NEW BERN - Craven CC recently unearthed another building at its Volt Center campus that will house its newest program: Heavy Equipment Operations. This groundbreaking program consists of three course levels and will teach students the skills needed to operate bulldozers, backhoes, and other heavy machinery. It will also provide a comprehensive overview of heavy equipment operator responsibilities, heavy equipment safety, and career opportunities.
Topics include an introduction to the trade, safety, identification of heavy equipment, preventive maintenance, dump trucks, tractors, soils, grades, earth moving, scrapers, bulldozers, backhoes, front-end loaders, finish operator, telescoping excavators, motor graders, excavators, finishing, and grading. Instruction will include driving skills tests.
To help students learn the basics in a safe environment, the College has outfitted the building with a simulator lab that consists of three personal simulator stations. Each station has the ability to mimic the operation of a bulldozer, excavator, and backhoe. Students who complete the program will earn the nationally recognized National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) Heavy Equipment Operations Level 1, 2, and 3 certifications. The Volt Center is an accredited NCCER training facility.
"The Heavy Equipment Operations program will open a lot of doors for career opportunities in the construction industry," said Jeff Schulze, Volt Center associate dean. "We also offer scholarships that may cover up to 100% of the cost, so money shouldn't be an obstacle for students pursuing training."
The first class will begin in January 2025. Additional program information can be found at CravenCC.edu/HeavyEquipment.