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HDD COURSES

HDD Fundamentals 2-Day Certificate Program

This two-day certificate program is designed for all experience levels and is beneficial for any HDD roll such as a crew member looking to advance in their career, a safety person, new operator, or even a manager. This course is designed to improve profitability by instilling best practices on your jobsite.

Course Curriculum:

  • HDD Safety
  • Mud mixing
  • Drilling best practices
  • Equipment care and maintenance
  • Bore planning
  • DCI training
Drilling School
Training

HDD Academy

The HDD Academy is a rigorous training program built for companies looking to achieve a superior quality of workmanship and production.

When you need hands on training for your whole crew, look no further than the HDD Academy program.

In this full immersion format, students go through the HDD Fundamentals program plus a full day on the Vermeer HDD simulator and the DCI Aurora Vision simulator. This training program concludes with on the job training using the processes and techniques taught.  

Each program is specifically tailored to the needs of each customer.  


Vermeer HDD Simulator Training

Virtual Reality Simulator training gives the operator a realistic and authentic experience while learning.

This type of training allows new crew members and operators to learn HDD best practices without the risks associated with live drilling.

These simulators provide a highly detailed learning experience. Your crew will receive hands-on training on a wide range of HDD concepts.

Course Content:

  • Drilling best practices           
  • Drill Fluids
  • Soil Types
  • Drill Safety
  • Bore Planning
  • Carve Steering
  • Reamers/Pullback

COURSE INFO:

A comprehensive report card gives operators consistent and accurate feedback that reflects their operation abilities to show where they excelled as well as areas that need improvement.

The operator will be given a score after they finish. This is a graded course that will be evaluated by a Vermeer HDD Specialist.

Class Duration:

Each session is about 4 hours long. You can have 2 trainees complete the course at the same time. 

Who this course is meant for:

This simulator can be used for any new crew member, current operator, owner, foreman, or
anyone else in the HDD business no matter their experience. There is always
something new to learn when it comes to HDD. Seasoned operators benefit as much as new crew members.  Many HDD professionals return frequently to continue honing their skills.

What is the cost?

The Vermeer HDD Simulator course is $1000 per trainee with a
maximum of two trainees per day. This also includes training materials required
for the course, snacks & beverages.

DCI Aurora Vision Simulator

DCI Aurora Vision VR Training for DigiTrak Locating System

Move beyond lectures, PowerPoints, and manuals. With DCI’s Aurora Vision, learn by doing and visualize the underground. Training in a virtual environment has benefits not available with traditional classroom training or even on a live job site. 

Course Content:

  • Jobsite hazards & PPE
  • Transmitter selection
  • Interference
  • Scan, Pick, Pair    
  • System calibrating
  • Locating techniques
  • Drill commands
  • LWD (log while drilling)

Class Duration:

Each session is about 3 hours long. 

Who this course is meant for:

Similar to the Vermeer Simulator, this simulator can be used for any new crew member, current operator, owner, foreman, or anyone else in the HDD business no matter their experience. 

What is the cost?

The Aurora Vision Simulator course is $500 per trainee with a
maximum of two trainees per day. This also includes training materials required
for the course, snacks & beverages.

Meet the Trainer

Meet Chad Banford, your go-to expert in Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) training. With over eight years of industry experience as a Vermeer HDD tooling representative, Chad has unparalleled knowledge of HDD processes, challenges, and best practices. From beginners to seasoned professionals, his training sessions cater to all skill levels, offering practical insights and actionable techniques.


Unleash the full potential of your HDD crew with Chad’s expertise. Whether you’re looking to build a solid foundation or add to your crew’s knowledge, Chad’s comprehensive approach ensures valuable learning outcomes. Benefit from his experience and develop your team.


Ready to take your HDD expertise to new heights? Request training for your crew today and experience the remarkable impact of Chad’s guidance. Get started now and pave the way for success in Horizontal Directional Drilling. 

Chad Banford HDD Trainer Vermeer Mountain West

Chad Banford | HDD Trainer

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