If you’re a person who frequents America’s public roadways, it’s easy to take for granted the enormous effort and ingenuity it takes to build and maintain such a vast system. It’s easy to lament the delays caused by “road work” and many of us dread reading the lighted signs forewarning us of oncoming congestion caused by it.

 Yet, behind the dust and debris and diesel engines is a complex web of economic activity that helps propel our country forward. Behind the bright orange signs and traffic cones are men and women who are every day working to get us safely where we need to go.

 A critical aspect of this transportation system of ours is the machinery that makes it possible. It’s those bulldozers and excavators and steamrollers we’re familiar with seeing that make it possible for us to pull out of our driveway and go anywhere in the world.

 Many of us take it for granted, but these specialized machines—and the people who operate them—are what allows the wheels of our economy to turn.

 It is the dire necessity of these machines and their operators that has recently caused the State of Georgia to invest heavily in the Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program at public high schools. Through the efforts of the Georgia Highway Contractors Association and its members—seeing the woeful lack of available operators—that many high schools in our state have been able to access some of the latest equipment necessary to train our future workforce in this critical area.

 We at Jordan Vocational High School College and Career Academy are proud to say we are one of the first in Georgia to bring this pathway to our students.

 Due to the generosity of our industry partners and the State of Georgia, Jordan has recently become the owner of four (4), state-of-the-art heavy equipment simulators.

 These simulators perfectly mimic the experience of operating an excavator and bulldozer. Yes: the very same ones you see building the roads and bridges of America.

 Developed by Caterpillar, these simulators utilize virtual reality and three-axis responsive seating to recreate with remarkable precision what it feels like to—quite literally—move mountains.

 As our students make use of these simulators and various online modules, they begin to develop a skillset that makes them a valuable asset to the local economy. And for them, it’s much like playing the video games they are already familiar with. The biggest difference is now they get a grade for it!

 However, the beauty of the HEO program at Jordan is not that we simply simulate the world of heavy equipment operation, but that that we let our students get their hands dirty through testing in real-world applications.

 As a capstone event to their classwork, HEO students are escorted to a nearby quarry or job site and are—believe it or not—placed behind the controls of a real-life piece of heavy equipment. A piece of equipment that, in fact, costs north of a quarter of a million dollars.

 Just imagine taking someone who has only recently learned how to operate a Toyota Corolla and slapping them behind the controls of a 300 horsepower, 81,000 pound piece of machinery.

 Sounds a little crazy? Don’t worry; professionals are present.

 The capstone event for our HEO students is not only a chance for them to operate actual heavy equipment, but also a chance to network with industry professionals. Because while those students are demonstrating their skills behind the wheel, they are being graded by volunteers from local construction contractors.

 These contractors are providing direct guidance and instruction to the students to help them along with the intimidating task of being in control of a massive (and expensive!) piece of equipment.

 Just a few weeks back, Jordan students were graciously given the opportunity to perform their capstone examination at a local asphalt quarry owned by C.W. Matthews Construction. On-site to assist were our industry partners from Alexander Contracting as well as Southeastern Site Development. These industry veterans were able to provide the guidance and encouragement our students needed, and we’re proud to say all ten (10) of our HEO students left that day with a certification to operate a heavy excavator.

 But what now?

 For many of these students, jobs are already waiting. And they’re not your minimum wage, traditional “high school student” sort of jobs.

 These students, due to their experience and certification, are already out on-site operating pieces of equipment and helping to make our own roads safer and better.

 So the next time you’re in gridlock due to a large piece of yellow machinery, take a good look at the driver. What you may see is one of our very own young people who is hard at work paving their way to the American dream.