EDWARDS, Ill. – The Peoria area is one of a number of places around the world where people will compete to see who is the best of the best at operating some of Caterpillar’s heavy machinery.
A regional competition for the Caterpillar “Global Operator Challenge” was held Thursday at their demonstration facility in Edwards, hosted by Altorfer.
“We give them an opportunity to showcase what it really takes, and what’s really required, to be a heavy equipment operator in the world today,” said Jason Hurdis, Global Applications Specialist with Caterpillar.
Hurdis tells WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show” the type of person who can operate the machinery is likely different than just a couple decades ago — someone who can be an engineer, a computer scientist, and someone who can make a two-dimensional plan three-dimensional.
Plus, there’s also something special about that person.
“They do have to be artists,” said Hurdis. “They are the Picassos and the Rembrandts of their time. You go to any golf course, and you look at how it’s sculpted and crafted, some operator was there. We all drive on 74…an operator built that. They banked those curbs so your car stays on a rainy day; it doesn’t go sliding off.”
The winner from Thursday’s competition goes on to a competition in North Carolina later this year.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge.
