Drive time
For Debbie Petross, getting
behind the wheel of a bus has become a rewarding,
lifetime vocation
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Monday, April 7, 2008 10:50 AM PDT
| |
| Debbie Petross waits in the driver’s seat of one of Treasure Valley Community College’s travel buses for the softball team members to arrive and load up for a trip to Washington Friday. Petross has been driving for TVCC about four or five years and for the New Plymouth School District for about 30 years. |
ONTARIO - Debbie Petross drives.
And drives.
And drives a little more.
In fact, driving has evolved into sort of a lifetime vocation for Petross, first with the New Plymouth School District and, now, for Treasure Valley Community College athletic teams.
Early Friday morning Petross was at the Treasure Valley Community College maintenance shops preparing for her last weekend trip of the spring — a journey to Washington behind the wheel of the college softball team’s bus.
A check of the tires, the battery, fluid levels, lights and other items and Petross backed one of the two travel buses out of the garage and drove a short distance to the front of the gymnasium where she waited for the team and coaches to load for a 7 a.m. departure.
With four children, who are now grown, Petross said bus driving provided a job that allowed her to spend time with her family and to be involved in their activities.
“I was able to drive them to sports (events when they were in high school),” she said. “Bus driving has its perks.”
Petross has been driving TVCC athletes to their events for about four or five years, she said.
“Somebody asked if I would be interested. I said sure,” she said.
She is one of six drivers for the college — the only female — who drives one the two MCI — Motor Coach Industries — buses that typically see a lot of road time.
“They are old buses,” she said. “But they are good buses.”
But they do break down, she said.
Once Petross had to rescue one team when its bus lost its antifreeze out on the freeway.
Another time, the team was far enough away to require the college to charter a bus.
Also, if a driver reaches the maximum number of hours they are allowed to drive in one period, another driver will go meet the bus and drive it back so the students can get back to campus and not miss class.
“They are not hard to drive,” Petross said, adding she had to get used to the size and, while the school buses she usually drives have a nose, the TVCC buses have a flat front.
She said she only drives three or four times in the fall and in the spring.
“I do it for a break,” she said. “But, I don’t drive a lot on the long road trips. I’m not excited about chaining those things up.”
However, coming back from a recent trip to northern Washington, she did hit a late-spring snow storm. While chains were not required, “it was slow going,” she said. “There were a lot of trucks,” she said.
Also, things get busy at New Plymouth schools this time of year with field trips. She is also a grandmother with 13 grandchildren, with the 14th to arrive shortly.
Unlike the school bus, things on the TVCC bus are pretty quiet as athletes read, watch a video or sleep.
Once at the destination, Petross has her own opportunity to nap or read, or she watches the competition.
“Sometimes I go get dinner,” she said.
When there is not enough time to stop on the way back, she will get all the orders from players and coaches then go get the food.
When not driving bus, Petross can be found around campus maintaining the flowers and helping keep the vehicles, buses and vans, ready to go.
