Caterpillar Names Two N.A. Operator Challenge Champs
Brian Hayden and Brock Leclerc will move to the finals of Caterpillar’s Global Operator Challenge on March 4, 2026, during Conexpo in Las Vegas. The two were named North American champions.
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Hayden is with Hayden Excavating and Welding and represents Milton Cat. He was crowned Eastern Region semifinal champion. He 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 in a statement. “It’s bringing recognition to the operators that devote their time and lives to what they do and then showcasing them with their skills.”
Leclerc is with Quattro Constructors and represents Finning Canada. He completed the challenge events with 1,540 points, and was named Western Region semifinal champion. “It’s beyond exciting what we’ve accomplished here as a group,” stated Leclerc. “Everybody working with great sportsmanship… it’s been an unreal, awesome day and amazing experience.”
All competitors completed the same four 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, in a stateent. “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.”
What are the Cat Global Challenge events?
- Over-the-Top Challenge. Competitors operate a 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 final sprint to the finish.
- City Streets. Operators tackled a series of precision tasks using an 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.
- Load ’n Loader Challenge. Operators navigated a wheel loader through a dual-phase course. Starting at the bunker pile, participants loaded and hauled material along a marked path before dumping it into an articulated dump 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.
- The Centennial Push Challenge. Operators put a crawler 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.
Other North American winners
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 – Brian Hayden, Hayden Excavating and Welding Inc., representing Milton
- City Streets Challenge winner – Frank Gross, Ripa & Associates, representing Ring Power
- Load ‘N Loader Challenge winner – Robert Donnellan, C.A.C. Industries, representing H.O. Penn
- 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 – Jeremy Bordelon, Durr Heavy Construction, representing Louisiana Cat