Town Of Arlington: DPW Highway Division Nets 2 Awards In Snowplow Roadeo

Press release from Town of Arlington:

07/16/2021

On July 14th several employees of Arlington’s DPW Highway Division attended the Mass Highway Association’s Driver Skills and Safety Training event. The event is designed to promote teamwork, safety awareness, and vehicle operating skills in a competitive, fun setting. Two competitive events were offered; the single axle truck and wheel loader (front end loader). Twenty-two municipalities in the Commonwealth competed and Arlington’s team took second place in the truck event and fourth in the front end loader event.

“I’m not surprised that Arlington’s Highway Division did so well in these competitions,” said Michael Rademacher, Arlington’s Director of Public Works. “The Division takes pride in their snow and ice work and are at the top of their game with safety and driving skills. The team is a good representation of the entire Highway Division.”
Both events consisted of simulated driving experiences encountered on the road on a course set up with cones, barrels, and other obstacles.
The truck event started with a vehicle walk around safety check that had 4 specific defects that needed to be found followed. First, by driving and backing through cones and a barrel slalom course to an angle alley dock parking that had a specific stop zone. Driving through simulated road with cars parked on both sides to a cul-de-sac turn. Then drivers switched positions and drove through an alley around to a dead end, which required backing out and turning. Finally, driving forward to a tight slight left turn which had a parked car and immediately following 5 cones that simulated a snowbank that you had to hit with the plow then finish up with a precise stop zone.
The loader event had similar driving experiences with simulated loading unloading and grading exercises ending with maneuvering out of a dead end with parked cars on both sides while turning out to the blind side. The courses simulated on-the-road driving experiences.
Arlington’s truck team was manned by Billy Smith and Gene Cody. Our loader operator was long-time employee and retired Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant Anthony Karmelowicz. Working Foreman Mason David Covino also lent his expertise and served as a judge at this event. This was the first time Arlington participated in this event.

L-R: Arlington Mass. Highway Association President Chris Bouchard, DPW Highway Division: Billy Smith, Gene Cody. 

This press release was produced by Town of Arlington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.