Maine’s DPW Workers Shine at Annual Snowplow Roadeo Run by AFSCME Local 481

Skowhegan, ME- The sunshine and mid-June heat were at odds with the dozens of snowplows and highly trained drivers which were prepped and ready to go for what looked like another one of Maine’s infamous winter storms. The plow drivers from across Maine were not getting ready for a storm, but had gathered at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds for the state’s annual Snowplow Roadeo to spotlight the expertise of Maine’s public works professionals. 

For the last thirty years, AFSCME Local 481-07 members from Portland have helped organize and run the annual Snowplow Roadeos for the City of Portland, Cumberland County, and the State of Maine. Local 481-07 members Jim Vance, Don Noyes, Gary Dobson, Shawn Perkins, and Jay Gilbert set up the course, coordinate registrations, judge the competitions, and even BBQ so spectators and contestants are well fed. 

The annual event invites DPW crews from across the state to compete in a timed obstacle course that mimics real-world challenges: maneuvering around cones, backing into tight spaces, and even using plow blades to knock a soccer ball off a cone. With a stopwatch and penalty points determining the winners, teams strive for precision and speed, but most importantly, safety. 

“This isn’t just a contest—it’s a skills showcase,” said Jim Vance, President of AFSCME Local 481 and Council 93 Executive Board Member. “It allows our plow operators to demonstrate the finesse required to keep our roads safe during a harsh Maine winter.” 

The event, part of the Maine Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA)’s Highway Congress, draws teams from municipal DPW departments, the Maine Department of Transportation, and the Maine Turnpike Authority. Winners from local, state, and regional competitions are invited to the National Snow Roadeo held each September during the APWA Western Snow & Ice Conference in Colorado, where they compete against the best plow drivers from across the country in a test of elite driving and handling skills. 

Council 93 members have been well represented at the Nationals over the past few years. Local 298 in Manchester, NH sent members Shawn Maurice and Chris Belanger and Local 481-07’s team of Stan Mason and Justin Cusack both participated in the 2023 Nationals after advancing through their respective local, state, and New England Regional competitions. 

While awards include plaques, cash prizes, and jackets, the real honor is advancing to Nationals— and earning the respect of fellow operators statewide. “These workers take great pride in their work,” said Vance. “It is their chance to not only show off their skills, but learn new techniques and best practices from other highly skilled professionals which they can take back to help make their own communities better prepared to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us.”