up) should be avoided, as they can affect performance and scoring or create confusion for participants.
• Course vehicles should be identical within their class, though they may differ from vehicles used for pre-trip inspections or wheelchair securement events.
• Vehicles used for wheelchair securement should also be identical to one another, even if they differ from pre-trip vehicles.

Vehicle classes group drivers by the type and size of vehicle they operate, ensuring fair evaluation on comparable equipment. While classes may vary by event, the most common Bus Roadeo vehicle classes include:

Local Bus 

  1. 35-Foot Bus 

  2. 40-Foot Bus 

  3. 60-Foot Articulated Bus 

Paratransit 

  4. Body-on Cassis (BOC) 

  5. Van 

Intercity Bus 

  6. Over-the-Road Coach (Motorcoach) 

Some events may include additional or specialized divisions, such as: 

• Electric Bus Class 
• Trolley or Historic Vehicle Class 

Vehicle class distinctions are important because they directly affect: 

• Turning radius and maneuverability 
• Visibility and mirror usage 
• Breaking and acceleration response 
• Course design and obstacle spacing 

Separating competitors by vehicle class ensures operators are evaluated based on skill and precision rather than differences in equipment. By maintaining consistent vehicle specifications within each class and clearly defining class categories, Roadeo organizers can create a fair, controlled, and professional competition environment.

Updated August 10, 2026