Individuals who complete the two-week, instructor-led program will be classified as a certified horizontal directional drill (HDD) operator.
This partnership through an accredited community college opens the enrollment of Vermeer HDD Circuit training to veterans or other individuals seeking a career in HDD or looking to advance their career in the industry.
“Vermeer and DMACC are particularly excited about the potential benefits to our growing veteran population,” commented Rob Denson, president of DMACC. “The fact that the HDD Circuit training program is a certified addition to the DMACC curriculum offerings means that veterans can use their GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of the HDD Circuit program tuition and lodging to attend the two-week instructor-led program that provides a mix of classroom time with hands-on experience in a small-group learning environment.”
“DMACC has worked with Vermeer on a number of training initiatives focused on building the pipeline of skilled workers for its operations, but this is the most far-reaching effort to date,” said Denson. “Instead of training people to work at Vermeer, this innovative program is training individuals to work in the HDD industry, with skills that can be applied anywhere in the country or the world. These are high skilled jobs that provide outstanding career opportunities for individuals willing to train. DMACC is very proud to be able to certify this program.”
“This is the first-of-its-kind certified HDD operator training program in the nation,” said Dave Wisniewski, vice president, Underground products at Vermeer. “While other training programs may provide a certificate of completion, each student who successfully completes the Vermeer HDD Circuit training program will be certified as an HDD operator from an accredited college. This is important as more project owners are asking underground contractors to verify their HDD operators have received training.”
Vermeer HDD Circuit program will be taught by Vermeer trainers with extensive experience in horizontal directional drilling operation.
During each two-week course, students will be exposed to topics on HDD safety, jobsite setup and bore planning, drill operation, underground utility locating and potholing best practices, drilling fluid mixing and testing, proper bore and pullback techniques including the development of a bore to plan, as well as basic drill maintenance and inspection. Students will get approximately 72 semester hours, including 26 hours of drill training experience and 26 hours of locating training.
“The HDD Circuit program develops drillers who can walk a bore, plan a bore, set up a bore and complete a bore,” said Tony Bokhoven, Lifecycle training manager at Vermeer. “We are creating an opportunity for a new generation of drill operators to have a career in a growing global industry. At a time when the horizontal directional drilling industry is experiencing a shortage of drill operators, the HDD Circuit program is an ideal training program to help veterans, students and others looking for a way to enter this growing industry.”
The goal of the training program is that each student who successfully completes the program will be a productive drill operator or crew member. HDD Circuit program students must complete and pass a written test and hands-on evaluation in order to complete the program and receive the certified HDD operator designation.
To learn more about Vermeer HDD Circuit program and register for a future training class, visit DMACC.edu, Vermeer.com or contact Vermeer at [email protected].
About Vermeer
Vermeer Corporation delivers a real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality underground construction, surface mining, tree care, environmental and agricultural equipment. With a reputation for durability and reliability, that equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world.
Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Equipped to Do More and HDD Circuit are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2016 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.