ODOT holds District Roadeo; Pike County’s Josh Havens takes top honors
Lead Summary
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CHILLICOTHE – Vying to be crowned the district’s Roadeo Champion, 29 employees from the Ohio Department of Transportation - District 9 showed their driving muscle last week as they participated in the district’s 2016 Truck and Loader Roadeo Competition at the Scioto County Highway Maintenance Facility in Lucasville.
Created in 1988, the Roadeo is held every spring in ODOT’s 12 districts as a means to recognize and test the employees who operate some of the state’s heaviest equipment.
Through a series of tests and a driving course of clearances, serpentines and stops, the Roadeo competition tests the skill level of highway technicians and mechanics from the district’s maintenance facilities who want to participate in the event.
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“The Roadeo is a challenge for our drivers to test their abilities as heavy equipment operators, and those who participate are scored based on set criteria that judges their skills against the course and the clock,” said ODOT District 9 Deputy Director Vaughn Wilson.
“The event not only gives drivers the opportunity to demonstrate and hone their skills, but also improve upon safe driving practices.”
This year, the winner in both the truck and loader competitions was Josh Havens of Pike County. Bryan Crosier of Ross County and Garold Cox from Lawrence County finished second in the truck and loader divisions, respectively.
Rounding out the top six in the truck competition were Garold Cox; Brandon Shamhart of Scioto County; Brandon Grooms of Adams County; and Trenton Otworth of Scioto County, with Shamhart, Otworth and Grooms joined by David Pistole of Adams County to round out the top six finalists of the loader division.
Moving forward to compete in the statewide Director’s Cup of the ODOT Truck and Loader Roadeo to be held in late August, Havens and Crosier will represent District 9 in the truck competition, while Cox and Shamhart will participate in the loader division. As Havens placed first in both events, he deferred his win in the loader division to third-place finisher Brandon Shamhart, giving him the chance to compete in the Director’s Cup.
Created in 1988, the Roadeo is held every spring in ODOT’s 12 districts as a means to recognize and test the employees who operate some of the state’s heaviest equipment.
Through a series of tests and a driving course of clearances, serpentines and stops, the Roadeo competition tests the skill level of highway technicians and mechanics from the district’s maintenance facilities who want to participate in the event.
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“The Roadeo is a challenge for our drivers to test their abilities as heavy equipment operators, and those who participate are scored based on set criteria that judges their skills against the course and the clock,” said ODOT District 9 Deputy Director Vaughn Wilson.
“The event not only gives drivers the opportunity to demonstrate and hone their skills, but also improve upon safe driving practices.”
This year, the winner in both the truck and loader competitions was Josh Havens of Pike County. Bryan Crosier of Ross County and Garold Cox from Lawrence County finished second in the truck and loader divisions, respectively.
Rounding out the top six in the truck competition were Garold Cox; Brandon Shamhart of Scioto County; Brandon Grooms of Adams County; and Trenton Otworth of Scioto County, with Shamhart, Otworth and Grooms joined by David Pistole of Adams County to round out the top six finalists of the loader division.
Moving forward to compete in the statewide Director’s Cup of the ODOT Truck and Loader Roadeo to be held in late August, Havens and Crosier will represent District 9 in the truck competition, while Cox and Shamhart will participate in the loader division. As Havens placed first in both events, he deferred his win in the loader division to third-place finisher Brandon Shamhart, giving him the chance to compete in the Director’s Cup.