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Freeman wins District 3 truck roadeo again

Thirty-three transportation technicians gathered at a gravel source in Garden Valley May 22 to participate in the 2018 D3 Roadeo to kick off this year’s event season. Of the 33 competitors, a familiar name emerged at the top of the standings, again.

Watch the video of the D3 Roadeo.

The Roadeo is an opportunity for techs to test their skills and network with colleagues from different sheds around the region. This year, several courses were run for a ten-wheel plow truck, front end loader, and — new this year — a backhoe.

The courses test an operator’s skill with the equipment — understanding the maneuvering capabilities of a loader, maintaining spatial awareness of a plow wing, or the delicate touch of the hydraulic claw on the hoe. The event offers an opportunity to learn more about the tools technicians use throughout the year.

“Not only do they learn what their equipment is capable of doing,” said Statewide Roadeo Coordinator, Kelley Dick, “It shows us and their foreman how aware they are of their equipment – the front, the rear, the sides – basically the layout of the vehicle.

Each task on the course is observed and graded, adding a competitive component to the event.

This year’s winners in D3 are:
1st Place: Robin Freeman, Council Shed, TOTL
2nd Place: Jeremy Johnson, New Plymouth, TOTL
3rd Place: Mike Garrett, Caldwell Shed, TTO
4th Place: Gary Smith, Cascade Shed, TTO

Freeman has won the D3 event 12 times, and the statewide ITD championship four times. In 2007, he was on the ITD team at the national competition that placed 2nd in the 10-wheel truck course.

“It’s a good tool,” said Freeman. “The Roadeo makes you think about your capabilities and the capabilities of the equipment so when you get on the road you know what you and the equipment can do.”

This year marks the 25th year D3 has held a Roadeo. It will host the statewide event in 2019. Each District will host its own regional event in the coming weeks. The top four contestants from regionals will compete in the statewide Roadeo. The top two from the statewide event will represent ITD in the national Roadeo, held in Loveland, Colorado.