LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Workers from the Ohio Department of Transportation District 1 put their skills to the test during the agency’s annual Road-eo competition.
Employees were given the chance to showcase their driving ability in a series of challenges. The competition, which began around 35 years ago, identifies the top drivers in the district. Winners and runners-up will move on to compete against other district champions in the state-level Road-eo.
To determine the best of the best, 24 snow plow drivers and 38 loader drivers navigated their equipment through a series of obstacles designed to mimic real on-the-job scenarios.
Employees were given the chance to showcase their driving ability in a series of challenges.
“We always are driving around something or having to back into a small location, they get to show off their skill set, and they get to do a little bit of bragging rights against some of their teammates," says Rod Nuveman, Highway Management Administrator, ODOT District 1.
In addition to the Road-eo, ODOT District 1 is inviting the public to help select the winner of its Paint the Plow competition. A total of 23 blades were painted by schools across the region.
Photos of each painted plow will be posted to ODOT District 1’s Facebook, Instagram and X pages on Friday, May 16. Each like, share or comment will count as one vote for that school.
You will only have one week to pick your favorite before the winner is announced.
Roadeo Results
Top spots in the loader and truck categories go to Paulding County, Van Wert County, Wyandot County, and Roadway Services garages:
Loader competition
- First place – Kolby Taylor, Wyandot County garage with a score of 1950 out of a possible 2,300.
Second place – Matthew Brodman, Roadway Services garage.
- Third place – Zach Timbrook, Paulding County garage.
Truck competition
- First place - Chris Lobsiger, Van Wert County garage with a score of 1880 out of a possible 2,300.
- Second place – Matthew Brodman, Roadway Services garage.
- Third place – Austin Dukes, Wyandot County garage.
The top two winners in each category will represent District 1 at the Director's Cup Truck and Loader Roadeo. Lobsiger and Brodman will compete in the truck competition, while Taylor and Brodman will participate in the loader competition. Timbrook and Dukes earned spots as alternates.
The Hancock County maintenance garage was named team champion (top two truck scores and top two loader scores) with a total score of 6,690.
