Blanchard Hosts Caterpillar's Global Operator Challenge

Blanchard Machinery in Columbia, S.C., hosted Caterpillar's Global Operator Challenge, bringing skilled heavy equipment operators together for a two-day competition. Participants showcased their abilities across various Cat machines, with winners advancing to regional semifinals and a chance to win a $10,000 grand prize.

Wed May 21, 2025 - Southeast Edition #11
CEG

Blanchard Machinery hosted the local phase of Caterpillar's Global Operator Challenge on May 15-16, 2025, at the Blanchard Farm in Columbia, S.C., bringing skilled heavy equipment operators together for two days of competition, precision and high-performance machine control.

This event is part of Caterpillar's third Global Operator Challenge, the company's largest and most ambitious challenge to date. Thousands of operators from more than 40 countries are expected to compete in local events worldwide, showcasing agility, resilience and versatility across a range of Cat machines and technologies.

At the Columbia event, participants were tested in three separate challenges using different pieces of equipment. Scoring focused on operator skill, safety, efficiency and effective use of integrated technologies such as payload management, grade control and user-assist features designed to optimize machine performance.

Winners from dealer-hosted events like this one will advance to regional semifinal competitions in fall 2025. From there, nine finalists will emerge to compete in the global finals, held in March 2026 at Caterpillar's Festival Grounds exhibit during ConExpo-Con/AGG in Las Vegas. The grand prize: a $10,000 cash award or a trip for two (equal in value) to any Caterpillar location worldwide. CEG

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(L-R) are Everette Brown and Gerald Infinger, both of Contour Mining and Construction in Columbia, S.C., and Gary Smith and Tyler Wallace, both of Morgan Corp. in Duncan, S.C. (CEG photo)

In part, the excavator portion of the operator challenge required operators to load material utilizing payload technology. (CEG photo)

During the challenge, operators had to place a smaller tire vertically within a larger one. (CEG photo)

(L-R) are Mitch Gildner and Colt Lax, both of Blanchard Machinery, and Nick Bradley, Martin Gasque and Daniel Hayes, all of East Lake Construction in Lexington, S.C. (CEG photo)

Using a Cat D4 dozer, operators had to maneuver through a path while knocking balls off of cones, without knocking over the cone. (CEG photo)

Brandon Hydrick of South Carolina Pole & Piling in Batesburg, S.C., looks over the special edition Cat D4, painted in the original gray to commemorate Caterpillar’s 100th year in business. (CEG photo)

For the Cat compact track loader part of the challenge, operators needed to carry a bucket of water on the forks through an obstacle course with penalties for every quarter-inch of water spilled. (CEG photo)

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