Building a Future: A Partnership Between San Juan College and 4Rivers Equipment
The Need for Trained Operators
In the Four Corners region, there’s a significant demand for trained heavy equipment operators. To paint a picture of how desperate the situation really is, over 80 positions are currently available at one single company in the area. The need for skilled operators is starkly evident. However, there was no local training available—until now.
Introducing the San Juan College Heavy Equipment Operator Program
Patrick Smith, an instructor for the San Juan College Heavy Equipment Operator Program, is looking to help fill those aforementioned openings.
“We started a year and a half, two years ago, with the concept of putting together a heavy equipment school,” Smith recalls. “The demand in our region was clear, and we aimed to fill that gap.”
Training for the Future
The heavy equipment operator program is designed specifically to train entry-level operators. Over the course of the program, students are ensured they’ll gain valuable hands-on experience.
“When they’re done with this program, they’re going to have the credentials as an entry-level operator on different pieces of equipment,” Smith says. “It’s a start. It’s a way to get their foot in the door.”
Partnership with 4Rivers Equipment
4Rivers became a crucial partner in helping to build the heavy equipment operator program.
“They’ve been fantastic to us. They let us come in and, you know, use their equipment,” says Moises Pacheco, a San Juan college student in the heavy equipment operator program. “They let us use their yard [at the Farmington, New Mexico location]. They’ve been good people to us.”
Meeting the Demand
A waiting list of eager students is now at the ready to join the program, and employers are standing by to hire the graduates right out of the gate.
“They’ll take them as fast as we can move them through,” Smith says.
San Juan County businesses are keen to employ skilled operators, and San Juan’s heavy equipment program is opening up a world of opportunities for both individuals and companies alike.
Aiming for the Moon
For many, this training is so much more than just a precursor to a job opportunity.
“Dream big,” Pacheco says. “What I want to do with this, with what I’m trying to learn here, is I want to start my own company. Make a mark. In this life, that’s the way I see it will begin.”
Innovative Training Tools a.k.a. “The World’s Greatest Video Game”
The training includes a state-of-the-art simulator with hydraulic cylinders and multiple screens, providing a realistic experience without any hazards. This allows students to gain confidence and skills in a safe environment.
“These guys are having a ball,” Smith says. “We’ve got the world’s greatest video game sitting down there in the simulator, and then we’ve got all these big yellow toys to play with, you know? They’re all like kids at Christmas when they get out here. As long as the demand is there, we’ll keep training the best we can and keep trying to put out the best operators that we can.”
Join Us
The opportunity is there, and it’s an exciting time to get involved. For anyone interested in a career in heavy equipment operation, San Juan College can offer a fun and rewarding path that can lead to a fulfilling career.
Current students are enthusiastic and great examples of what can be possible through a strong, mutually beneficial partnership. With 4Rivers Equipment and San Juan College teaming up, the future of the heavy machinery operator program is sparkling.
