Area INDOT drivers compete in contest

Snow truck drivers from the Cloverdale Subdistrict of the Indiana Department of Transportation competed in an obstacle course Friday for the department's annual "Roadeo."

CLOVERDALE -- The Indiana Department of Transportation began its annual "Roadeo" this week with the first competition held at the Cloverdale Subdistrict office.

Each year, INDOT snow plow drivers compete for the title of Indiana's top snow plow driver through this competition.

The competition started yesterday with 44 contestants from the subunits of the Cloverdale Subdistrict competing in what is called a "pre-trip inspection."

According to Fred West, superintendent of the Cloverdale Subdistrict, the inspection is set around what drivers should do prior to a roadtrip.

"We have a mechanic set up a default on one of the trucks, and the driver just has to find it," West said.

Today, all of the contestants had to drive through three pre-selected obstacles. The two obstacles set up by orange cones were called the "diminishing alley" and the "alley-back". They tested how well a driver could maneuver the truck driving foward and in reverse.

The third obstacle was made up of two rows of tennis balls, and drivers had to put the front right duel-wheel through the balls without hitting any of them.

After each subdistrict competes, the top three contestants from each subdistrict will compete in the district-level competition to be held sometime in July.

The top three contestants to finish at the district level will move on to the state-level competition held at the State Fairgrounds during the State Fair.

West said this competition helps the drivers hone their skills, but it's done in a fun kind of way.

"It's a relaxed, friendly competition," he said.