Table of Contents. Introduction...1. Who May Participate and Enter...2. What to Expect...2. School Bus Technician...3. School Bus Inspector...

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2 Table of Contents Introduction...1 Who May Participate and Enter...2 What to Expect...2 School Bus Technician...3 School Bus Inspector Training...5 Awards and Sponsors...6 How to Enter...7 Our Goal...8 Contact Information...8 Rules and Local Event Additional Information...11 NAPT News Release...12 Photo Gallery...13 Developed By National Association of Pupil Transportation & National School Bus Safety Inspection Council

3 BE PART OF NAPT S AMERICA S BEST NATIONAL School Bus Technician and Inspector Training and Skills Competition! Organize a State, local or Corporate Skills Challenge! The School Bus Technician s Training and Skills Competition sponsored by the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) shall be for the purpose of providing the latest School Bus training and to determine America s Best School Bus Technician and Inspector. NAPT s America s Best is North America s only annual premier skills competition exclusively for the professional School Bus Technician and Inspector. Contestants come from all segments of the School Bus Maintenance Industry and from many States and Provinces. Because of the great interest shown by State School Bus Safety associations, as well as School Bus Maintenance Departments, Manufacturers and Part Suppliers; this manual has been developed so that Local champions will be prepared for competition at the National level. National Event This Manual will describe to you: 1. Who May Participate and Enter 2. What to Expect 3. Training 4. Awards 5. How to Enter 6. Our Goal Local Level Event Recommendations for establishing a State/Regional/Corporate School Bus Technician and Inspector Training and Skills Competition! 1. Volunteer Support 2. Chairman for Training, Competition, Judges, Promotions and Vendor Support 3. Technical and Set up Committee 4. The Layout and Location 5. Awards and Recognition 6. The Break Down Crew 7. Miscellaneous Items and Information

4 NATIONAL EVENT 1. Who May Participate and Enter This competition shall be limited to one participant in each category (Tech/Inspect) per State or Province. All participants must be currently employed as a School Bus Technician or Inspector. A School Bus Technician shall be defined as a full time employee of any Private, Contracted or Government/District, School Bus Maintenance Operation. Job titles for eligible participants range from Technician, Technician s Helper thru Shop Forman. A School Bus Inspector shall be defined as a full time employee of any Private, Contracted or Government/District School Bus Maintenance Operation. Additionally, employees of States, Provinces, or Government Agencies with job duties specific to performing Periodic and/or Preventive Maintenance Inspections of school buses shall be eligible. State Level Competitions - It is recommended that the School Bus Transportation Association for each state or province sponsor a competition for School Bus Technicians/Inspectors. The winner from these competitions would then qualify to compete at the NAPT competition. Please contact NAPT for more information on how your state or province can easily organize this event. Individual s residing in a state or province that does not have a school bus technician s or inspectgor s competition are encouraged to submit entry forms for review and acceptability. Should there be multiple applicants from a state or province not having a state or province level competition, the Competition Committee will have final selection approval. 2. What to Expect The National Competition will include separate competitions for Technicians and Inspectors. Each of these competitions will include both a Written Exam and a Hands-On portion. Each competitor s total score will be determined by combining the individual scores for each phase of the competition. The total scores will be used to determine the overall winners for both the Technicians and the Inspectors. All necessary tools, diagnostic equipment, and required safety equipment will be provided for use during the competition. Individual competitors will be required to follow standard safety procedures for tool usage and personal safety.

5 School Bus Technician 1. Written Examinations Purpose: Technicians must be knowledgeable in all areas of school bus maintenance/repair and demonstrate proficiency based on technical knowledge. This portion of the competition will test the technician s knowledge as well as their ability to read, comprehend, and respond. Overview: Each competitor shall be required to complete a 50 question written examination. This test is provided and administered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). These questions will cover various technical topics to include electrical systems, brakes, engines, suspensions, drive trains, and body systems. All topics will be relative to actual school bus applications. Total time allotted for the Written Examination shall be 45 minutes. 2. Diagnostics Hands-On Purpose: Technicians must be capable of diagnosing, troubleshooting, and repairing various mechanical components found on school buses. To do this proficiently requires substantial mechanical knowledge and the ability to utilize troubleshooting techniques and equipment. This portion of the competition will test the technician s hands on ability of working on components/systems. Overview: Competitors will be required to troubleshoot and identify mechanical deficiencies in three (3) different school bus components/systems. Specific instructions/conditions regarding each diagnostic area will be provided immediately prior to the competition. The competitor will be required to provide in detail, the cause of the specific defect or the proper techniques for correcting the defect. All competitors will diagnose the same defects. Total time allotted for each of the three Diagnostic Areas shall be 15 minutes. School Bus Inspector 1. Written Examinations Purpose: Inspectors must be knowledgeable in all areas of school bus systems and components and must be capable of demonstrating inspection proficiency based on technical knowledge. This portion of the competition will test the inspector s knowledge as well as their ability to read, comprehend, and respond. Overview: Each competitor shall be required to complete a written examination consisting of forty (40) questions. These questions will cover the inspection of various items to include electrical systems, brakes, engines, suspensions, drive trains, and body systems. Additionally, questions may include material from the most recent National School Transportation Specification & Procedures School Bus Inspection. All topics will be relative to actual school bus applications. Total time allotted for the Written Examination shall be 45 minutes.

6 School Bus Inspector Continued 2. Inspections Hands-On Purpose: The Inspector must be capable of visually inspecting school buses and all related components to identify early signs of component wear and deterioration. Inspections of this nature insure the continued safety of the students transported, eliminate vehicle down time, and reduces maintenance expenses. This portion of the competition will test the competitor s ability to inspect buses in a systematic and logical manner to insure that all defects are identified and duly noted for repairs. Overview: Prior to the competition there will be 30 must find defects identified and/or bugged into the buses to be inspected. All defects identified by the competitor during the inspections must be legibly noted on a generic inspection form. During the inspections, the competitor may request assistance from competition officials to perform functions such as turn on lights, apply brakes, and/or turn the steering wheel. All competitors will be inspecting to identify the same defects. Total time allotted for the Inspection shall be 45 minutes. Inspection Stations consist of the School Bus Interior, Exterior and Undercarriage. Tie-Breaker Purpose: In the event of a tie score in the final standings for positions first, second or third; a tie-breaker will be implemented to determine the higher ranking. Overview: For both Technicians and Inspectors, the tie-breaker shall be based on the total amount of time consumed in completing a single phase of the handson part of the competition. This timed portion of the competition will be identified prior to the competition and times will be recorded for each competitor as they complete the identified phase. The competitor with the lowest total time for those competitors with the tie score will be placed in the higher position in the final standings.

7 3. Training All participants will attend special up to date training seminars as part of NAPT s School Bus Technician / Inspector s Training sessions. The training sessions will consist of the host facility tour and seminars provided by the many school bus manufacturers and suppliers. NAPT Technicians/Inspectors Training 2004 I.C. Bus Corp - Tulsa, Oklahoma NAPT Technicians/Inspectors Training Thomas Bus High Point, North Carolina Stanley PROTO Industrial Tool Blue Bird Plant Tour 2006 Fort Valley, Georgia Various School Bus Suppliers Caterpillar Training Center Peoria, Illinois Michelin Tire Allison Transmission

8 4. Awards At the conclusion of the School Bus Technician s and Inspector s Skills Competition an Awards Luncheon will be held for all competitors. Awards will be presented to the first three places for both Technicians and Inspectors with door prizes to be presented based on random drawings. The first place finishers will also be asked to attend the ANNUAL NAPT Conference with conference registration and expenses paid through a donation by our proud sponsors Bus Parts Warehouse, Hydrotex, and Zonar. First Place finishers will be recognized at the NAPT Conference. OUR SPONSORS Technicians Top 3 Finishers Left to Right 2nd Place Gail Wayne Allison Center Grove Schools Greenwood IN. 1st Place - Chris Wright Nebo School Dist. Salem UT. 3rd Place - Brian Lange Cheney School Dist. Cheney WA. Sponsor Richard A. Dennison, President Bus Part s Warehouse Inspectors Top 3 Finishers Left to Right Sponsor - Don Caranahan Zonar Systems Inc. 1st Place Danny Reed Beaufort County Schools Washington NC 3rd Place Jeff Phil Douglas County SD Castle Rock CO 2nd Place Bruce Ivie Utah Highway Patrol Salt Lake City UT

9 5. HOW TO ENTER Entry forms will be required for all competitors. After completion, the entry forms shall be forwarded to the NAPT Competition Coordinator. Registration forms must be received no later than July (Check NAPT s Web Site for actual Date) Submit to: Bill Tousley Farmington Public Schools Shiawassee Street Farmington, MI Fax to: National Association for Pupil Transportation School Bus Technician s / Inspectors Training and Skills Competition Entry Form NAPT Region State Represented Check One Technician Inspector To Be Completed By Competitor By verification of signature; I have read, understand, and accept all terms and conditions of this competition. Competitor Name: Employer: Address: City: State: Zip Code Contact Number: ( ) Fax Number ( ) SIGNATURE: To Be Completed By Competitor's Supervisor I hereby certify that the competitor named above is currently employed in a position to routinely/frequently perform school bus maintenance/repair or inspections. DATE: SIGNATURE: DATE: Job Title: Phone: ( ) To Be Completed By the State/Province Association President or Designee for those individuals who were a competitor in a state/province competition I hereby certify that the competitor named above has been selected to represent the identified state/province, that the information stated has been verified, and that the competitor meets all other qualifications for participating in this competition. SIGNATURE: DATE: Entry forms are not valid unless all upper portions of this form are completed. All information, excluding signatures, must be typed or legibly printed. To be completed by NAPT Competition Coordinator Date Entry Form Received: Assigned Competitor Number:

10 To be part of the Safety process that the School Bus Industry provides, so that the safest School Buses are utilized to transport precious cargo. Our Children Contacts: Marshall Casey SC Dept Education, Transportation (803) Joe Scesny NYSDOT Bus Safety (914) Jim Cole SC Dept Education, Transportation (803) Mike Bullman SC Dept Education, Transportation (803) From Left to right - Joe, Jim, Bill, Mike, and Marshal Bill Tousley NAPT (248) bill.tousley@farmington.k12.mi.us

11 Rules of NAPT School Bus Technician's/Inspector s Training and Skills Competition 1. The National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) School Bus Technician's Competition will be conducted in accordance with rules as adopted by the NAPT Board of Directors. The competition shall allow for one competitor for each state/province. Individuals must receive the approval of their respective state school bus associations to be considered for competition. 2. Contestants are to report to the registration area of the competition site at the times designated by the Competition Official(s). It is the responsibility of the entrant to acquire sufficient knowledge of the sites and times to allow arrival prior to the competition. Competition will begin with sign-in and pre-competition meetings. Individuals that are not present for the sign-in and/or precompetition meeting may be disqualified. 3. Random drawing shall be the method used for determining the Contestant Numbers. Contestants will be expected to compete in the order specified by the official(s). Contestants that are not available to compete at the scheduled times will be disqualified, unless they are delayed by another phase of competition. The decision of the judge(s) on tardiness shall be final. 4. No smoking, eating or drinking will be allowed during any phase of the actual competition. 5. Throughout the competition it shall be understood that safety is of the utmost concern. All competitors must perform with this in mind and conduct themselves accordingly. a re-run for that event will be allowed. If a re-run is granted, an official of the competition shall escort the competitor directly to the event involved and a new score sheet shall be completed. The decision of the competition officials shall be final. 11. Once scores have been finalized and winners announced, no grievance or changes in scores will occur. 12. Disqualification of a contestant shall result from rules infractions or instances of misconduct such as: Inappropriate or unprofessional behavior as determined by the judge(s). Consumption of a controlled substance (drugs, alcohol, etc.) immediately prior to or during the competition. Competing while under the influence of a controlled substance (drugs, alcohol, etc.). Accepting signals or information from anyone during the actual competition. Performing any portion of the competition in a manner that might jeopardize the safety of the competitor, competition officials or others. 13. Winners will be announced following the conclusion of all phases of competition. 14. NAPT does not announce individual scores of contestants, nor does it publish a list of any scores after the contest. Individual competitors may contact NAPT for their own individual score and placing after the event. 6. Competition officials will provide all necessary maintenance tools, diagnostic equipment and safety equipment. Competitors will be required to follow standard safety procedures of tool usage and use personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, etceteras). Demerits will be given for any improper use of tools/equipment or failure to use proper safety equipment. 7. The contestants will be timed during the diagnostic phases. There will be maximum times allowed for each event and one event will be used as a tie-breaker. 8. Any buses used for competition shall be representative of the buses used in the general area where the competition occurs. Specific equipment found on these buses may or may not be used for the purposes of the competition. 9. The Director of Competition reserves the right to make such changes as may be deemed in the best interest of the competition. No changes in the competitive events will occur after the competition starts. 10. Contestants may contact an official of the competition at the Official Scorer s table if they feel that their performance was adversely affected by circumstances beyond their control. Any concerns must be specifically stated immediately following the conclusion of the affected phase of competition. If the allegations are confirmed and deemed to have detrimentally affected the competitor s score, a determination will be made as to whether 15. The National Association for Pupil Transportation and its officers/representatives shall not be responsible for any claims for loss or injury. Local Level Event Establishing a School Bus Tech / Inspect event competition in your area is a challenge. NAPT and its NSBSIC have collected several state s, Tech/Inspect competition information. The information ranges from accommodating a contestant base of 12 participants to over 75, complete with forms, layout information and rules. The following guidelines should be useful to States wishing to hold their own Tech / Inspect skills competition. 1. Volunteer Support 2. Chairman for Training, Competition, Judges, Promotions and Vendor Support 3. Technical and Set up Committee 4. The Layout and Location 5. Awards and Recognition 6. The Break Down Crew 7. Miscellaneous Items and Information 1. Volunteer Support Volunteer support is key to establishing a successful Tech / Inspect skills competition. Approximately 10 volunteers would be needed for an event consisting of 20

12 Local Level Event - Continued participants and 25 for groups of 75 or greater. It is best to establish a core group of committed volunteers and a chairman to oversee the entire event. Volunteers can be requested from many segments of our industry such as manufacturers, part suppliers, association members, trade schools, police departments and educators. 2. Chairman for Training, Competition, Judges, Promotions and Vendor Support - Depending on how large the participant level will be these committee structures may need to be adjusted. For smaller events one person may perform multiple tasks. Training Most manufacturers and part suppliers provide training on their products and are a valuable source for updated information. Be diverse and select training topics that would be associated with the participant s environments that are mostly utilized. Generic topics such as electrical, brakes, steering, air conditioning, engine troubleshooting, wheels/tires and computer based service information are suggested. The training workshops are held simultaneously with the hands on portion of the event. Competition The technical aspect of the hands on portion should be consistent with the National criteria Inspections Hands-On and Diagnostics Hands-On as stated previously. Considering our industry uses a variety of different products and types of school buses the diagnostics should be generic as much as possible. Computer diagnostics are becoming more prevalent with today s equipment and should be included in diagnostic stations and training. Judges For the most part the judges will keep track of time, instruct the contestant of the problem and must be knowledgeable to assist the competitor in the operation of the vehicle controls. Promotions Focus should be on promoting the event to School Bus fleets, distributorships and vendors in your State. Vendor Support Offer sponsorship to suppliers and other organizations to help defray cost. Sponsorship opportunities can cover food functions, setup cost, and equipment. Typical sponsorship recognition items can include product logos on event banners, official programs, and participant s apparel (tshirts, hat s etc). 3. Technical and Set up Committee While ASE provides the testing portion of the National event it does not currently offer it for local events. Test questions can be easily created or located on the internet or many other resources. The NSBSIC can provide questions based on contributions from states that conduct such events as well as diagnostic and inspection suggestions. On the diagnostic stations it is suggested that consideration be given to timely set up for the next contestant (removing panels, replacing tools and or disconnecting components). For the inspector s station the 3 school buses can easily be bugged with defects desired to be identified (lights inoperative, loose fasteners, incorrect installation of components etc.). Score sheets can be collected from the judges and provided to a designated scorer. We suggest at least 3 of the event coordinators be placed in charge to determine any problems with the scoring and or disputes. 4. The Layout and Location The skill station event can be conducted indoors or outdoors. Hands on stations should be separate from the workshop areas and school buses arranged so that adjacent competitors cannot view other stations. Participants should also be monitored/escorted in the traveling stages from workshop, testing, to hands on area to avoid unnecessary communication. The school buses should not be driven by the contestant and all safety aspects should be given proper consideration and applied. 5. Awards and Recognition All contestants should receive a certificate of participation and the top 3 finishers in each category receive a plaque or trophy. Additional prizes can also be given from vendor contributed items. Local press coverage of the event should also be considered. As noted in NAPT s rule # 14; NAPT does not announce individual scores of contestants, nor does it publish a list of any scores after the contest. Individual competitors may contact NAPT for their own individual score and placing after the event. 6. The Break Down Crew Most important! The school buses need to be restored to previous safe operating condition. Clean-up crews as necessary. Miscellaneous Items Proper Attire All contestants must wear work appropriate clothing and footwear. Official contestant caps and tee shirts (if provided) shall be distributed at orientation and judges are suggested to have official attire that makes them easy to identify. Safety Safety glasses are suggested to be worn at all hands on events. Standard shop safety procedures must be followed at all times. Provide means to immediately clean up any spills. Any accident or mishap shall be reported to the station judge. Contestant with Special Needs Every effort will be made to accommodate contestants with special needs. These needs must be identified prior to event or at the registration form submittal time. Tools and Parts All tools, manuals and equipment are to be provided by competition organizers. Skill Station General Previous NAPT America s Best diagnostic stations included electrical troubleshooting (lights - no start condition), steering, braking, and suspension problems. The inspection stations demonstrate competotor s ability to perform preventive maintenance check procedures and identify defects such as loose seat fasteners, lights, fan control inoperative, missing parts and overall worn or improperly adjusted components.

13 Event Information NAPT will be glad to provide you with Tech/Inspect information including forms, station layout, rules, and all other information you may need to set up a Tech/Inspect in your state/province. Please feel free to contact us. Contact information is located on page 8 of this manual. For Information on upcoming America s Best Tech/Inspect please check our web site or call us at NAPT (6278) Information should be available by February each year.

14 NAPT PRESS RELEASE August 10, 2007 Pair Share "America's Best Title Peoria, IL A School Bus Technician from Nebo School District, Utah and a School Bus Inspector from Beaufort County Schools, North Carolina were named "America's Best" school bus Technician and Inspector, respectively for The winning Technician, Chris Wright from Utah, said The NAPT competition at the CAT factory was a great opportunity to meet other technicians from other states. Not only were we able to compete with each other, but it was a chance to share ideas and talk about different requirements in each state. The competition was a real challenge. It took a lot of thinking on each different test. Danny Reed, from Beaufort County Schools, NC surpassed competitors from 15 other states in an exercise that included a written exam and a hands-on segment for diagnostics. The competition results were very close. Reed commented "The competition event was one of the very best learning experiences that I have really enjoyed. The competition itself was highly competitive and challenging, I look forward to returning to next year s competition. Thank you very much! " "We couldn't have done any of this without the support of our business partners, said Bill Tousley, NAPT s President Elect and Event Chairman, referring to Zonar, Bus Part s Warehouse and Hydrotex. Caterpillar was an especially gracious host, and Cat s employee Ryan Neal, in particular, deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his hard work and hospitality. The 4th annual event took place at Caterpillar s Edwards Training and Demonstration facility in Peoria IL. In addition, all event participants were given a remarkable live demonstration of the heavy equipment Caterpillar manufactures. Additional training seminars were provided by Allison Transmissions, Michelin Tires, Stanley Proto Tools, Caterpillar Engines, and NAPT s School Bus Safety Inspection Council. This year's 4th annual event, organized by NAPT, attracted 21 competitors from 15 states, and was the most wellattended to date. First place winners, Reed and Wright, each won an allexpense-paid trip to NAPT 's 33rd Annual Conference and Trade Show in Grand Rapids, Michigan 10/28 11/1/2007 where they will be recognized. Watching them work was aweinspiring. They represent our industry extraordinarily well, said Tousley. In reality very little recognition is given to the mechanical side of school bus maintenance and inspections. The personnel that perform these preventative maintenance activities deserve a lot of credit for the safety record of school buses. Training and Events like this are unique and very important in advancing the safety of school buses. The shop talk amongst the attendees during the 3 day event was both educational and priceless. Our goal is to have all states send representatives in the future to attend, Tousley stated. For more information contact Bill bill.tousley@farmington.k12.mi.us or call (248) or contact National Association of Pupil Transportation at (800) 989-NAPT or

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16 Developed By: National Association of Pupil Transportation & National School Bus Safety Inspection Council