Equipment operators from Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri competed in the first Caterpillar Global Operator Challenge dealer event, organized by Altorfer Cat of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and held at the Caterpillar facility in Edwards, Illinois. The day-long event challenged the skills of all operators with various trials using the latest Cat excavators, loaders, dozers and backhoe loaders.

Beyond the challenge, Caterpillar seeks to use the second Global Operator Challenge to bring awareness to opportunities available for people interested in the industry.

“We are highlighting the skilled trades industry and giving operators an avenue to showcase their skills and talents,” said Jason Hurdis, global market professional for Caterpillar, in a prepared statement. “Caterpillar isn’t looking for the best wheel loader or backhoe loader operator. We are looking for the best overall operator, one who can get in any machine and apply their basic skills and talents to perform on any machine platform for any given task.”

The Altorfer Cat challenge included four different timed challenges using six separate pieces of Cat equipment.

“We included the Cat 317 excavator and 982 XE loader, both equipped with Cat Payload as well as a Next Gen D5 dozer with Cat grade control,” said Trevor Shanahan, general sales manager south for Altorfer Cat, in a statement. Operators maneuvered through various obstacles with total combined time, including penalties, being the determining factor.

Kent Richmond, project manager for Klocke Inc., Palmyra, Mo. won the contest with an overall time of 2,115 seconds.

“This was a fun experience,” he said in a statement. “The course was set up well and tested the abilities, skill levels, and coordination of the operator; an all-around good course.” Richmond and 34 other dealer champions will travel to North Carolina in October for the North American regional semifinals.

In second place was Chris Dykes, superintendent for McCleary Excavating Co. of Blue Grass, Iowa, with a time of 2,294 seconds. Chandler Concrete & Excavating’s Brandon Chandler placed third with 2,470 seconds.

Altorfer Cat’s four challenges, some including multiple pieces of equipment, were: