January 2025
The Top 5 Reasons to Sign up for Operator Training
At John Deere, we believe the most effective training occurs when operators spend time in the seat and the sandbox. From the journey towards safer operating procedures and skill development to helping contractors reduce costs, our operator training can benefit your crew and your bottom line.
Here are the top five reasons to sign up for John Deere Operator Training.
- Improve safety on every jobsite.
Safe operating procedures are paramount when it comes to getting the job done. While John Deere machines are built with your safety and comfort in mind, whether heavy equipment is used safely ultimately falls on the shoulders of equipment operators.
That's why every operator training session not only teaches participants how to use John Deere machines, but how to use them safely — directly from the seats of dozers, excavators, and more. Throughout our hands-on operator training sessions, participants learn from John Deere product experts about how to properly use equipment and perform essential steps to reduce the risk of accidents and injuries on the jobsite.
- Enhance productivity, no matter the job
Well-trained operators can run equipment more efficiently, leading to increased productivity on jobsites and less rework. While videos and manuals make a big difference when it comes to learning how to operate all the functions of today's heavy machinery, nothing beats spending time in the seat.
Take our Level 1 Operator Training held on John Deere's proving grounds in Sacaton, AZ, for example. There, participants spend three days learning the ins and outs of numerous machines from the operator seats of dozers, motor graders, excavators, articulated dump trucks, loaders, skid steer and compact track loaders, and backhoes. With our experts guiding them, attendees spend about half a day exploring the various machine families, advancing their knowledge and skills.
By the end of the training, operators should be able to safely and effectively perform basic operations utilizing all the key equipment features on each of the machines. Ultimately, this practice and reinforcement helps result in faster project completion and better use of resources.
- Reduce equipment downtime.
When it comes to earth-moving equipment, there are lots of moving parts — and we cover them all in our operator training sessions.
For more than 185 years, John Deere has designed equipment for maximum uptime — and that starts with proper equipment handling and maintenance. Well-trained operators can not only avoid misusing and damaging equipment, but they can also identify and address minor issues before they escalate.
As part of John Deere operator trainings, our product experts teach attendees how to conduct proper and thorough safety and service machine walkarounds, helping operators learn how to identify any issues before they may result in costly and time-consuming maintenance.
- Cut unnecessary costs.
Properly using equipment does much more than help maintain jobsite safety and reduce machine downtime. It also helps reduce operating costs. From wear and tear to fuel consumption, proper machine usage can make a huge difference — and it all begins with proper training for equipment operators.
Take compact track loaders, for example. Simply training operators to take wide turns on these machines — instead of counter rotating like on a skid steer — will help minimize track wear. Controlling slippage and regulating loads will not only reduce stress on the tracks but also help conserve fuel. Multiply seemingly small things like these by the number of machines in your fleet, and it adds up quicker than you may think.
- Yield higher-quality work.
We know that many companies and organizations in our industry don't have enough people on hand to complete their work. But these employers aren't just in search of trained operators — they need people who also have received the right level of training to get the work done safely, effectively, and efficiently.
Skilled, experienced operators can help you take the quality of your work to the next level. That's because well-trained operators are more adept at accurately and efficiently executing tasks, resulting in higher-quality work and improved project outcomes — which can enhance a contractor's reputation and lead to more business opportunities.
Ready to learn more about John Deere operator training or sign up for upcoming sessions? Visit the Heavy Equipment Operator Training page or request a custom training session today.
About Deere & Company
Deere & Company (www.JohnDeere.com) is a world leader in providing advanced products, technology and services for customers whose work is revolutionizing agriculture and construction — those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure.
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