Linde Drivers Demonstrate their Skills in Rigorous "Roadeo" Competition
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Murray Hill and New Providence, N.J., U.S., October 21, 2011 - There were none of the typical events you'd expect to see at a rodeo. No calf roping, nor bronco or bull riding. Not even clowns to entertain the crowd. That's because the event, sponsored by Linde North America at its Kittery, Maine, air separation plant, was a "roadeo," a competition designed to showcase and test the skills of some of the company's best tractor trailer drivers.
Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company.
The roadeo, scheduled to coincide with National Driver Appreciation week, featured a total of 15 drivers from nine plants and depots in Linde's Eastern region who came out to compete and represent their locations.
Fred Kinkin, head of supply for Linde North America, said, "Even before they set foot in their trucks at the roadeo, the drivers had to meet stringent entrance criteria, including an excellent safety record. In other words, only the cream of the crop were eligible to compete."
In many cases, the drivers were joined by their managers and family members, who came out to offer encouragement. "This event would not have been successful without the support offered by the family members," said Joe Sullivan, head of supply-east region for Linde North America.
The drivers were challenged with a written test, vehicle inspection, and a seven-station driving course that included challenges such as backing up to precise positions and driving through very narrow lanes. Representatives of the Maine Professional Drivers Association, helped administer the event by designing the various stations in the course through which the drivers had to maneuver. "The competition was fierce, with the top four scores ending up within a few points of each other," said Kinkin.
The official winner of the competition was Lyle Willey, of Linde's Selkirk, New York, air separation plant. "We congratulate Lyle for the win in a very difficult test of skills. However, we believe everybody who attended and supported the event was a winner because it was a great experience that celebrated Linde's most important assets - its people," said Kinkin.
The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 49,100 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2010 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 12.9 billion (USD 17.9 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.
Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
