2015 NCDOT Roadeo competitorDivision 4 of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) won the department’s recent Equipment Operator’s Roadeo held at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. The division, representing Edgecombe, Halifax, Johnson, Nash, Wayne and Wilson counties, accumulated the highest point tally.
Eighty-four NCDOT employees vied for the titles in six categories—single-axle dump truck, tandem-axle dump truck, lowboy truck/trailer, backhoe, motor grader, and tractor/mower. Competitors had to show how well they maneuvered around obstacles, backed up into enclosed locations, and located safety defects among other criteria that “reflect their daily challenges.”
NCDOT Safety Engineer Richard Thompson said the event is a great way to highlight the skills of the department’s equipment operators.
“It gives them a chance to come down here to Raleigh, show their skills, and compete in a friendly competition,” he said. “it also gives them recognition for what they do day in and day out.”
The most recent Roadeo was a final of sorts, as the competitors were pulled from previous winners from local events for the 14 department divisions.
Both the runners up and winners in each category will compete in the Southeastern Regional Roadeo Sept. 14 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as the North Carolina representatives.
Individual winners and runners up by category include:
Single-axle dump truck
- Benjie Caldwell, Madison Country (Division 13)
- Runner up: David Mabe, Stokes County (Division 9)
Tandem-axle dump truck
- Raymond Moore, Durham County (Division 5)
- Runner up: Chris Rawlins, Henderson County (Division 4)
Lowboy truck/trailer
- Lynn Dagenhart, Alexander County (Division 12)
- Runner up: Chris Floyd, Davidson County (Division 9)
Backhoe
- David Brown, Lincoln County (Division 12)
- Runner up: Troy Evans, Johnston County (Divison 4)
Motor grader
- David Wilson, Harnett County (Division 6)
- Runner up: Josh Leatherman, Cleveland County (Division 12)
Tractor/mower
- Jason Brown, Macon County (Division 14)
- Runner up: Lance Bash, Nash County (Division 4)
