ROCKINGHAM - Engineers representing the eight counties in Division 8 were on hand for the Equipment Operators Safety Training Conference, or “Roadeo” this week.
The annual event, held in each of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s 14 divisions across the state, tests the safety awareness and skill level of NCDOT employees who operate heavy equipment.
Various skills challenges include maneuvering equipment such as dump trucks, backhoes and motor graders through obstacle courses that model real-life scenarios maintenance crews encounter each day on the job.
These friendly competitions emphasize the importance of safety when operating heavy equipment, while fostering a sense of team spirit and recognizing excelling employees.
Winning participants from Division 8, which includes Chatham, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Randolph, Richmond and Scotland counties will go on to the State Championship held in Concord later this summer.
The winners are as follows:
- Single Axle Dump - Eugene Dowdy, Randolph County Maintenance
- Tandem Dump - Brian Morrison, Montgomery County Maintenance
- Lowboy - Kevin Garner, Moore County Maintenance
- Backhoe - Brad Cook, Lee County Maintenance
- Grader - Justin Phillips, Lee County Maintenance
- Tractor Mower - Bennett Hawks, Roadside Environmental