Affordable Limousine recently brought together employees, families, and driver training during its second annual Bus Rodeo, turning a traditional skills competition into a day focused on safety, teamwork, and professional development.

Held June 28 at the company’s headquarters in Wyoming, Michigan, the event paired a precision driving competition with a company picnic, allowing family members to see firsthand the skill and concentration required to safely operate a motorcoach.

Drivers Put Everyday Skills to the Test

The rodeo course challenged drivers with backing maneuvers, tight turns, and other situations commonly encountered during passenger transportation. Safety and Training Manager Omar Gomez-Mulero designed the course using approximately 100 traffic cones and 150 tennis balls to create a practical, low-tech way to evaluate driver performance.

According to Gomez-Mulero, the goal wasn’t to create pressure for participants but to provide an enjoyable environment where drivers could sharpen their skills.

The course also served as Affordable Limousine’s qualifying event for the Midwest Bus & Motorcoach Association driver competition. The company plans to send nine drivers to this year’s regional competition in South Bend, Indiana.

Families Played an Active Role

Rather than limiting the event to employees, Affordable Limousine invited spouses, children, parents, and grandparents to participate throughout the day.

Family members volunteered as judges and scorekeepers while others cheered on drivers during the competition. The company also organized a picnic featuring food, lawn games, and an ice cream truck for attendees.

Gomez-Mulero said involving families helps them better understand the level of professionalism and attention required to safely transport passengers every day.

Course Design Reflected Real-World Driving

Creating the competition course required several days of preparation and careful planning because of the company’s limited parking area.

Gomez-Mulero said he developed the layout after studying available space and drawing inspiration from United Motorcoach Association driver competitions organized by Mark Szyperski, president and CEO of On Your Mark Transportation LLC. He also incorporated federal driver training standards into the final design.

The course included additional backing exercises compared with last year’s event to better reflect situations drivers regularly encounter on the job.

The tennis balls placed on top of traffic cones allowed judges to easily identify contact with obstacles while simplifying the scoring process.

Professional Development Extended Beyond the Competition

Not every driver participated in the rodeo. Some continued operating charter trips so their coworkers could compete, highlighting the teamwork required to make the event possible.

Part-time driver Trevor Bulmer, who also serves as transportation director for Comstock Park Public Schools, said working in the motorcoach industry has broadened his experience. In addition to learning the different handling characteristics of motorcoaches, he said charter work has helped strengthen his customer service and communication skills.

Company Culture Continues to Support Drivers

Affordable Limousine’s leadership used the event to reinforce its commitment to driver development.

The company has recognized drivers who have competed in previous Midwest Bus Rodeos and is renovating its driver facilities to include additional amenities. According to Gomez-Mulero, investing in drivers remains a priority, and the annual rodeo provides an opportunity to improve skills while preparing participants for future competitions.

While trophies and competition are part of the event, Gomez-Mulero said the larger objective is allowing drivers to improve in a supportive environment before competing at the regional level.

Last Updated: July 20, 2026

Source: Bus and Motorcoach News

Image Source: Shandra Martinez and Omar Gomez-Mulero