Hayden, Leclerc rise to victory as Caterpillar crowns North American champions in Global Operator Challenge

IRVING, Texas, September 29, 2025―The best machine operators across North America gathered in Clayton, NC to forge their legacy and prove their mastery of both equipment and technology. Held on Caterpillar grounds at the Edward J. Rapp Customer & Training Center, the Global Operator Challenge (GOC) divided the 32 best operators from the United States and Canada into east and west regions for the semifinal competitions. The two winners will now advance to the final round to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada during CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 3, 2026, inside Caterpillar’s 70,000 ft² outdoor exhibit in the Festival Lot.

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

Brock Leclerc with Quattro Constructors from British Columbia, representing dealer Finning Canada, completed the same four challenge events with 1,540 points, emerging as the Western Region semifinal champion for North America. 

All competitors completed the same four Challenge events using Cat^® equipment and technology. 

The Over-the-Top Challenge saw competitors put their versatility and precision to the test by operating a Cat compact track loader through a dynamic, 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 final sprint to the finish, demanding skill, speed and seamless equipment transitions.

An urban-inspired challenge, City Streets showcased the operators' finesse and power as they tackled 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. The challenge intensified with a heavy-load sequence, requiring operators to fill 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, completing a course that demanded accuracy, control and strength.

Featuring a Cat wheel loader, the Load ‘N Loader Challenge highlighted the agility and adaptability of the operators as they navigated a dual-phase course. Starting at the bunker pile, participants loaded and hauled material along a marked path before dumping it into a Cat articulated truck. The challenge then shifted to precision handling, where operators had to swap their bucket for forks and 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. It was a test of speed, control, and seamless equipment transitions.

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 that sealed the run. The challenge was a tribute to skill, control and the legacy of the dozer.

The regional GOC semifinals are a culmination of months of competitions held worldwide by Cat dealers.

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About Caterpillar:
With 2024 sales and revenues of $64.8 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html.

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