There are many activities that require bulldozer driving like deforestation; earthmoving; agricultural work; road carving; quarrying and leveling grounds. Bulldozer drivers have to operate different types of bulldozers for these activities and also for smaller tasks such as garden landscaping, construction or mining activities; hence, the need for bulldozer training.
There are now many plant hire companies in the UK that have bulldozers available for rent. Most of these companies have well-trained bulldozer drivers that knows the machineries well. Along with the rented equipment, the plant hire will provide safety equipment such as helmets and ear defenders. With bulldozer driving done by professionals, the operation is expected to be carried out safely and proficiently.
For all the other businesses that would prefer to have their own bulldozer drivers trained or for those who would want to have a career in bulldozer driving, there are now bulldozer trainings held all over the UK. Most of these trainings are designed for operators of wheel or track-fitted vehicles.
Bulldozer training courses aim to make bulldozer drivers identify vital bulldozer parts. These drivers would also be educated on how to utilize these vehicles and learn about the bulldozers’ limitations and all the principles of its operation. The hydraulic system also needs to be understood as well as the duties and responsibilities of each operator. Bulldozer training also involves establishing safety and maintenance check routines.
Most of these bulldozer trainings have a ratio of 1:3 with 3 being the number of trainees and 1 being the trainer. Depending on the present experience of the training applicants, the course normally runs from 1-10 days for the experienced drivers and some could get as long as 30 days for drivers who have not driven a bulldozer before.
If the driver has done bulldozer driving before, he would surely be given less days to learn the course. A special part of the training is the practical test wherein the trainees get to experience the real feeling of driving the equipment.
Some of the prominent professional trainers of bulldozer driving are the following companies:
- Quality Training Consultants, Ltd. (located in Poole, Dorset)
- All Plant Training (located in Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire areas)
- Machine Force, Ltd. (based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
If all bulldozer drivers are equipped with the necessary skills, there are lesser chances of accidents that might occur during the operation of such bulky equipments. After all, professional driving comes only after good training and constant practice—yes, this applies to chunky bulldozers, too!