The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) held its annual Equipment Operators Roadeo at its District 5 office in Newton on Thursday, March 23.
“Safety is always our focus. Everything we do is geared towards improving safety for the traveling public,” said Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District. “Roadeos give our frontline workers an opportunity to improve and enhance the techniques and skills they use on the job. I appreciate their dedication to keep our highways safe.”
Focusing on efficiency and skill, MDOT’s roadeos provide employees with an opportunity to display their mastery of vehicle handling, trailer maneuvering and heavy equipment precision. The event and judging criteria provide feedback and help operators evaluate their strengths and challenges. Operators improve techniques and learn new skills while engaging in some friendly competition.
District 5 Roadeo events and winners are as follows:
- Backhoe: First Place – Matthew White; Second Place – Nathan “Grasshopper” Perkins; Third Place – David Alderson.
- Bushhog: First Place – Wayne Perkins; Second Place – Nathan “Grasshopper” Perkins; Third Place – Brandon Felton.
- Lowboy: First Place – Floyd J. Cameron; Second Place – Shannon “Slim” Davis; Third Place – Nathan “Grasshopper” Perkins.
- Motor Grader: First Place – John Pace; Second Place – Nathan “Grasshopper” Perkins; Third Place – Ron Gibbs.
- Single-Axle Dump Truck: First Place – Joseph “Butter Bean” Jordan; Second Place – James Johnson; Third Place – Billy Coward Jr.
- Tandem-Axle Dump Truck: First Place – Nathan “Grasshopper” Perkins; Second Place – Floyd J. Cameron; Third Place – Craig “Cooney” Kelly.
-
Backhoe Winners of MDOT Roadeo
-
Bush Hog Winners of MDOT Roadeo
-
Lowboy Winners of MDOT Roadeo
-
Motor Grader Winners of MDOT Roadeo
-
Single Axle Dump Truck Winners of MDOT Roadeo
-
tandem dump truck winners of MDOT Roadeo
Winners are left to right in each photo. Also pictured in each photo are Commissioner Willie Simmons, Central Transportation District (far left) and Neil Patterson, District 5 Engineer (far right).
The top two winners from each event advance to the state finals. At the state competition, winners from all six districts will compete and a state champion will be crowned.
For more information about the Equipment Operators Roadeo, visit GoMDOT.com.