DE QUEEN, AR—UA Cossatot’s Workforce Development Services has added new Applied Skills
& Reinforcement sessions to its Motor Grader Operator Program. This expansion provides
advanced, hands-on training to help regional operators build safer, longer-lasting
roads.
Pike County operators were the first to complete the enhanced training series in its
entirety. Pike County Judge Eddie Howard and 50-year industry veteran Jackie Herring
co-designed the program to give operators the exact expertise needed to optimize road
performance and evaluate shifting environmental conditions.
The new sessions provide a targeted professional tune-up for operators who have already
completed the program's foundational courses. Instead of repeating basic training,
these sessions focus on correcting unproductive field habits, solving real-world challenges,
and increasing operator confidence.
The complete Motor Grader Operator Program now features three tiers:
- Principles of Operation (2 clock hours; 0.2 CEUs): Classroom instruction covering foundational concepts.
- Practical Operation & Techniques (6 clock hours; 0.6 CEUs): Individualized, instructor-led field practice with a formal skills assessment.
- Applied Skills & Reinforcement (2 clock hours; 0.6 CEUs): Advanced, targeted reinforcement to correct habits and troubleshoot field challenges.
This program, the Motor Grader Operator training series, is now available to employers
across the region who want to elevate their workforce and increase efficiency and
consistency in road maintenance.
Learn more about this Workforce Development opportunity at cccua.edu.