The California Bus Association (CBA) celebrated professional excellence and driver safety at its 2nd Annual Dennis Easley Memorial Driver Skills Competition, held in Southern California this summer.
The two-day event, which honors the legacy of longtime industry leader Dennis Easley, brought together motorcoach drivers from across the state for hands-on training, peer networking, and a rigorous competition designed to test their knowledge and behind-the-wheel skills.
Teresa Gibbs of Pacific Coachways took home first-place honors after gaining top marks in pre-trip inspections, obstacle navigation, and written testing. She will receive airfare courtesy of CBA to compete at the United Motorcoach Association’s International Driver Competition, set for February 2026 in Birmingham, Alabama.
Second place went to Robert Saucedo of Carreras Tours, followed by Lonnie Reynolds of H.B. Limo Services Inc. All three winners earned cash prizes and industry recognition for their performances.
“This event truly celebrates the heart of our industry — the drivers,” said Vicki Bowman, executive director of the California Bus Association. “Each of our competitors showed skill, professionalism, and pride in their craft. We’re thrilled to see how much the event has grown in just one year.”
Increasing interest
This year’s competition nearly doubled in size compared to its inaugural event. In addition to the hands-on skills test designed by Mark Szyperski of On Your Mark Transportation, participants benefited from educational sessions led by industry experts. Kimberlee Bissegger of Lancer Insurance presented on accident scene management, and representatives from the California Highway Patrol spoke about the role of focus in passenger safety.
The annual competition honors the memory of Dennis Easley, a staunch advocate for driver training and development, and aims to elevate standards across the industry.
CBA plans to host the 3rd Annual Dennis Easley Memorial Driver Skills Competition in Northern California in July 2026. Association leaders are encouraging member companies to start preparing now to send a driver to compete.
Sponsors of this year’s event included On Your Mark Transportation, H & L Charter, Santa Barbara Airbus, American Stage Tours, Motor Coach Industries, Prevost, and Terrapin Blue.
