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May 16, 2012 10:12 AM

Linde North America recently completed a “roadeo” at its  air separation plant in Gonzales LA. The Linde “roadeo” was a competition  designed to showcase and test the skills and safe practice of its tractor  trailer drivers.

  The “roadeo” took place after a Safety Day, a day in  which the Linde staff in the Gonzales area joined all of the drivers, who were  taken off the road to spend the entire time in discussions and seminars on a  variety of safety-related issues. The “roadeo” the next day featured skills  testing of seven drivers whose daily job is to deliver liquid oxygen and  nitrogen to customers in Louisiana,Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and  Arkansas.

  The drivers were challenged with a written test, vehicle inspection,  and a seven-station driving course that included a difficult test of skills  such as backing up to precise positions and driving through narrow lanes. The  official winners of the competition were Jasper Dorsey, who took first place;  Larry Stewart, second; and James Russell, third.

  The drivers were joined by family members, who came out  to offer encouragement and were also invited to operate a driver simulator,  which gave them an appreciation of the complexity of driving a tractor trailer.