(VIDEO) John Deere and Teleo join pilot program that hires and trains veterans on remote construction equipment

Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) Commissioner Sarah Swanson recently announced a $325,000 grant for a pilot program to hire and train veterans living with disabilities to operate heavy construction equipment from a remote and accessible location.

The remote work is made possible by Teleo's technology, which allows operators to circumvent the physical limitations of job sites and instead operate from the safety and comfort of an accessible workstation. This remote workstation makes the job more accessible for veterans living with disabilities. 

"The latest developments in construction technology are changing the way we work from so many different angles," said David K. Zinke, president of Knife River's Mountain Region. "Most encouragingly, technology provided by Teleo is opening new opportunities for workforce inclusion in the construction industry."

The pilot project will employ disabled veterans at the Knife River gravel pit in Belgrade. During a recent onsite demonstration, the governor used Teleo technology to remotely operate a John Deere loader to move gravel while seated at a command center near the work site.

"We have a responsibility to support those who have served our country," Gianforte said. "Through this grant, we are empowering veterans with good-paying jobs and helping them transition after a life of service. I'm proud to join DLI in recognizing this innovative program to support our nation's heroes."

Knife River is currently seeking qualified applicants, veterans living with disabilities within reasonable travel distance to Bozeman, to fill two operator roles for the pilot project. These operators will be trained to run two John Deere 944K loaders equipped with Teleo technology for quarry operations.