Bulldozers Course: Construction Vehicles
Online 300-hour course in construction vehicles: bulldozers. 6 modules covering ISO 6747 (crawler tractors: terminology and specifications), ISO 3471 (roll-over protective structures ROPS) and Trimble Business Center. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Bulldozers Course: Construction Vehicles — studying from New Zealand
Off-road and special vehicle engineering is a major strength in New Zealand, reflecting the importance of agriculture, forestry, mining and construction. Manufacturers and fabricators in the Waikato and Canterbury produce tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment and specialised machinery, many of which are exported worldwide. Engineers in this field work on design, testing and safety compliance for equipment used on farms, in plantations and on remote worksites.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,280 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies relate to off-road and specialist vehicle engineering?
Engineering New Zealand is the main professional body, and vehicle compliance is handled by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Heavy machinery and certain specialist vehicles can also fall under WorkSafe New Zealand rules. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so employers and regulators decide their value.
Who hires off-road and special vehicle engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include forestry and agricultural equipment firms, mining and civil construction contractors, fabrication shops, and emergency or utility vehicle fleets. Practical design, safety and maintenance skills are central to hiring. A SEIUM qualification may help, but its weight depends on the employer.
How does the study load work for someone with a job here?
The programme is fully online, so you can study around work from anywhere in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments or sponsored by an employer.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Classify crawler tractor families by power, blade and application.
Calculate the hourly output of a bulldozer under different site conditions.
Describe the transmission, the hydraulic system and blade control by guidance.
Assess undercarriage wear and plan its maintenance.
Estimate the hourly ownership and operating cost of the machine.
Apply ROPS, FOPS and machinery safety requirements.
Prepare a bulldozer selection project for a specific site.
Who it's for
- Earthmoving plant manager who wants to specialise in Construction Vehicles: Bulldozers.
- Site production engineer who wants to specialise in Construction Vehicles: Bulldozers.
- Heavy plant fleet manager who wants to specialise in Construction Vehicles: Bulldozers.
- Undercarriage inspection technician who wants to specialise in Construction Vehicles: Bulldozers.
- Technical plant sales representative who wants to specialise in Construction Vehicles: Bulldozers.
- Earthworks planner who wants to specialise in Construction Vehicles: Bulldozers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter public works.
What you'll work with
- ISO 6747 (crawler tractors: terminology and specifications)
- ISO 3471 (roll-over protective structures ROPS)
- ISO 20474-1 (safety of earth-moving machinery)
- ISO 3449 (falling object protective structures FOPS)
- ISO 9249 (net engine power for earth-moving machinery)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 (machinery)
- ISO 6395 (sound power emission)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Ranges by operating weight and power1.2Crawler and wheeled tractors: fields of use1.3Blade configurations and their purpose1.4Single- and three-shank rippers1.5Variants for soft ground and for rock1.6Undercarriage: shoe types and configuration1.7Hydrostatic and torque-converter transmissions1.8Grade control and guidance systems1.9Reading the manufacturer's technical data sheet1.10Workshop: machine specification for three different sites
2.1Traction force and speed curves2.2Rolling and gradient resistance2.3Traction coefficient by terrain type2.4Blade capacity and fill factor2.5Push distance and efficiency2.6Hourly production as a function of distance2.7Correction for efficiency and operator2.8Comparison with other earthmoving solutions2.9Sizing the complete site fleet2.10Practice: production calculation and machine selection
3.1Blade and ripper hydraulics3.2Transmission, controls and working modes3.3Electrical system and control electronics3.4Automatic grade control and satellite guidance3.5Telemetry and remote tracking3.6Cab, ergonomics and fatigue reduction3.7Safety and vision systems3.8Filtration and suitability for severe environments3.9On-board diagnostics and fault codes3.10Practice: configuring a grade control system
4.1Hour-based maintenance programme4.2Undercarriage: wear, measurement and inspection4.3Factors that accelerate wear4.4Track tension and adjustment4.5Undercarriage cost per hour4.6Blade, end bits and cutting edges: replacement4.7Oil analysis and condition monitoring4.8Major repairs and rebuilds4.9Critical spare parts and stock4.10Practice: maintenance plan and wear measurement
5.1Hourly ownership and operating cost5.2Fuel consumption by type of work5.3Depreciation, residual value and service life5.4Optimum replacement point5.5Buy, rent or subcontract5.6Cost comparison per cubic metre moved5.7Effect of technology on unit cost5.8Electrification and alternative fuels5.9Machine budget on a site5.10Practice: economic comparison of two machines
6.1Clearing, filling and grading6.2Opening access roads and tracks6.3Work at landfills and spoil heaps6.4Urban site work and restrictions6.5Machinery and emissions regulations6.6Machine transport and permits6.7Operator training and authorisation6.8Use and performance indicators6.9Common errors in machine selection6.10Final project: sizing and budgeting an earthmoving operation
How you'll learn
Fully 100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the course with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Trimble Business Center, Cat VisionLink, AutoCAD Civil 3D, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are based on real procedures for calculating production on earthmoving sites, undercarriage inspection with wear measurement, and hourly fleet cost analysis. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Classify crawler tractor families by power, blade and application.
Calculate the hourly output of a bulldozer under different site conditions.
Describe the transmission, the hydraulic system and blade control by guidance.
Assess undercarriage wear and plan its maintenance.
Estimate the hourly ownership and operating cost of the machine.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient English to follow technical standards reading.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme is 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That averages between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with Trimble Business Center, Cat VisionLink, AutoCAD Civil 3D and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor will indicate a free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM's own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher-level programme. Check the credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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