Skilled, safe and sensitive too - a Masterton bus driver has been named New Zealand's best after a contest that included pacifying a grumpy mock customer.
Peter Krivan, of Tranzit Coachlines, has returned victorious from the Tranzqual Bus Roadeo in Auckland.
He defeated 25 other drivers to take out the award, winning
the driving and scoring highly in the road knowledge, vehicle safety and customer service tests.
For the last section, Mr Krivan had to deal with two people playing the part of the unreasonable customer.
In the first scenario, a man had stepped on to his bus, which was running late for a conference, to ask questions about bus routes and where all the buses were.
"I had to explain that I wasn't an Aucklander and I didn't know the routes."
The man had walked off with a sarcastic 'thanks for all your help'.
"I said: 'Have a nice day, sir ... as you do'."
Another woman, after half an hour on the road, wanted to return to the hotel to collect her handbag because she didn't have any money on her.
Mr Krivan had to say no, which the customer didn't want to hear, and wasn't happy with the other solutions he suggested.
"You've got to keep smiling at the customer," he said.
"You can't sort of 'um' and 'ah'; you've just got to say it."
It was the driving test in which Mr Krivan really excelled, taking out the Deca Training Award for excellence in practical driving.
The driving feats had to be accomplished in less than 4 minutes and 15 seconds and with as few faults as possible.
Mr Krivan said he had competed in the Roadeo before and
was aiming for the title this
time around.
"I went up last year to Hamilton and knew what to expect, so it all helped."
Last year's champion, Ian Anderson, of Hamilton's Go Bus, placed second this time.
"He was the man to knock off. That's what I went there for; I went there to win."
The win gives the Masterton driver a free ticket to next year's Roadeo in Dunedin - "to defend my title".
Mr Krivan has been driving for Tranzit for "5½ years - and I love it".
"Every day's different; every day is a challenge."
