Dial ends 20-year District 5 drought at 2013 ITD equipment roadeo

The ITD truck & equipment roadeo, held Tuesday in Garden Valley, produced the first state title for District 5’s Bruce Dial. District 3’s Brad Steiner followed in second place while Trent Maupin of District 6 took third.

Both District 5 and Dial's name will be added to the traveling plaque honoring the best equipment operators at ITD. According to long-time roadeo coordinator Rex Hufford, it has been 20 years since a District 5 employee won the state title.

Dial is no newcomer to the annual test of equipment-driving skills and a written diagnostic test. He was second in the statewide competition in 2010.
 
The 24 competitors are ITD’s best equipment operators from throughout the state, demonstrating the skills and techniques that translate into improved highway maintenance and traveler safety.

Robin Freeman of New Meadows Maintenance, a three-time state champion and nine-time D-3 champ, finished seven points behind Maupin in fourth place.

District 4’s four competitors combined to win the team title, scoring 40 points more than their closest rivals from District 6.
Final scores reflected an average of two rounds through the truck-driving and loader-operator courses, a truck inspection and a written exam. Participants were given 10 minutes to find five “planted” defects in the truck inspection contest and 10 minutes to answer 10 multiple-choice questions.

“I owe many, many thanks to all the folks that made the roadeo happen this year,” said Dan Bryant, District 3’s maintenance coordinator. “Thanks to all of those who traveled here from the other districts to help with the state roadeo, and thanks to all the folks from Headquarters and District 3 for their help. 

“I think the event went very well, and that would not have happened without the hard work each and every one put into it.”

The top two transportation technicians from the state roadeo qualify to compete with other operators from throughout the country in a national finals at Estes Park, Colo. It is held in conjunction with the Western Snow and Ice conference, Sept. 25-27.

A tentative schedule for the 2014 equipment roadeo circuit is:

District 3 - May 14, 2014
District 1 - May 20
District 2 - May 22
District 6 - May 28
District 5 - June 3
District 4 - June 5
State finals – District 4 - June 10 


Photos: First- through third-place finishers at the state roadeo in Garden Valley (left to right): Bruce Dial, Brad Steiner and Trent Maupin

Published 6-21-13