Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) crews across the State came together Thursday, June 12, to compete in the 2025 Equipment Operators Roadeo.
This event allows crews to put their equipment skills to the test. Each competition category was designed to reinforce real-world safety practices in a controlled, hands-on way. The Roadeo is one of the ways the Department keeps crews sharp while also increasing safety awareness of employees working in or around heavy machinery.
ARDOT employees are given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in operating the heavy equipment they use daily to maintain the State’s Highways and Interstates. Crews were tested for precision, safety awareness, and efficiency in seven key equipment categories: Lowboy Truck, Tandem Axle Dump Truck, Single Axle Dump Truck, Tractor/Mower, Backhoe, Motor Patrol, and Skid Steer. Competitors enter individually and represent the ARDOT district they work in.
2025 ARDOT Equipment Operators Roadeo Results
Lowboy Truck
First Place: John Harvey – District 2
Second Place: Tyler Phillips – District 5
Third Place: Tommy Bull – District 8
Tandem Axle Dump Truck
First Place: TJ Pulley – District 1
Second Place: Tony Ruhl – District 10
Third Place: Brad Brown – District 1
Single Axle Dump Truck
First Place: Kirk Fossler – District 5
Second Place: Jon Carter – District 8
Third Place: Kyle Jones – District 1
Tractor/Mower
First Place: Rodney Armstrong – District 1
Second Place: Colt Holland – District 8
