People Week of 7/29/19

ODOT hosts annual Roadeo
Employees from Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 2 participated in the annual “roadeo” competition July 17. ODOT District 1 hosted its roadeo May 1.
The event is a friendly competition that pits equipment operators against one another to test their skill in maneuvering equipment through a series of obstacles intended to mimic situations they encounter on the job. Before running the course, participants are required to find deliberate mechanical bugs during a pre-trip equipment inspection. The competition also included a test of the rules and laws pertaining to holders of a commercial driver’s license (CDL). All highway technicians at ODOT are required to retain a CDL.
“The roadeo is an important tradition for our professional drivers. It allows them the opportunity to exercise practical skills and requires a fair amount of precision,” said Chris Hughes, deputy director of ODOT District 1.
“The friendly competition encourages everyone to enhance their skills to be the best in their county, district, and hopefully, the state,” said Patrick McColley, deputy director of ODOT District 2.
The top two winners from both the truck and loader competition will represent their districts at the statewide roadeo competition, which will be held in Columbus Aug. 28.
The truck winners included:
District 1
1st: Chris Miles, Defiance County;
2nd: Chris Lobsiger, Van Wert County;
3rd: Bradley Trentman, Van Wert County.
District 2
1st: Dana Missler, Williams County;
2nd: Robert Repasz, Wood County;
3rd: Zach Wertz, Fulton County.
The loader winners included:
District 1
1st: Leon Goyings, District 1 garage;
2nd: Dylan Neff, Wyandot County;
3rd: Chris Miles, Defiance County.
District 2
1st: Matt Nelson, Northwood Outpost;
2nd: Dana Missler, Williams County;
3rd: Chuck Theis, Seneca County.