Bus driving & safety course - would you attend?

[HighTechRedneck]

I have been thinking about this for months.  The recent thread on "unsafe vehicles" brought it to forefront again.

The concept is a hands on training course on bus driving, manuevering, pretrip inspections, safety inspection & general PM needs of the bus.  The driving/manuevering/pretrip  portion would include hands on the wheel training in a 40ft MC-9 charter bus that belongs to the trainer.  It would also include some classroom time on road & safety laws and best practices,  The safety inspection/general PM portion would be done here at the Choo Choo garage with an assortment of different buses to examine hands on.

The location would be here at Rosville, GA (southside of Chattanooga, TN).  We are looking at doing it this summer.  The classroom & bus time would be air conditioned, the shop time isn't, but there are fans, shade and cold beverages.  There are motels and restaurants nearby or dry camping space is available if you brought your bus (free water & dump station available at the shop).  There will also likely be special prices on PM work for those that attend and bring their buses.

Current thoughts are for it to be a 3 day course.  2 days of driving class and 1 day of the safety inspection/general bus PM orientation.

The tuition would be $350. 

So now the big question - If we build it (host it) will they (you) come?

[Depewtee]

Count me in!

[happycamperbrat]

I would absolutely attend IF it were on the west coast........ maybe someone on the west coast could organize something like this?

[it_mike]

As we're buying our first bus (mc9) this weekend, I'd love to take it now!

I haven't driven anything this size in 20 years, so a refresher would be great.

Mike

[HighTechRedneck]

I would absolutely attend IF it were on the west coast........ maybe someone on the west coast could organize something like this?

If the one here were successful, we could do a similar one out west.

[loosenut]

My interest would lean more towards maintenance, troubleshooting and maybe minor repairs.  I probably need driver's education but as of today probably wouldn't set aside the time or the money for it.

Mike

[HighTechRedneck]

We are now also looking at the possibility of doing one in Fresno, CA too.

[Jriddle]

CA would be good for me.
Not sure if CA could handle all the emissions from the DD in our buses LOL

John

[Van]

Mike, Vegas Speed way, quite a few possibilities like weather, space, accommodations, as well as a vast array of extracurricular activities to make it an all around, Must be there" type of event  

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Van,  "Vegas Speedway"?   maybe some bus races too?

[Van]

Ed Shhhhh! What Happens Here stays... LOL!

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Got it!

[happycamperbrat]

haha!!! I used to live in Vegas............. I found it to be a "very" expensive city     But either Vegas or Fresno would be good with me

Edit: I think it would be cool to have an obstacle course for the drivers to go thru in a large parking lot. Everyone would be timed but heavily docked for knocking over any of the obstacles.

[84dime]

Vegas speedway would be awesome. I could stop by combination motorsports next door and see their impala SS in person. Count me in for vegas.

[MattC]

Mike,

Heck yes, I'd attend, and you'd have the thanks of a grateful nation.   

Rosville, GA would be just fine, and close to a quality bus shop if I screwup too badly.  LOL