The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) recently celebrated the skills and safety expertise of its equipment operators at the annual State Equipment Operators’ Safety and Training Conference, commonly known as the Equipment “Roadeo.”
This event tests the abilities of operators in a series of challenges, reflecting their precision and safety in handling heavy machinery.
This year, fourteen standout operators from the competition have earned the opportunity to represent Kentucky at the upcoming Southeastern Regional Equipment Operator’s Safety and Training Conference.
This regional event will be hosted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation in Raleigh from September 16-19.
Governor Andy Beshear praised the participants for their commitment to safety and excellence in their roles.
KYTC Secretary Jim Gray highlighted the importance of these skills, especially for tasks such as snow plowing and material hauling, which are critical for maintaining safe and functional roadways.
The competition, held on June 25-26 at the Kentucky Horse Park, involved operators navigating through seven obstacle courses.
These courses tested various skills like accuracy, agility, and speed across different equipment categories including graders, backhoes, and different types of dump trucks.
A new addition to this year's Roadeo was the skid steer competition, where operators demonstrated their ability to maneuver tight spaces and adjust to obstacles of varying heights.
This added a fresh challenge and showcased the evolving skill sets required in modern road maintenance and construction.
The overall team champion of the event was from the Department of Highways District 10, based in Jackson, scoring 265 points. The teams from Lexington's District 07 and Covington's District 06 followed closely.
Individual successes included Josh Garmon from Highway District 04 who excelled in the Tractor Truck with Lowboy Trailer competition and Tim Davis from Highway District 07 who led in the Tandem Axle Dump Truck category.
Next year, Kentucky will host the Southeast Regional Roadeo, providing a platform to further highlight the skills of KYTC employees and the effectiveness of their training programs.
This ongoing focus on skill and safety training not only enhances individual and team capabilities but also contributes significantly to the safety of all road users in Kentucky.