Linde Drivers at Louisiana Plant Demonstrate Their Skills in Rigorous "roadeo" Competition

MURRAY HILL, N.J. and NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., May 3, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Linde North America recently completed a roadeo at its air separation plant in Gonzales, Louisiana. While there were none of the typical events you'd expect to see at a rodeo, like calf roping and bronco and bull riding, the Linde roadeo was a competition designed to showcase and test the skills and safe practice of its tractor trailer drivers.

The Linde roadeo took place following a Safety Day, a day in which the Linde staff in the Gonzales area joined all of the drivers, who were taken off the road to spend the entire time immersed in discussions and seminars on a variety of safety -- related issues. The Linde roadeo the following day featured skills testing of seven drivers whose daily job is to deliver liquid oxygen and nitrogen to customers in Louisiana,Texas, Mississippi, Alabama,Florida and Arkansas.

The drivers were challenged with a written test, vehicle inspection, and a seven-station driving course that included a very difficult test of skills such as backing up to precise positions and driving through very narrow lanes. The official winners of the competition were Jasper Dorsey, who took first place, Larry Stewart, second, and James Russell, third.

Pat Myott, Gonzales transportation manager, said, We really put the drivers through hoops to assure they concentrate on safety. I congratulate all the drivers who participated in Safety Day and the roadeo and I know they walked away with a renewed focus on safety, which is one of Linde's goals as a high performance organization. I believe everyone who attended and supported the event was a winner because it was a great experience that celebrated Linde's most important assets -- its people.

The drivers were joined by family members, who came out to offer encouragement and were also invited to operate a driver simulator which gave them an appreciation of the complexity of driving a tractor trailer. This event would not have been successful without the support offered by the family members, said Steve Jennings, head of supply-South for Linde North America.

Linde North America is a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 50,500 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2011 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 13.787 bn (USD 18.1 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment -- in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. The Group is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.