Archive for the ‘Heavy Equipment Careers’ Category

Distance learning has become one of the fastest growing sectors of the education and training sector so its no surprise to see the nation’s leading heavy equipment training supplier offering distance training. For those looking at a career change and considering heavy equipment, it could be one of the smartest moves they make - starting their training in their own home at their own pace while maintaining their current employment. That’s what makes distance training so popular - you can keep working while developing new skills.

But how does it work - surely a career as a heavy equipment operator requires hands on in-the-cab operational experience? Yes, it does. However, heavy equipment training also involves a series of in-class lessons as well. Heavy equipment distance learning breaks your training into stages as follows:

1. Enroll in heavy equipment distance training program
2. Complete each of the three distance training modules
3. Attend resident training program for hands-on training
4. Find employment and start working as a heavy equipment operator

Furthermore, the costs associated with your distance learning program are then credited towards the costs of your residential training program. This helps to spread the costs of the training over a period of time. Buy for the distance training program now then buy the residential training component at a later date when you’re ready to start.

Can you really learn by undertaking a heavy equipment distance training program? Just look at some of the topics covered in the modules:

• Module One
• Introduction to the Trade
• Heavy Equipment Safety
• Identification of Heavy Equipment
• Basic Operational Techniques
• Module Two
• Introduction to Earthmoving
• Excavation Math
• Civil Blueprint Reading
• Module Three
• Advanced Operational Techniques
• Finishing and Grading
• Soils

As I said, that was only a short list of some of the topics covered. You will also be introduced to a range of heavy equipment that includes: backhoes, wheel loaders, dump trucks, bulldozers, scrapers, excavators, motor graders. Again, that is just a shortened list. If you’re interested in starting a heavy equipment career then consider heavy equipment distance training - it makes switching careers so much easier.

Distance training is not just restricted to heavy equipment. If you are considering a career as a crane operator, there is a distance training package to suit your needs as well.

When talking to those who dream of a heavy equipment career, it can be hard work trying to get them to think realistically. As with most careers, you can’t expect to start at the top - after all, if you start at the top, the only direction you can go is down. Operating a large excavator or bulldozer is not out of the question, but you do have to get the basics right first and to then work your way to more responsible roles.

If you are considering a career in heavy equipment, start by thinking like an employer - who are you going to employ and what sort of jobs are you going to give them? Novices are obviously going to get the more mundane easy jobs. The harder task will go to those that have experience. Just remember, those experienced operators once started at the bottom, as you will. How they applied themselves to the various tasks then reflected in the types of jobs they were asked to do - the more they applied themselves and learned about their roles, the more difficult the tasks.

So starting with the basics then becomes important. Heavy equipment training that exposes students to a range of equipment and a range of tasks is the best start. Hands on training is obviously the best way to learn. Standing behind someone and watching them may teach you how to use the controls, but it doesn’t give you a ‘feel’ for the equipment. There is so much more to learn by actually sitting in the operator’s seat. Your hands and feet play an important role in ‘feeling’ what the equipment is doing - for example, is it straining, is it hitting rock, and what about the many other situations?

This is what is often termed ‘instinctive’ control of your equipment. Your body feels what is happening and acts almost before your brain clicks into gear. The more hands on experience you gain, the more control you will have over your equipment. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools have been training prospective heavy equipment operators for decades. We can’t teach you ‘instinct’ - you develop that over time. We can, however, teach you to become highly proficient operators, ready to start in the work place and ready to gain that ‘instinct’ in the workplace. Your heavy equipment career starts by getting those basic skills right - and that’s where we can help you.

When it comes to starting a new career, trust is one of the most important influences in the decision making process. Heavy equipment careers are no different. Those considering a career change have to trust in themselves and their abilities to take on and cope with a career change; trust in the marketplace and its ability to support them; and trust in the training they require to make the transition. Let’s analyze each of those individually.

Trust In One’s Own Abilities

Career changes can be scary. They can also be spur of the moment decisions where an individual faces a moment of dissatisfaction with their current career. Doubt is actually a good trait to have in these situations since it brings with it caution. A career as a heavy equipment operator can be a huge step for some, often taking them from safe and secure desk jobs to the wide outdoors. If you have any doubts as to whether or not a heavy equipment career is right for you, take the easy path. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools offers a free online heavy equipment training program that you can access from home. Once you have completed that training program, you will have a much better indication as to whether or not a career as a heavy equipment operator is right for you.

Trust In The Heavy Equipment Industry

Let me start by stating that no industry is safe from the turmoil of world and national economics and that any career change is going to be a gamble. Your current career could boom over the next ten years, or crash and burn. Likewise, heavy equipment requirements could boom, or it could also crash. No one knows. However, what has been evident over the years is that construction is the one area in industry that always leads the nation to recovery. We can see that with the current economic climate where billions of dollars have been thrown at infrastructure. This has created a large demand for heavy equipment and heavy equipment operators. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools incorporates a careers services department that has one aim, to help every graduate find employment. You can at least gain a start in the industry once you complete your training.

Trust In A Heavy Equipment Training Organization

Now we come to crux of any career change. You’re ready, you’re convinced the industry can sustain a long career, so where do you go to get your training? ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools is one of the nation’s oldest training schools with campuses spread around the nation. Heavy equipment training programs commence on a regular basis with training based on national standards. With strong industry recognition, anyone considering a career as a heavy equipment operator need look no further.

The bottom line is fairly straightforward. The market for heavy equipment operators is strong and there are very competent heavy equipment training organizations available. So, are you ready to consider a change in careers? If you are, a heavy equipment career is yours for the asking - so ask.

Making a move from one career to another is a big decision. Statistics suggest that our current workforce will change careers at least three times during our working life. Of course, it depends on what you classify as a career change. Going from the operating cab of heavy equipment to the classroom and training new operators is a career change, even though you are remaining in the industry. Fortunately, for those considering heavy equipment careers, there is one tool that really helps in the decision making process - free training.

Not only is the training free, it is done online in your own home at your pace. You don’t have to quit your job and you don’t have to alter your lifestyle. You simply access the training program when it’s most convenient and work through the modules one by one. Once you have completed all the modules, you will have a good understanding of the various types of heavy equipment in use, and a better understanding of your own capabilities.

Of course, nothing beats being in the operating seat when learning to operate heavy equipment. Online training can only introduce prospective students to the field of heavy equipment; it can’t replace hands on training. In a world where we change careers frequently, you need to be sure your next move is right for you. Careers in heavy equipment can be rewarding, both financially and in terms of self worth. There is a sense of pride in most operators when they can point out roads, building or even housing developments that they have helped to create.

If you’re interested in heavy equipment careers, check out what ATS has to offer in the form of free online heavy equipment training. It’s totally free to access and could prove to be the turning point in your working life.

With worse than expected employment figures out in recent weeks, you may be wondering if heavy equipment careers are still viable long term options. Long term of course is always a great unknown. However, history teaches us much when it comes to trends for long term careers. In the short term, the demand for heavy equipment operators is still steady. So what does history teach us?

Historically, construction has led economies back to recovery. Whether it has been roads, infrastructure or home building, these activities have helped to spark the economy. Construction has several effects on an economy. The first effect is felt through the pay packets of construction workers. The more in work, the more money that flows into the economy and this lifts demand. The second effect is what could be described as the snowball effect. As demand for products rise, more trucks, more production workers and more retail workers are required - this of course leads to more income in the nation and more demand again. The final effect is seen through the demand for raw materials and equipment - this also has a snowballing effect.

So what does this have to do with heavy equipment careers? We have already seen how the government reacts to an economic crisis - they throw as much money as possible into stimulating the economy and where do they throw this money? Construction. We are in the midst of one of the biggest national infrastructure building programs in decades. This has lead to an increase in demand for heavy equipment operators in the short term.

Long term? That is a harder question. However, there is one more fact that needs to be considered. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age and this is going to leave a huge hole in many industries - the construction industry included. The birth rate has dropped remarkably in the years from 1960-2000. This means there will be almost twice as many people retiring from work as those going into employment. A heavy equipment career offers no promises, but then, no career does. However, the situation in our society at present leads one to think that all employment sectors will face labor shortages in the future.

For younger people entering the work force, heavy equipment training will provide them with lifelong skills. While ever we need roads, homes, schools, hospitals or any other building, heavy equipment operators will be needed.

There is strong demand for heavy equipment operators at present but what does a heavy equipment career offer for new operators? In the short term, there is plenty of work available and there are opportunities for all new operators to not only gain a start in the industry, but to also bring home a healthy pay check. The long term outlook is much harder to predict.

When it comes to the future, there are never any guarantees. We don’t know where the economy is headed, whether or not the bleak conditions in Europe will affect us, or how fast we can bounce back to a healthy economy. We can however look at history and what has happened in the past.

History shows that economies are always bouncing around going from highs to lows before climbing back to highs again. There is one other factor that needs to be considered when looking at any career, particularly those in construction and heavy equipment. This is the aging of our population. To some, there is real concern that, rather than having an over supply of operators, we will be left with severe shortages.

If you look around most building sites, the one thing you will rarely see is sixty year olds at work, even in the cab of heavy equipment. Most construction workers seem to get to around fifty, perhaps fifty-five and then give the game away and look for employment that is a little less physical, a little less dependent on young fit bodies. Heavy equipment careers are a little different in that age is not a strong factor when it comes to being capable - but after 30 or more years as an operator, many are still ready to call it quits when they hit their fifties.

This exodus of labor from the industry is already starting to take affect. Many employers are trying hard to retain experienced operators well into their fifties, or using them to pass on their skills and knowledge to the next generation. Is there a bright future for heavy equipment operators? The next twenty years will undoubtedly see highs and lows, but if we don’t have an increase in the number of young people graduating from heavy equipment training programs, there is a real risk that we will have severe shortages in numbers, not an excess. Heavy equipment careers can still offer a reasonably stable future for new operators - we just need to encourage more into the industry.

Heavy equipment careers are not as popular as they should be at present and there is a good chance that come summer, the construction industry will be crying out for more skilled operators. The last thing we should be doing is importing operators from Canada or Mexico (even if only temporarily) when there are so many people here who could do the job. Mention the word career and many people start to think of months or years of training. When it comes to heavy equipment, the reverse is true. In fact, you can get your heavy equipment operator career off to a flying start by undertaking a weekend of free training.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools provide a no obligation free online training program that provides students with a good grounding in heavy equipment. The training program covers a wide range of heavy equipment ranging from loaders through to bulldozers, excavators and graders. More importantly, if, after undertaking the free training, you feel that this is the career for you, it only takes three weeks of hands on training and you’re ready for the work place.

When it comes to heavy equipment, if you have a natural aptitude then you can learn the basics and be operational very quickly. This is where the free training is so handy - you can test yourself to determine if you have that natural aptitude. Our online training program is designed so that you can do it when you have some free time. When you log in, the program will take you to where you last left off - very handy for maintaining momentum in your training.

Interested in a heavy equipment career? Call us at ATS to discuss your training options, or go online check out our free online heavy equipment training program. It could be the start of a new and exciting career as a heavy equipment operator.

A recent report has highlighted the stimulus spending effects on the construction industry in general. The news is good with heavy equipment careers set to boom over the next 12 months. In fact, if you have had any thoughts of entering the industry, now is the time to act or you run the risk of missing out.

The report estimates that stimulus spending has saved or created 280,000 direct construction jobs. If around 8% of all construction jobs are heavy equipment related, that equates to around 25,000 heavy equipment related jobs - with more to come. The report also pointed to transport projects as being the one construction area to really grow over the past 12 months. Transport projects (road and bridge construction) have a heavy reliance on heavy equipment.

With the current employment situation favoring construction, now is the best to enter the industry. Heavy equipment operator numbers have steadily decreased in recent years as our population has aged. For the industry, it is has not just seen a loss of operators, it has seen a loss of operators that have had decades of experience, something that cannot be replaced overnight.

Is a heavy equipment career right for you? The only person who can answer that is you. However, there is one tool that you can make use of that may just help you decide. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools has a totally free online training program. You can register for this training program and undertake the lessons, all from the comfort of your own home on your own computer. Once you have completed the training program, you can then decide whether or not a heavy equipment career is right for you. The jobs are there - we just need the right operators to fill those jobs. Are you potentially one of them?

Heavy equipment careers cover a broad spectrum in both machinery types and industries. You could work in construction, mining, forestry, agriculture and/or landscaping - just to name a few. You can find work in almost every corner of the world, even here at home. When it comes to machinery, I don’t have enough room on this page to list them all. You can break them down into generalized categories. These include:

• Pushing - this includes bulldozers and graders
• Excavating - this includes excavators and backhoes
• Carriers - this includes front end loaders, backhoes and fork lift trucks

I have been very brief in each description. For example, some of those units of equipment could be further broken down to skip loaders or mini excavators, for example, and I haven’t even covered heavy equipment like scrapers. If you enter the mining industry then you will be introduced to specialized equipment like shovels - in reality, massive excavators that spend all day shoveling tons of rock into trucks. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

There are jobs everywhere for heavy equipment operators, even in the military. If you have experience with heavy equipment you could even find work in our ports, on oil wells, at rail yards and in some of our largest factories. You would be surprised at which sectors of the workplace use heavy equipment - you would also be surprised at what sort of work they do.

There is one common thread that runs through these roles in heavy equipment. A successful heavy equipment career starts with a training program that provides experience on a range of equipment. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools is accredited to delivering and assess students in the use of heavy equipment. If you are looking for a heavy equipment career - contact us here at ATS - we will get your started.

If you’re looking at a heavy equipment career you have a number of options available to you. These include the area you may wish to specialize in and how you can enter that area of choice. Despite, or perhaps because of, the recent economic downturn, heavy equipment operators are in demand and some employers feel that this spring and summer will see shortages of suitably skilled people in many heavy equipment areas. How do you get your start then?

You have a number of options and they all start with training. If you’re not professionally trained to operate heavy equipment these days, most employers won’t look at you. There are plenty of training options available. We suggest you select only those training organizations that are accredited to deliver nationally recognized training. This means any credentials you receive should be recognized nationwide.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are one option. You can start by undertaking our free online training program, or you can contact us for information about course details. We can even post out information on training programs available. We have training centers in almost a dozen locations - there is sure to be one reasonably close to you.

If you wish to specialize in one particular piece of equipment, you can. Our training covers a range of machinery depending, the range will depend on which of our training facilities you attend. It is often a wiser move to wait until you have completed your training before deciding on which piece of heavy equipment you want to specialize in. In our experience, students soon develop a natural affinity with one or more pieces of equipment and that is then where they tend to specialize. Heavy equipment careers - they are in demand and the demand is growing. Contact us for more information on heavy equipment training choices.