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So Much More than a Competition: Inside the 2025 ROAD-EO National Championship
Learn about the Republic Services ROAD-EO, where our top drivers, operators and technicians compete to see who is the best-of-the-best!Byline: BTB Author
June 17, 2025 / Time to read: 3-4 minutesA driver grips the wheel, eyes locked on the course ahead. Calm, cool and laser-focused, he maneuvers a recycling and waste collection truck through a tight lane of traffic cones without clipping a single one. Next up, a forklift operator raises, moves and lowers a pallet, never dropping the tennis balls precariously balancing on top. Every move is deliberate. Every second counts.
This isn’t a reality show, and it certainly isn’t an average workday. Welcome to the Republic Services ROAD-EO National Championship!
This past February, the best-of-the-best Republic Services collection drivers, heavy equipment operators and maintenance technicians from across North America battled it out through a series of obstacle courses and technical challenges designed to showcase their skill and sharp instincts.
But make no mistake — this event is more than a competition. It’s a high-octane, energy-packed celebration of our people and the incredible work they put in every single day. It’s our way of honoring our team members who safely manage challenges on the road every day while giving them a moment to shine, compete and win.
Buckle up and keep reading to see who took home big prizes and bragging rights.
From Everyday Expertise to Show-Stopping Performance
Beneath the high-fives and friendly rivalries, our ROAD-EO serves a greater purpose. This event gives our drivers, technicians and operators the opportunity to highlight the on-the-job skills that keep them — and the communities they serve — safe. Whether staying on schedule during morning rush hour, navigating narrow alleyways or maintaining calm and precision during stressful situation, the everyday challenges our team faces helps prepare them for any obstacle.
Our drivers, technicians and equipment operators undergo rigorous training and continuing education. And we’re incredibly proud to celebrate our skilled employees — not only through third-party recognition like the National Waste & Recycling Association’s
Here are just a few examples of the types of ROAD-EO events that demand focus, precision and expertise:
- Drive a giant collection truck backwards through a simulated alley without touching barricades
- Use a forklift to maneuver tennis, bowling and basketballs through a specialized obstacle course
- Identify 10 mechanical issues on a bulldozer in just 10 minutes
2025 Recap: Excellence in Action
This year's championship — held in Phoenix, AZ — brought together more than 100 finalists from 36 states and the province of Ontario to compete in 10 skill and safety categories. Nearly 1,000 attendees cheered as the stars of the show weaved through barriers, navigated obstacles and identified vehicle issues.
To qualify for the ROAD-EO, competitors had to win local and regional competitions and maintain a perfect safety record. Winners of the 2025 National Championship earned cash prizes and additional days of paid time off.
Precision Pros: Collection Truck Drivers
Drivers navigated a timed course and faced challenges including:
- Serpentine: weaving in and out of containers in forward and reverse motion
- Parallel parking: parallel parking no more than six inches from the curb with no overage
- Alley backing: driving backwards through a simulated alley without touching barricades
Maneuvering Masters: Equipment Operators
Equipment operators demonstrated their ability to maneuver through precision obstacle courses and complete skill-based challenges, such as:
- Forward/back: driving forward and in reverse through two barrels without touching them or disturbing the soil
- Pallet placement: picking up a pallet with four 36-inch cones and tennis balls and placing it on top of four additional cones without the balls falling
- Basketball: shooting a basket from a rolling basketball off a pallet and into a container
Troubleshooting Titans: Technicians
Technicians were given just 10 minutes to diagnose 10 maintenance issues on a large container truck or bulldozer.
The 2025 Champions
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Collection Truck Drivers |
Equipment Operator |
Technicians |
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Ron Torrez: |
David Muns: |
Conrad Lacanlale: Collection Technician |
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CJ Hines: |
Steve Smutnik: |
Joe Schubert: |
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Eduardo Lopez: |
Tyler Barnett: |
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Geno Rushing: |
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Eddy Ramos: |
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Paving the Road to Safer Communities
We’re counting down the days until our next ROAD-EO in 2027, where our team’s skills, heart and grit will again take center stage. Until then, you can find us fine-tuning our training and staying true to what matters most: protecting our employees and the communities we serve.
Interested in joining the crew? We’re always on the lookout for new talent to hop into the driver’s seat. To explore open positions at Republic Services, visit
