Denny sweeps CDOT “roadeo”

RBC — Gary Denny of Rangely won all three competition categories in an annual training and education snow and ice equipment roadeo for Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) maintenance professionals from six northwestern Colorado counties held May 14 at the Grand County Fairgrounds in Kremmling.
Denny is the senior maintenance worker (Transportation Maintenance Worker II) for Patrol 37 at Rangely.
The roadeo, designed to help CDOT maintenance professionals hone all aspects of their winter maintenance knowledge and equipment operation skills, consists of a written examination covering state and federal rules and regulations; a pre-trip vehicle inspection test; and equipment operation skills tests in demanding obstacle courses. The top place finishers were:
Single Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category: 1. Gary Denny, Rangely; 2. Andy Jones, Meeker; 3. Dave Raley, Rangely; 4. Jason Simpson, Rifle.
Tandem Drive Axle Snowplow Truck Category: 1. Gary Denny, Rangely; 2. Dave Raley, Rangely; 3. Andy Jones, Meeker; 4. Jason Simpson, Rifle.
Front-End Loader Category: 1. Gary Denny, Rangely; 2. Jason Simpson, Rifle; 3. Chris Miller, Kremmling; 4. Jon Denning, Yampa.
“CDOT began using the equipment roadeo concept in the 1980s to help our employees improve their knowledge base and equipment operation skills” explained Kandace Lukow, CDOT maintenance superintendent for northwestern Colorado. “Although it’s a difficult event for our employees, we’ve found we’re safer and more efficient in our winter maintenance operations as a result.”