EAST MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A crew is hard at work loading up dump trucks on a virtual jobsite as part of the Associated General Contractors of Vermont’s newest piece of machinery — a heavy equipment training simulator.
The simulator replicates the real deal with the same seat, controls, and safety features of a real excavator.
“It replicates the actual equipment usage, operator experience right to the tee. Yet you aren’t risking the big piece of equipment or the safety of those people out in the field with a new operator just learning,” said AGCVT’s Richard Wobby.
They bought the simulators with a $75,000 grant from the Vermont Department of Labor. Right now, they’re used for operator evaluations, where users are put in the hot seat and get a comprehensive score.
“Having the ability to get in and learn without a company not worrying about possibly making a bigger mistake, you know. If you get into the simulator and you’re loading a truck and you hit that truck, it’s not happening in real life,” said Caleb Thayer.
The simulator provides valuable statistics like productivity, fuel burned, and maintenance and safety scores — all things to consider the next time an operator is in the chair.
“We can talk efficiency, we can talk production, and everything else. But if I can make you a better operator, can make you smoother, put less wear and tear, increase production at the other end — aren’t you a better operator? That’s what happens,” Wobby said.
He hopes to roll out a beginner operator program in January and an advanced training program later next spring. The curriculum is nationally accredited and accepted by contractors, unions, and colleges across the country to help build careers in the construction industry.
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