Motor Grader Training

This course is centered around the safe operation of motor grader equipment for maintaining unpaved roads. The course provides an overview of best practices for unpaved road maintenance, including the importance of proper drainage on gravel roads, reasons for grading gravel roads, identifying techniques and applications to stabilize the road. An emphasis is placed on MUTCD Part 6 temporary traffic controls practices for vehicles and pedestrians. Participants will perform essential grader operations including moldboard pitch, blade angle, articulation, roadway crown adjustments, shoulder work, aggressive blading techniques, and pre-trip inspections. For the certification component, operators will demonstrate their efficiency and accuracy of grading, build wind rows and distribute loose roadway materials evenly using the motor grader. This course is designed specifically for new motor grader operators that build or maintain gravel roads.

Course Material & Standards: MUTCD Part 6; OSHA 29 CFR 1926
Training format: both classroom and field
Prerequisites: valid driver's license
Duration: 2 Days

Learning Objectives
1. Identify best practices for unpaved road maintenance related to using motor grader equipment.
2. Recognize common MUTCD Part 6 temporary traffic controls practices for vehicular and pedestrians.
3. Perform and demonstrate equipment inspection and walk-around checklists.
4. Perform and demonstrate proficiency of operating motor grader equipment.

Skills Developed
1. Identify safety procedures.
2. Perform machine walk-around inspection.
3. Perform vehicle entry with 3 points of contact, starting up equipment, and conducting basic operational controls associated with the equipment.
4. Perform blade pitch and angle exercises on roadway.

Skills Verified
1. Conduct machine walk-around inspection.
2. Demonstrate basic operational controls and follow safety procedures.
3. Demonstrate competent skills of operating efficiency and accuracy of grading.
4. Demonstrate competent skills of operating using the proper angle and pitch of the mold board and associated operations.
5. Demonstrate competent skills of building wind rows and distributing loose roadway materials evenly using the motor grader.

Who should attend? Maintenance personnel, crew leaders, crew members, supervisors, and street superintendents.