CONCORD – The N.C. Department of Transportation held its annual “Equipment Roadeo” at the Cabarrus County Fairgrounds in Concord on April 16, giving employees an opportunity to take part in a friendly competition of skill and accuracy.
Seventy-five employees from Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Stanly and Union counties maneuvered heavy equipment through several obstacle courses requiring precision, such as safely parallel parking a dump truck, or using the bucket of a backhoe to accurately drop a golf ball into cylinders of various sizes.
The overall goals of the Roadeo include helping NCDOT employees advance their skills with an emphasis on safety when operating these machines. The competition also fosters team spirit, recognizing employees who excel at their jobs.
The winners include:
- Lowboy Truck Exercise: Jeff Foreman, Stanly County
- Single Axle Truck Exercise: Kevin Gathings, Anson County
- Motor Grader Truck Exercise: Kenny Brower, Anson County
- Tractor- Mower Exercise: Kevin McClure, Cabarrus County
- Backhoe Exercise: Cody Stegall, Cabarrus County
- Tandem Axle Truck Exercise: Carlos Melton, Anson County
- Crane Exercise: Kevin Gathings, Anson County
The winners from each event will represent Division 10 at the State Roadeo in Raleigh on June 12.