For the past eight years, Nebraska students who have dreamed of making a difference in their communities by operating heavy equipment have made those dreams a reality by completing the Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program at Central Community College (CCC).
Taught on the college’s Hastings Campus, the state’s only HEO program offers students a blended learning experience, including classroom instruction and hands-on training on the college’s Cat® Simulators, which include the Articulated Truck, Dozer, Hydraulic Excavator, Large Wheel Loader and Motor Grader systems. After spending time learning skills and techniques on the simulators, the students transition to operating real equipment on the college’s 10-acre jobsite.
“After the students complete and pass all the exercises on the Cat Simulators, they transition to the real machines, which is easy,” said Jason Baker, CCC Heavy Equipment Operator Instructor.
According to Baker, the program has proven to be a success, with nearly 132 students completing the program, and 95 percent of them are still operating heavy equipment.
Meeting Local Construction Industry Workforce Needs
In 2016, local contractors and construction associations approached Central Community College about creating a heavy equipment operator program to help meet the industry’s need for trained and skilled heavy equipment operators. “They invested close to 1 million dollars in the program,” explained Baker.
The local Caterpillar dealership, NMC Cat, is among several local machine dealers that support the program and provide equipment for the students to practice the skills they learned on the Cat Simulators systems. NMC Cat also provides expertise to help the college understand industry needs better and develop a direction that addresses those needs.
As a result, students receive cutting-edge, industry-relevant training, preparing them for their careers in the construction field.
“The partnership between the community college and NMC Cat helps young students become involved with the heavy equipment operating industry and allows them to see the benefits and opportunities in the field,” said Baker.
Former CCC Campus President Bill Hitesman explained, “Our role is to make sure that we’re working with local schools, partnering with industries and making sure students have that opportunity to come in and continue in those areas.”
“We need the skilled labor pool more now than we ever did in the past,” said Hitesman. “The construction industry has shifted to looking for a highly skilled workforce, and CCC is a significant piece. Students will get to know the incredible opportunities, careers and great pay associated with being a heavy equipment operator.”
Hands-on Training of Real-World Skills
Baker explained that students learn to operate 14 different types of equipment in the program and can become certified through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). Additionally, students can complete a second year to earn a degree.
The program follows a structured schedule from Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the first four to six weeks focusing on NCCER’s core curriculum, which covers essential safety protocols, construction basics and operational procedures. During this time, students also complete all the required coursework on the Cat Simulators systems, familiarize themselves with machine controls, learn how to conduct pre-operation walkaround inspections, learn operating techniques and practice their newly learned skills.
“Training on the simulators takes some of the jitters off,” explained Baker. “For students to learn how to operate machines, there needs to be equipment for hands-on training and experience. That’s where NMC Cat comes into play by providing real-world experience.”
“One of the most mind-blowing aspects of the program is watching students come in with no experience of operating a machine and seeing them improve within several weeks,” commented Baker. “The simulators vibrate like a real machine — and if you fail, you can restart the program, which gives you excellent practice before getting outside.”
“In my opinion, the overall benefits of the simulators are the control familiarization, the walkaround inspection and the motion systems. All of those give the students an idea of what to expect when they get on the real machine on a real jobsite,” said Baker, who added that one of his students placed in the SkillsUSA Championship competition last year. “I’m proud that my students qualified to compete in the SkillsUSA Championship. And then, one of my students took second place!”
The Program’s Success and Future
The college actively participates in recruitment events such as the National Utility Contractors Association’s Dozer Days to promote the program and attract new students. The team always brings the college’s Cat Simulators to give potential students firsthand training experience.
“Our Cat Simulators from Simformotion™ play a huge role in training and recruiting for our program,” explained Matthew McCann, CCC Heavy Equipment Director. “We are always looking for ways to promote our program and get people into the heavy equipment operating industry.”
The college’s HEO program continues to grow, meeting the demand for trained heavy equipment operators in Nebraska’s construction industry. “We are looking for more classroom space and getting more equipment. We currently have eight Cat Simulators, but we’ll need more,” explained Baker. “Our numbers are growing all the time.”
