POST FALLS — The Post Falls High School parking lot was transformed into an obstacle course Saturday, as 22 North Idaho school bus drivers competed in the annual School Bus Road-eo.

“They really are the best of the best,” said Chelsea Holmes, the lead driver trainer for Coeur d’Alene School District.

Holmes supported the drivers from the sidelines as they navigated, in school buses, a timed course that included challenges like backing up and parallel parking.

The competition also included a knowledge test. With a total of 725 possible points, points were deducted for driving errors or mistakes on the knowledge test.

Saturday’s top two drivers will advance to the state level competition, and the winner of the state competition will move on to Nationals.

“It’s the Super Bowl for school bus drivers,” said Post Falls School District 273 Director of Transportation Candy Arnold.

It took each driver about half an hour to complete the course.

School bus drivers from Lewiston, Coeur d’Alene, Lake Pend Oreille, Post Falls and Lakeland School Districts came out to compete. This was the first time PFHS hosted the competition, which started in 2006.

While some were seasoned drivers, others have been driving for their districts for six months or less.

“I’m really proud of them,” Holmes said.

Saturday’s Road-eo was as much about camaraderie as it was competition, Arnold said.

“Today’s a chance to interact with drivers from other districts,” Arnold said. “We’re so busy, this is the only time we all get to see each other.”