Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff
By Don Marsh
Larry Dale Lowe, Jr. of Sallisaw, Okla., won the 2011 National Mixer Driver Championship in San Diego, topping a field of 25 competitors representing 18 NRMCA producer members from as many states. A 12-year GCC Mid-Continent Concrete veteran, he qualified for the September 25–26 event by taking this year’s Arkansas Ready Mixed Concrete Association Truck Rodeo.
Other 2011 National Mixer Driver Championship leaders were Irving Materials’ Chris Daniels of Nashville, second place, who won the IMI corporate rodeo this year; and, Trent Slavens of Rossville, Ind., third place, who won the 2010 NRMCA national title and IMI corporate rodeo, and was 2009 Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association Rodeo top gun. The three drivers, all NRMCA Certified Delivery Professionals, received cash prizes of $500–$1,000 from the association-affiliated Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau.
The NRMCA Operations, Environmental and Safety Committee administers the National Truck Mixer Driver Championship, combining scores from a written exam (1 hour, 45 minutes max); visual vehicle inspection test (five minutes); and, a 10-station (eight weighted, two bonus) challenge course measuring drivers’ truck or tire alignment skills with rear or front discharge mixers in forward and reverse gear. The course was set up at Vulcan Materials’ Mission Valley Ready Mix plant, southern California’s first NRMCA Green-Star-certified site. Tests were administered at the Sheraton San Diego, site of the association’s annual ConcreteWorks Conference & Expo. Attendees saluted all championship drivers during a festive awards dinner on September 26.