The best machine operators across North America recently gathered in Clayton, North Carolina, to prove their mastery of equipment and technology.

Held on Caterpillar grounds at the Edward J. Rapp Customer & Training Center, the Global Operator Challenge divided 32 competitors from the United States and Canada into east and west regions for semifinal competitions. The two winners advance to the final round March 4, 2026, during CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas, Nevada, at Caterpillar’s outdoor exhibit in the Festival Lot.

Brian Hayden with Hayden Excavating and Welding Inc. in Maine, representing dealer Milton Cat, was crowned North America’s eastern region semifinal champion. Hayden finished the four events with the lowest point total of 1,313, which is a combination of time and penalties.

“What makes me proud is just, you know, nothing to do with me,” Hayden said. “It’s bringing recognition to the operators that devote their time and lives to what they do and then showcasing them with their skills.”

Brock Leclerc with Quattro Constructors of British Columbia, representing dealer Finning Canada, completed the challenge events with 1,540 points, emerging as the western region semifinal champion for North America.

“It’s beyond exciting what we’ve accomplished here as a group,” Leclerc said. “Everybody working with great sportsmanship … It’s been an unreal, awesome day and amazing experience.”

All competitors completed four challenge events using Cat equipment and technology.

“Our team pulled out all the stops to make sure this was a true test of skill,” said Jason Hurdis, Global Industry Solutions Manager for Caterpillar. “We created a level playing field where every operator had the same shot at victory, proving that it all came down to talent, grit, and performance.”

In the Over-the-Top Challenge, competitors operated a Cat compact track loader through a multi-phase course. Starting with a bar carriage, operators navigated rugged terrain, including C-channels and moguls, before swapping to a bucket for a high-speed loading sequence. After dumping two loads into a commercial truck, they switched to a material handling arm to lift and place objects on a staged platform. The challenge ended with a sprint to the finish that required skill, speed, and seamless equipment transitions.

An urban-inspired challenge, City Streets, saw operators tackle a series of precision tasks using a Cat excavator. Competitors began by placing a manhole lid into a cast frame, then maneuvered to the berm’s edge to retrieve and insert a 30-inch pipe into a vertical culvert. In the heavy-load sequence, operators filled an articulated truck with 15 to 20 tons of material. After honking the truck off, participants returned to the start and parked the bucket in its designated spot.

For the Load ‘n’ Loader Challenge featuring a Cat wheel loader, operators navigated a dual-phase course. Starting at the bunker pile, participants loaded and hauled material along a marked path before dumping it into an articulated truck. The challenge then shifted to precision handling, where operators had to swap their bucket for forks, transport a pipe across a designated route, and place it accurately on a flatbed trailer. After reversing the process and restoring the pipe to its original location, competitors reconnected the bucket and raced to the finish.

To celebrate a century of earthmoving excellence, the Centennial Push Challenge had operators put a Cat dozer through a series of precision maneuvers. Competitors began by dozing a tire down a narrow path into a goal zone, then sliding a pipe along a rope using only the dozer’s blade. The course continued with a grading segment that demanded smooth, even dirt distribution, followed by a bell-ringing task that tested blade accuracy. Operators then reversed off a slope and returned to the starting box, finishing with a ripper placement.

The regional semifinals were a culmination of months of competitions held by Cat dealers.

“This year we saw a record-breaking number of dealer competitions,” Hurdis said. “It’s a true testament to the passion and pride of the operators in this industry.”

Regional competitions continue in Europe, South America, and Asia Pacific in October 2025 to determine the nine operators who will compete in the global finals. The winner receives either a $10,000 cash prize or an equal-value trip for two to a Caterpillar location of their choice.

Other winners in the North American competition included:

Eastern Region

• Second place — Alex Blanchet, Maxi Paysage, representing Toromont
• Third place — Robert Donnellan, C.A.C. Industries, representing H.O. Penn
• Over-the-Top Challenge winner — Hayden
• City Streets Challenge winner — Frank Gross, Ripa & Associates, representing Ring Power
• Load ‘n’ Loader Challenge winner — Donnellan
• Centennial Push Challenge winner — Josh Blanton, Roadbuilders, Inc., representing Gregory Poole
Western Region
• Second place — Cwentin Clifton, Elite Construction + Development, representing Western States
• Third place — Keith Steed, Native Sun Construction, representing Wagner
• Over-the-Top Challenge winner — Justin Barclay, B&W Services, representing Tractor & Equipment
• City Streets Challenge winner — Jeremey Bordelon, Durr Heavy Construction, representing Louisiana Cat
• Load ‘n’ Loader Challenge winner — Troy Lea, Lea’s Demolition, representing Holt of California
• Centennial Push Challenge winner — Bordelon