Annual Ro-Ro-Rodeo Helps Move Cargo At Port Of Baltimore

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Some of the Port of Baltimore's largest cargo takes special training to move, and that's going on right now.

Alex DeMetrick reports every year, new hands take hold of big machines.

They're called roll on, roll off ships (ro-ros for short) and mostly they move cars at the Port of Baltimore---except when they're moving giant construction and farm equipment. Learning to drive them is an annual event at the port called the Ro-Ro-Rodeo.

"These are newly hired longshoremen and women who are being trained in this heavy-duty machinery," said Port of Baltimore Spokesman Richard Scher.

Starting with how to turn them on and off.

Very little drives like a car so the equipment manufacturers sent instructors to Baltimore.

"We talk them through each step of the way," said Dan Hensen, CAT Transportation. "How to drive the machine, how to properly shut the machine down."

"So it gives us a greater perspective on how these machines work when we load them on a ship," said longshoreman Walman Ellison.

"If we get crazy with the steering wheel, start whipping it around, you'll get these machines whipping around and that's when people get in trouble," said the trainer. "This machine is capable of turning basically in its own length."

"The back tires are kind of like a shopping cart. It turns on a dime. Any moment you overdrive it too much, it turns so fast. When I get the job to drive it, I know what I'm doing," said longshoreman Johnny Johnson.

Baltimore rolls more of this kind of cargo than any other port in America---and that means jobs.

"Best job in the world. I wouldn't give it up for nothing in the world. Best job ever," Ellison said.

According to the Port Administration, Baltimore is the only port in the US to do this kind of training.