MoDOT to keep ‘Roadeos’ despite auditor’s suggestion

Published Friday, December 21, 2007

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - A training exercise that includes Missouri Department of Transportation employees participating in driving or equipment-handling competitions is ineffective and should be discontinued, Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee said Wednesday.

MoDOT says it holds the "Roadeos" to train staff responsible for clearing highways during the winter. Each transportation district holds its own event, with two winners in each district going to a state competition.

The auditor’s office estimated MoDOT spent $926,267 for the events last year, not including administrative and other costs.

MoDOT discontinued the competitions in 2001 but reinstituted them last year, despite not formally evaluating their effectiveness as a training program, the audit said.

Montee said a vast majority of those who responded to a survey said the events were ineffective training, a waste of time and/or money and did not boost employee morale.

In a written response, MoDOT said it would continue the events because they benefit the department and Missourians by ensuring transportation workers are properly trained for winter removal operations.