Terrell County nonprofit trains Georgians in heavy equipment operation through simulator

DAWSON – Izell Mills spends several hours per day learning how to operate heavy machinery.  He does this in the air conditioning, inside a trailer in the backyard of a south Georgia nonprofit. 

The 58-year-old is just one of about 90 people who have completed training or gotten certified to operate machinery using a Vortex Simulator at the Golden Triangle RC&D in the year since its installation. For Mills, the simulator presented an opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream and begin a new career path. 

“Growing up as a child, I loved big trucks,” he said. “I jumped on this opportunity. I really think it’s something I could make a career out of. I don’t think it’s something I’d ever want to retire from.” 

For the folks at the Golden Triangle, a nonprofit that works in conservation, management and community development, they say they hope the simulator allows them to fill a critical need for public works staffing and road maintenance in southwest Georgia. Rhonda Gordon, Golden Triangle’s executive director, said the nonprofit works to help maintain more than 4,000 miles of dirt roads across its 19-county area, through its Better Back Roads project. 

Golden Triangle RC&D began hosting training with the simulator in August 2024 after receiving funding from the ffice of U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop’s office, D-Ga., from the U.S. Dept. of Labor. Gordon said through a community needs survey Golden Triangle discovered there were 80 job openings in the road crew departments. 

“We wanted to be able to help the road departments keep staff because that’s a high turnover job in this area,” Gordon said. “This lets us train them with the best management practices to keep the roads in order.” 

The simulator simulates the experience of operating motor graders, excavators, bulldozers, front end loaders and backhoes. It offers a safe and controlled environment for operators to develop their skills. Golden Triangle also provides an emphasis on sustainable practices, ensuring participants are not only proficient in equipment operation but also mindful of environmental impacts. 

Users sit in a large chair that moves and replicates the feeling of sitting in or operating the machinery – even changing to mimic different weights or terrain. Users navigate their equipment throughout terrains presented on large screens. They learn how to maneuver and complete different tasks. Instructors can change the weather or even trigger check-engine lights to test the trainees’ response. 

The simulator grades trainees as they complete different modules, and an instructor helps guide them through. Normally there are two students at a time in the trailer – one on the simulator and one watching module videos on YouTube. 

“It’s very, very real,” Kevin Blackburn, an instructor, said. “This machine beats you just like a real one does. It’s rough. You put ’35 tons of dirt’ in the back and it throws you around. It’s as close as you can get to the real thing without the real thing.” 

Blackburn, who has a lifetime of career experience in heavy equipment construction, said he believes the simulator is a gamechanger in heavy equipment training. 

“It appeals to the younger generation because they’re into that video game mentality, and then they can translate it,” he said. 

Gordon said the simulator trains people fast.

“People that train on this are 2 1/2 times quicker in grasping it than somebody who comes off the street that’s never operated anything,” she said. “It puts them light years ahead once they get on the piece of equipment.”

The simulator, which is free for trainees through 2026, also breaks barriers. 

Gordon said southwest Georgia’s small, rural counties often have only one or two pieces of equipment within their public works department, and these are almost constantly being used. 

“It’s hard for them to find the time to train new people on a piece of equipment.” she said.

Mills, who travels to Terrell County from Calhoun County to train on the simulator, said there weren’t really any heavy equipment training opportunities where he’s located. 

“I’ve looked into it in the past, but some of them are quite expensive to get into,” he said. “So this was a great opportunity.” 

Now Mills is on track to complete all five heavy equipment modules. This normally takes trainees about 60 to 80 hours to complete. Trainees receive an introductory certificate that tells employers they’ve completed the simulator training.

Golden Triangle is working with counties to train staff or individuals looking to eventually apply for these jobs. One trainee has completed modules because she was interested in learning how to better operate equipment on her farming property. 

Gordon said with the simulator being on a trailer, Golden Triangle hopes to be able to travel around to bring the training opportunities to different counties. 

Trainees must be at least 16 years old to sign up for courses. More information can be found at Golden Triangle’s site