Heavy Equipment Operator Training
Thank you for your interest in our Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program. We offer two certificate programs: Certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation, which requires a placement test at one of our main campuses, passing a drug test, and three general education classes. The other is a Career Studies Certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation, which requires passing a drug test. Both classes have the same equipment and course content.
The classes are 15 credit hours each and the tuition is $1,232.25 for in-state students and $3,859.50 for out-of-state students. Books and supplies for students attending the program for the first time will be $146.00. To complete the program in its entirety consists of 3 eight week sessions (120/121 - 130/131 - 140/141 details shown below)
A Student's Perspective of Our Program
A Scholarship Recipients View of the SouthSide Equipment Operator Program
(As published in Volume 10, issue 3 - March, 2006 issue of the Heavy Construction Contractors Association)
Hello. My name is Ross McCurdy and I've been attending the SVCC Heavy Construction Equipment School located on Fort Pickett. After graduating high school, I really didn't think an associate's or bachelor's degree through college was really the right thing for me to progress on in life.
I immediately jumped into the retail field of business. However, I learned that in order to move forward, I would need some type of training to improve my possibilities. I attained information about the scholarship given by the HCCA and the 8-week school. Since I mastered and enjoyed the equipment during my term at Home Depot, this vocational school seemed like a great idea, even if I wasn't granted the scholarship.
The school itself is located on an army post, Fort Picket, which is being decommissioned and now partially state owned. The SVCC Vocational Center also provides training in diesel technology, computer tech courses, and a semi-truck driving program. Lodging on Ft. Pickett is very reasonable. There are two sources of rooms and they are all situated in old barracks. The county offers rooms renting from $7-$1O a night (depending on the size of the room). The rooms include a refrigerator, TV with cable, bed, and dresser. There is also lodging through the Army National Guard for $12 a night. Ft. Pickett is right outside of the town of Blackstone. Blackstone, though small, has several fast food restaurants and a Wal-Mart Super Center.
The school offers three courses: backhoes and excavators, loaders, and bulldozers. There are 4 backhoes, 2 excavators, 3 rubber-tire loaders, 1 track loader, and 6 bulldozers. All of the machines are brand new Carter-Cats, except for an older Case bulldozer.
Selection of the course was determined by people that have completed past courses and then whoever registered first. I decided to choose the bulldozer, thinking it would be the easiest among them all. Later, the instructors mentioned it's actually the hardest and requires the most amount of coordination.
The class is taught by Dan and Woodson Irby, brothers that have been in the business for at least 20 years. One would be surprised that the two are brothers, since both have drastically different attitudes. Dan being more calm and accepting, while Woodson having an edge and attitude that would probably be typically found on a supervisor for a jobsite. It is good to have both personalities, though: one for a gradual learning experience and one for a welcoming to the real world of the business.
The first week of class consisted of general safety and maintenance. Such things as watching one's area, some OSHA regulations, the dangers involved in the business, pre-inspections and why they are important, and hours for scheduled maintenance.
The next few weeks for the bulldozer class included driving and learning how to blade going in a straight direction with a straight blade. Pretty much all of us looked like we were learning how to make a motocross track at first. Once everybody mastered that, we moved on to building a foot and a half deep, 60 foot long ditch that had a gradual slope
During this time, though, Virginia had a lot of rainfall. On our rainy days we would stay in the classroom and watch company safety videos, learned how to read and determine slope, and how to read stakes.
Finally, we moved on to what we would eventually be tested on. We needed to produce a two lane road 150 ft long, 28 feet wide, with ditches on each side. The dirt that is dug out of the ditches is then used to form the water runoff crown of the road.
I feel that I've progressed a lot in my abilities on the bulldozer and can successfully meet this challenge in a moderate amount of time (2-3 hours).
Though I haven't yet completed the entire bulldozer course, I have enjoyed it very much. It's challenging, and I like having control of the big machinery. Plus, I will have better options for employment and an opportunity to have a better income after I graduate.
I have decided to go on to the next course, and hope to continue on with backhoes and excavators. The SVCC Heavy Equipment School provides an excellent introduction to the construction business and how to become an amateur operator. I am very eager to advance on to a career in construction after completing all three phases of the SVCC Heavy Equipment School. I thank the HCCA for the scholarship and I am looking
forward to working for an HCCA member firm after I have completed all three eight-week sessions.
Heavy Equipment Operation
Award: Certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation or Career Studies Certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation
Length: Thirty-six credit hour program. To earn a Certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation, a student must successfully complete two 330 hour/15 credit-hour programs in one of the following: Track Type Tractor (bulldozers), Rubber Tire and Track Loaders, Backhoe and Hydraulic Excavators, and also complete six credit hours of general education. The recommended general education courses are STD 100, ENG 137, and HLT 100. Note that for the Career Studies Certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation, the general education courses are not required.
Purpose: To develop skills in the safe and efficient operation of specific pieces of heavy construction equipment. Training is available in Track Type Tractors (bulldozers), Rubber Tire and Track Loaders, Backhoe and Hydraulic Excavators. There are required competencies for each piece of equipment.
Occupational Objectives: Heavy equipment operation on one or more pieces of construction equipment for site preparation, road building, utilities, clearing, etc.; construction supervisor, foreman, superintendent.
HVE 120 Track Type Tractor Operation I
HVE 121 Track Type Tractor Operation II
Track Type Tractors, or more commonly, bulldozers. It will include equipment safety, preventive maintenance, undercarriage, and basic operation. We have a range of equipment for training from D3-D5 size dozers. The class is 280 hrs and 15 credit hours.
HVE 130 Rubber Tire & Track Loader Operation I
HVE 131 Rubber Tire & Track Loader Operation II
This class deals with loaders, rubber tire and track. It will include equipment safety, preventive maintenance, and basic operations. Our equipment will be 3 -4 yard rubber tire loaders, and 939 size track loaders. The class is 280 hours and 15 credit hours.
HVE 140 Backhoe & Hydraulic Excavator Operation I
HVE 141 Backhoe & Hydraulic Excavator Operation II
This class deals with backhoe loaders and excavators. It will include equipment safety, preventive maintenance, and basic operations. This class will also have "competent person" training and certification. Our equipment will be 416 & 420 -backhoe size, 315 and 320 excavator size. The class is 280 hours and 15 credit hours.
2008 Schedule
Classes are Monday - Thursday, starting at 7:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
- January 28 – March 20
- March 31 – May 22
- June 2 – July 24
- August 4 – September 25
- October 6 – December 2<
Each HVE day class stands on its own and can be taken independently as needed. There will be a career studies certificate awarded at completion of each independent class. After two or more, with the recommended general education courses, the certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation will be awarded.
**Financial aid programs are available to assist students in reaching their academic goals. Contact our Financial Aid Office to learn more.**
Click here to visit the Photo Gallery
Play an MPEG movie of one of the dozers in action (687K)
Thanks for the generous support of our sponsors:
Carter Machinery Company, Inc.
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