Gadsden State offers free training in using skid steers

The first class to take advantage of free training in operating skid steer loaders offered by Gadsden State Community College completed the program on April 29.

According to a news release from GSCC, the training is part of Skills for Success, an initiative launched last year by the Alabama Community College System.

The rapid training program has provided more than 1,500 participants with the skills to gain employment in high-demand fields like construction, food and beverage and trucking.

GSCC noted in the release that the demand for construction equipment operators is increasing faster than the national average, with a median pay of nearly $50,000.

The 12 people who completed the training "can work on any construction site, they’re fully qualified," said Alan Smith, the college's Dean of Workforce Development.

Skid steers are small, lightweight, maneuverable pieces of construction equipment that can be equipped with various attachments and can be used for digging or moving landscaping and building materials.

GSCC's training began on March 20. It was self-paced, according to the release, and partially interactive and online. Participants had a month to complete it.

They then took part in two days of hands-on training, led by GSCC trucking instructor James Mackey, with two skid steers available for use.

"During the training, they get to do what they’ve learned online," said Baisha Woody, director of GSCC's Skills Training Division. "They do pre-trip checks and safety checks. They get into the skid steers and actually operate them. They have to complete a number of obstacles before they are awarded a completion certificate."

Alexandria High School junior Raymond Gardner took the course at the urging of his supervisor at a company in Calhoun County that maintains and repairs right-of-way equipment.

"I think it's going to be very beneficial for me to have experience and a certification in equipment operating before I graduate from high school," he said.

Gardner plans to enroll in GSCC's Diesel Technology Program as a dual-enrollment student this fall and hopes someday to earn a commercial driver's license.

"The more certifications I have, the more valuable I am to my employer," he said. "This training program was really interesting, too. It gave me a lot of information about what we need to know about operating equipment on construction sites."

Students from GSCC, Gadsden Job Corps and Jacksonville State University also took part in the training. The next session begins May 22 when the online modules open; the hands-on training is June 23-24. Email [email protected] or call 256-549-8640 to register.

There are plans, according to the release, to add a construction helper course developed by Smith.

Visit gadsdenstate.edu/skills-training for more information on Skills Training.