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Those of you that use our Digital Training Aids (DTA) for visual accompaniment while reviewing the Operator Reference Manual (ORM) during the classroom portion of an operator training program know what a valuable asset it is. Each equipment-specific DTA provides colorful and detailed images that match up with the chapter review questions in the ORM, enhancing the learning experience of the trainees.
Now, those same elements that have made the DTA such an invaluable resource during initial operator training can be accessed during Operator Requalification programs as well with the release of are all new DTR, the digital training aid for refresher training.
Like the DTAs that inspired them, the DTRs bring a dimension of visual accompaniment to all of the questions and exercises in the equipment-specific Operator Requalification Study Guides, enhancing trainee engagement and understanding.
Head over to www.ivestraining.com now and check out the full range of DTRs available for forklifts, MEWPs and earthmovers. While you’re on our website, you can also view a tutorial video explaining how to best utilize this exciting new product.
Get your new DTR today, we are sure you will find them a useful and welcome addition to your operator requalification programs!
An Erath County jury has awarded nearly $35 million to the family of Jordan Sanchez, a 19-year-old high school senior who died in a tragic farm accident two years ago in Dublin. Sanchez was killed when a front-end loader ran over him while he was clearing rocks in a field as part of a youth work program.
The two-day trial in Erath County ended April 17 with an 11-1 jury verdict in favor of the Sanchez family, holding Grass Roots Farming LLC responsible. The verdict included $32 million in damages, plus $2.9 million in prejudgment interest and $9,668 in court costs — making it the largest plaintiff’s verdict in Erath County history, according to the family’s attorney, Domingo Garcia.
The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in May 2023 in the 266th District Court. The Sanchez family had originally also named Alan D. Vander Horst, doing business as Sierra Dairy, and Vander Horst Enterprises LLC, but those parties settled before trial for $1 million.
Garcia said that before trial, he offered to settle with Grass Roots Farming’s insurance provider for the policy limit of $5 million. The offer was rejected. Instead, the company offered $1 million, prompting the family to proceed to trial.
Dublin is about 90 miles southwest of Fort Worth.
The accident happened April 7, 2023. Sanchez, a senior at Dublin High School, was participating in a work program for children of dairy employees. That morning, he was working with a group of five teens clearing debris in a field, walking just 10 feet ahead of a front-end loader. When Sanchez bent to pick up a rock, the loader struck him and ran him over. The driver, identified as Ben Coan, was allegedly distracted, reportedly on his phone at the time.
Jordan’s younger brother, Alfonso, also on the crew, witnessed the incident and held his brother as he died.
Katherine W. Binns, lead attorney on the case, said the driver failed to perform a basic head count before moving. “Had he counted heads … he would have realized he was missing one,” she said. She also noted the lack of basic safety protocols — no vests for the teens, and no spotter to guide the driver.
In fact, the teens reportedly threw rocks at the loader’s cab and shouted in a desperate attempt to get Coan to stop.
During closing arguments, Binns had asked the jury for $15 million to $22 million in damages. The jury exceeded that.
Binns said the case underscored the need for simple, life-saving measures in agriculture: banning phone use while operating heavy machinery and providing reflective vests for youth workers — a $10 fix, she noted.
Source: Fort Worth Inc. May 2025
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With over 44 years of experience in training, we are committed to promoting safety and expertise in the industry.
Follow us for the latest updates, training tips, and best practices that can help enhance your skills and knowledge.
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Q: Hi Bob, is there a grace period, and what is it, for an operator whose certification has expired?
How does this apply to Trainers as well?
A: Expiration of operators: There is no grace period given for expired. We suggest putting expired operators through initial training again.
Expiration of trainers: There are no regulatory requirements at this time that trainers be ‘recertified’. However, we place a 3 year recertification date on the credentials of trainers to keep them up to date with changes within industry and within our operator programs and materials.
We suggest trainers attend an online Recertification program. If a Trainer's credentials have been expired more than three years, we suggest retaking the appropriate Trainer Certification Program.
As we celebrate 44 years of IVES Training Group, we reflect on our journey since 1981, driven by our commitment to smarter and safer equipment training.
With nearly 30,000 trainers trained and over a million of operators certified, we have positioned ourselves as a leader in the training industry.
Join us as we look back on 44 years of dedication, growth, and unforgettable memories!
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