Rabbit Ears Pass Patrol Members Lead Craig Section 6 Maintenance Roadeo Results

Patrol 13’s accomplishments included sweeping first through third places in the Tandem Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category.  Patrol member Doug Brown of Steamboat Springs took home two top five finishes. Kenny Hamil, who works for Patrol 36 at Rifle, also took home two top-five finishes, including first in the Mid-Range/Single Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category. Lynn Powell and Doug Doolin, both members of Patrol 08 at Hayden, claimed first and second place finishes in the Front-End Loader competition.

The roadeo, designed to help CDOT maintenance professionals hone all aspects of their winter maintenance knowledge and equipment operation skills, consists of a written examination covering state and federal rules and regulations; a pre-trip vehicle inspection test; and equipment operation skills tests in demanding obstacle courses. The top five place finishers in each category were:

Front-End Loader Category

Mid-Range/Single Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category

Tandem Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category

“CDOT began using the equipment roadeo concept in the 1980s to help our employees improve their knowledge base and equipment operation skills,” explained Les Anderson, CDOT Maintenance Superintendent for northwestern Colorado.  “Although it’s a difficult event for our employees because of the advance study required and the demanding nature of the pre-trip and equipment operations tests, we’re firm believers that we’re safer and more efficient in our winter maintenance operations as a result.”

The knowledge and skills required for the equipment roadeo help CDOT maintenance workers better and more safely serve the traveling public along the 9,100 miles of Colorado state and federal highways they maintain.