Blog: City Blog

Toddlers Get Up-Close Look at 'Touch a Truck' Event; Equipment Rodeo Set for Wednesday, Oct. 3

Groups of preschoolers, ages 3 to 4, recently had the opportunity to get a hands-on and up-close look at various types of equipment that the City’s Public Service Department uses every day.

On Friday, Sept. 21, City of Knoxville's Public Service Department, along with several other local companies and organizations, participated in a “Touch a Truck” event at the Fair Garden Community Center in East Knoxville.

As the first kids stepped out of the school to come to the event, the look of amazement on their faces said it all as they spotted an ambulance, fire truck, tractor, wrecker, bucket truck, wheel loader, and even a limousine, in their school's parking lot!

Equipment operators provided demonstrations and each little one was able to sit in the driver's seat to see what it's like to run such large machines. Of course, they were excited to test the horns out, too!

Touch a Truck Event

The City of Knoxville regularly participates in “Touch a Truck” events like the one at Fair Garden.

On Wednesday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the public will have the chance to view City Public Works operators in action as they compete with large pieces of equipment at the City’s Equipment Rodeo.

The City of Knoxville Public Service Department holds the Equipment Rodeo, located at 640 Blackstock Avenue, each year to test operators’ skills on multiple pieces of equipment and select top candidates to represent Knoxville in a statewide competition.

Competitions include Backhoe, Garbage Cart Loader, Skid Steer, Gradall, Wheel Loader, Knuckleboom, Throwball, and Lawnmower Race.

Winners from the competition go on to compete at the state level at the Tennessee Chapter of the American Public Works Association.

Posted by On 02 October, 2018 at 2:37 PM