Will you be the world's top equipment operator for 2025–2026?

Caterpillar has launched the third Global Operator Challenge, and is inviting thousands of machine operators worldwide to "put their agility, resilience, and versatility to the test on a wide range of construction equipment and technology."

After the winner is announced at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026, they will join Canadian Jaus Neigum, who captured the first championship crown in 2020, and Patrick Doheny of Australia who beat out global competitors in 2023, at the pinnacle of equipment operation achievement.

"For nearly 100 years, our customers have been pushing the limits with our machines," says Caterpillar Construction Industries group president Tony Fassino. "This challenge helps showcase and celebrate the exceptional skills of the expert men and women in this important profession as they forge their legacies of being the best operators in the world."

A global competition for the world's best operators

The last challenge kicked off in the spring of 2022 with more than 10,000 operators worldwide signing up to compete. After a pre-qualification phase, the first round featured 5,500 contestants competing in local events organized by 77 Cat dealers in 32 countries.

The second round in the fall of 2022 consisted of four regional events held in the United States, Brazil, Spain, and Japan. These competitions included digging a trench, loading a precise amount of dirt, and hauling or maneuvering the machines through obstacles. 

At the third and final round in Las Vegas, nine finalists were grouped into teams of three — Team Americas, Team Europe, and Team Asia — and the nine finalists competed individually and as teams, facing three challenges in a specially constructed stadium featuring stands, fans, big-screen TVs, and play-by-play announcers. 

More than 140 Cat dealer competitions were held during the 2022–2023 challenge, and the 2025–2026 challenge aims to include even more events, countries, and operators than previous programs.

Operators are invited to compete in local dealer events worldwide

Operators are invited to compete in local challenges facilitated by Cat dealers around the globe during the first round, being held from January to September 2025. The competitions will feature at least three different challenges on at least three separate pieces of equipment. Scoring is based on the operator's skills, safety, efficiency, and competence in using integrated technology such as payload, grade control, and operator ease-of-use features to enhance the machine's performance. 

Winners from local dealer events will advance to regional semifinal competitions during the fall of 2025. Nine finalists will emerge from the regional semifinals and participate in the final competition in March 2026 at Caterpillar's outdoor Festival Grounds exhibit during CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas. The winner receives either a $10,000 cash prize or an equal value trip for two where Caterpillar has a location worldwide.

For more information and official rules about the Global Operator Challenge, including how to participate, visit www.cat.com/operatorchallenge.

Caterpillar will also hold a dealer technician challenge at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026.