Tennessee Wins 2008 Southeast Regional Equipment Operators “Roadeo”

KNOXVILLE, Tenn – Some of the most skilled workers in the southeast are maintaining Tennessee roadways. TDOT’s field maintenance personnel took home top prize in the 2008 Southeast Regional Equipment Operators “Roadeo” Thursday, October 2. 

Tennessee’s maintenance personnel from across the state bested competitors from Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and North Carolina in six skill and safety events that showcase their ability to maneuver heavy equipment through a series of obstacles and precision challenges. Competition events included backhoe, motor grader, tractor mower, equipment hauler, and single and tandem axle dump trucks.

 

“Everyone at TDOT is extremely proud of our team and it reflects the pride and skill our employees have for their jobs,” explained TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. “Our maintenance forces are the backbone of the department and they work hard making our roadways better and safer every day.”  

 

The 2008 Southeast Regional Equipment Operators “Roadeo” was held in Pigeon Forge. This was the first time Tennessee has hosted the event. TDOT held off defending 2007 winner Mississippi and four time champion Arkansas to bring home Tennessee’s first maintenance “roadeo” trophy. This is the third time Tennessee has competed in the event.

 

“TDOT maintenance personnel operate heavy equipment very close to utility lines and even private property and it’s imperative that our operators can handle the equipment safely and with precision,” said TDOT Maintenance Director Greg Duncan. “The statewide and southeast ‘roadeos’ are a good test for our maintenance personnel.”

 

Individual event winners include:

Wayne Davis (Tennessee) – Backhoe

Johnny Allred (Tennessee) – Single Axle Dump Truck

Billy Smartt (Tennessee) – Equipment Hauler

Richard Stroble (South Carolina) – Tractor Mower

Scott Horton (Mississippi) – Tandem Axle Dump Truck

Jerry Ellett (Mississippi) - Motor Grader

 

The TDOT team consisted of:

Wayne Davis – Backhoe (Knox County); Randy Perry – Backhoe (Crockett County); Claude Martin – Motor Grader (Cumberland County); Mark Lovelace – Motor Grader (Madison County); Gary Rohraff – Tractor Mower (Cumberland County); Tim Bailey – Tractor Mower (Knox County); Johnny Allred – Single Axle Dump Truck (Knox County); Ernest England – Single Axle Dump Truck (Cumberland County); Ricky Harris – Tandem Axle Dump Truck (Williamson County); Ricky Byrd – Tandem Axle Dump Truck (Sequatchie County); Floyd Fortune – Equipment Hauler (Madison County); Billy Smartt – Equipment Hauler (Coffee County).

 

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