1851

Since its founding in 1963, <a href="https://www.pdacorporation.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=property-damage-appraisers-heavy-equipment-training-class-offers-best-in-class-solutions-expertise-2713685" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Property Damage Appraisers, Inc. (PDA)</a>, has worked diligently to become the nation’s leading independent damage-appraisal firm by offering consistent, top-quality services at unparalleled speed. Using a combination of human expertise and technology, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/propertydamageappraisers/info">PDA</a> completes over 420,000 appraisals a year — many with guaranteed Same-Day Service for specialty and heavy equipment, including over-the-road trucks, cranes, construction and farm equipment, busses, boats and more. PDA also offers same-day service for automobiles and will soon offer same-day service for property too.PDA’s Heavy Equipment (HE) Training Class equips PDA appraisers with the ability to provide customers with informed, high-quality appraisals.&nbsp;Since the class began in 2014, more than 460 individuals have completed the course.&nbsp;“The purpose of the HE Training Class is to create a complete standardization throughout the entire PDA team,” said Lance Marlette, AVP of Training at PDA. “We are developing a consistent, high-quality product with our appraisers so when people look at the appraisal, they can tell from first glance it was completed by PDA.”&nbsp;So what does the quarterly HE Training Class entail? To answer that question, meet Larry West, the man behind the class.West, PDA’s franchisee in Bryan-College Station, Texas, has been a part of the HE Training Class since its inception in 2014. According to Marlette, West, who has racked up hundreds of hours of hands-on experience over the years and is the ultimate resource for the class, adds a level of expertise that is unmatched in the industry.&nbsp;In each five-day class series held at PDA’s headquarters in Fort Worth, TX; students (new appraisers) attend a classroom session from Monday through Wednesday to learn the basics — the different types of equipment, how to fill out forms, the technology platforms used and how to assess images of damage. Students also take part in group discussions and interactive exercises.&nbsp;On Thursday and Friday, students are taken off-site and into the field. West takes the students to a local truck shop, allowing them to see everything they’ve learned in the class in action.&nbsp;“Once the students are taken into the shop, it all comes alive for them,” West said. “They see 25 to 30 different jobs, all at different stages, all being done at once. The students interact with the technicians, ask questions and take pictures of the work being done. I think it’s extremely beneficial for the students.”After the field experience, students take a test, and once passed, they are officially certified by PDA to complete heavy equipment damage estimates.Aside from being a prerequisite for certification, West says the HE Training Class offers an invaluable opportunity to network with the other attendees.&nbsp;“The majority of PDA’s appraisers aren’t new to the industry, so they have already established a sense of what we do,” West said. “This allows students to tap into other students’ minds and learn something new about the equipment that they may not have known.“This year, the HE Training Class features a new training module. PDA has moved to a new estimating platform designed specifically for heavy equipment called AdjustRite®. In a recent class students participated in hands-on demonstrations led by experts from AdjustRite’s team.“The new heavy-equipment technology platform is a huge upgrade for PDA, and I think people love it,” West said. “We’re all about better, faster, consistent service, and AdjustRite will help us continue to stand out in the industry.”&nbsp;In the six short years since PDA introduced the HE Training Class, the class has become an essential part of PDA’s commitment to education, quality and consistency companywide.

Property Damage Appraisers’ Heavy Equipment Training Class Offers Best-In-Class Solutions, Expertise

1851 Franchise

Since the start of PDA’s Heavy Equipment Training Class in 2014, more than 460 appraisers have completed the five-day course. 

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

property-damage-appraisers-heavy-equipment-training-class-offers-best-in-class-solutions-expertise

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

Home Halo

home-halo-former-athletes-frachisees-image

Why Former College Athletes Can Make Winning Home Halo Franchise Owners

former-college-athletes-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Property Damage Appraisers’ Heavy Equipment Training Class Offers Best-In-Class Solutions, Expertise

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS