Tri-County Technical College’s Corporate and Community Education Division launched its first heavy equipment operator class to help workers keep up with advancing technologies.
This is the first class launched from Tri-County’s partnership with Greenville-based Blanchard Machinery Co., the exclusive Caterpillar dealer for South Carolina. The heavy equipment training program was developed to meet the need in the highway and heavy construction industries.
The first students are set to complete the courses and enter the job market this month.
Individuals completing the program will be able to serve multiple industry segments, such as industry construction, highway construction, general construction and complementary industries, such as aggregate mining and asphalt production.
“The control mechanisms on today’s equipment are completely different than on older versions — instead of steering wheels, many now use joysticks,” said Mary Corley, CCE’s highway construction program director, in a news release. “However, as a result of the agreement between Blanchard Machinery and Tri-County, students receive training on the most technologically advanced equipment on the market.”
Students in the program learn equipment applications, attachments, operating controls, preventive maintenance requirements and basic operating techniques through a combination of classroom and hands-on training.
“Operator training and safety is priority No. 1,” said Mark Greene, vice president of Blanchard Machinery, in a news release. “By training students on current technology and equipment, they are better served to further their careers, meet the challenging demands of the marketplace and to support our customers in South Carolina.”
Upon successful completion of the testing requirements for all modules, students receive NCCER certification in core curriculum and Level 1 heavy equipment operations, as well as a 10-hour certification in OSHA construction standards.
The heavy equipment operator class is an open enrollment class. Click here for more information.