ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) drivers from District 1's eight counties battled it out during the agency's annual Roadeo event at the Allen County ODOT garage.
Employees of the Ohio Department of Transportation were given the opportunity to showcase their skills as equipment operators. To find out who is the best of the best, 22 snowplow drivers and 38 loader drivers had to maneuver their equipment through a series of obstacles that mimic what they may encounter on the job.
The competition started around 35 years ago, and the winners and runners-up of today's competition will go on to compete against other district winners in the state Roadeo.
"Obviously, there are cones and barrels set up here. But every day we have to drive around obstacles. Whether it's parked cars, or trees, or guardrails, this just allows our driers the opportunity to show off their abilities. They love the competition, they love the bragging rights. They especially want to hear that they won their county, and they can rub it into their other teammates from their county. So yeah, it is all about a good day of friendly competition," says Rod Nuveman, Highway Management Administrator, ODOT District 1.
ODOT District One is also asking the public to help pick the winner of their Paint the Plow competition. 24 blades were painted by schools in the district, and on Friday, May 10th, pictures of each one will go up on District 1's Facebook, Instagram, and X social media pages, and through likes, shares, or comments, each one will count as one vote for that school. That contest runs until May 19th.
