JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) bus drivers and mechanics put their skills to the test Sunday as a part of its annual “roadeo” showcase.
At the event, drivers and mechanics went through simulations and real-life scenarios to see who could handle the pressure of the job.
Squeezing through tight spaces in a JTA bus was among the many obstacles Kim Rose had to go through to showcase her driving skills.
“The first obstacle that I went through was called the serpentine. As you’re going through, you are unable to hit any cones within that entire run,” Rose said.
The annual JTA roadeo puts these workers’ skills to the test — challenging their ability and mentality.
This was Rose’s first time competing. She’s been a bus driver for 14 years, the last two with JTA.
“It is extremely hard. I thought when I first signed up for it, I was just going to be driving like I was driving out on the street, doing the turns and all. There are some really tight turns,” Rose said.
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Another part of the competition deals with mechanic work including getting a bus’s engine to start running again and troubleshooting and problem solving. All of those things are on a 10-minute deadline.
Tommy Crews, who was a JTA mechanic for 14 years, has won this event nine times before.
“With this, you have no idea. When you try to start it, you have to determine whether it is an electrical problem, a fuel problem, an air problem, and go to that problem, where it lies at,” Crews said. “You are steadily crawling through it to make sure every nut and bolt is where it needs to be. Every clamp is tight. The belt is in place the pull is where they need to be.”
This is a milestone year for JTA. This roadeo has been going on for 50 years now.
“The job that I do is absolutely wonderful. I love to drive in general, and just networking,” Rose said.
While these JTA workers said they this event is for fun, they also want people to see what they can potentially face out on Jacksonville streets.
“Our goal is to get them up and running, safe for the customers, to verify that everything is in good working order and go from there. We do the best we can,” Crews said.
Rose had one request for Jacksonville drivers.
“When we are trying to get into traffic, just let us through. It is a big massive bus. Don’t blow the horn at us. We’re just trying to get through,” Rose said.