The construction worker shortage is being taken seriously, and there is a real need for more individuals to train to operate heavy machinery and equipment and also perform the different tasks required in the construction industry.

Associated Builders and Contractors, the construction industry will need to add an additional 650,000 workers on top of its normal growth pace just to keep up with the demand during the year.

According to Census Bureau Job-to-Job flow data, an estimated 1.2 million construction workers left their jobs to go to work in other industries in 2022, but that was offset by 1.3 million workers who left other industries to work in construction.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that there has been an 8% decline in the number of construction workers ages 25 to 54 during the last decade. They also report the average retirement age of someone who works in construction is currently 61. More than 1 out of every 5 construction workers is age 55 or older, according to reports.

So, to sum it up, if you are looking for a career that offers stability and job security, training for a career in construction would be a smart move right now. Associated Training Services (ATS) offers a variety of training opportunities, and financial aid is available.

Offering everything from CDL training to rigging and signalperson and crane operator certifications, ATS can help you get your career on the right track.

According to recent reports, rapid growth is seen in the virtual construction market. The construction industry continues to adopt various new technologies. Many of those technologies involve virtual design and visualization. These include Building Information Modeling (BIM) to Construction Management Software.

One way to describe the growing use of virtual environments to engineer and visualize the construction of buildings before they are constructed is virtual design and construction (VDC). Virtual environments can readily be accessed by mobile devices, desktop computers and virtual reality and augmented hardware programs.

VDC is beneficial because it is estimated that 30% of all construction industry expenses are because of reworking faulty or incorrect builds. By incorporating VDC, one can reduce these faulty or incorrect builds and determine which approach is the best way to go when building in the physical world.

The most popular VDC tool is BIM because it allows various individuals, including architects, engineers and construction crews to see a virtual model of a structure or building before work commences or while work is underway. That way, any needed changes can be done before work continues or advances.

According to reports, the BIM market is worth $8.1 billion as of 2023 with North America leading the market – holding more than 30% of the current market. The market is continued to grow in the future as more construction companies are seeing the benefits of VDC and BIM and how it can help them with projects of all sizes.

National nonresidential construction spending increased by 1.9% during the month of April, according to a report published by the U.S. Census Bureau that was associated with an analysis conducted by the Associated Builders and Contractors. Non-residential spending totaled $1.05 trillion when seasonally adjusted.

Further data released estimated that construction job openings are expected to increase by at least 68,000 by the end of April. Data was based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Job Turnover Survey.

A job opening is any unfilled position that an employer is recruiting for. While job openings have increased this year, they are down by 35,000 openings for the same month last year. Looking toward the reset of the year, many experts expect the number of job openings to continue to climb because construction projects are still in demand, and with infrastructure projects slated throughout the country, there will be more openings for construction workers.

Nonresidential Projects

While residential construction is down, there is still a need for workers to handle nonresidential construction projects. The number of manufacturing construction jobs continue to increase as do the number of nonresidential projects as a whole. Infrastructure jobs also require a number of construction workers  to complete the job.

Construction work is a much-needed career. It is important to understand and be familiar with the different types of construction equipment. Excavators are an essential piece of equipment for most construction projects. Excavators are used for many different types of jobs. In this article, we will discuss excavators, types of excavators, and hydraulic excavators.

What is an Excavator

Excavators are made up of several different parts. These include boom, dipper, and bucket. All these components of the cab sit on a rotating house. To increase visibility, most excavator cabs rotate 360 degrees. Depending on the manufacturer and nature of the project, excavators have tracks or wheels. Excavators come in a variety of sizes and classes. They can weigh up to 180,000 pounds. An excavator can be diversified by other attachments to take the place of a digging bucket. For example, you can swap out the bucket for an auger, drill, ripper, or rake. Excavators can be used for many jobs.

Types of Excavators

There are six types of excavators available. These include crawler excavators, dragline excavators, suction excavators, long-reach excavators, mini excavators, and wheeled excavators.

Crawler excavator

The crawler excavator is most commonly used for projects such as mining, trench digging, and landscape grading. Crawler excavators have tracks that can travel on a job site. They are better for rough, uneven terrain. Crawler excavators are incredibly powerful machines and have hydraulic power.

Dragline excavator

Dragline excavators are a larger type of excavator that uses a hoist rope and dragline system. They are often used to clear dirt and soil for underwater projects, pile driving, or road excavations. Dragline excavators are generally transported in separate pieces to a job site because of their awkward size. They are assembled at the site and are generally used for larger job sites and projects.

Suction excavator

Suction excavators are used to clear dirt, soil, and debris using water jets and a high-pressure vacuum. They are wheeled-operated excavators. Suction excavators are often used for underground applications, debris cleanup, and other delicate excavation projects.

Long reach excavator

A long-reach excavator has arms that extend up to one hundred feet with attachments. Because they reach further than most other excavators, they are used for heavy-duty digging and industrial demo projects.

Mini excavator

Mini excavators are a compact, smaller version of the crawler excavator. They are useful for narrow job sites or job sites with obstacles. Mini excavators are also used for jobs with delicate terrain such as landscaping. They are ideal for small jobs because they have zero tail-wing compatibility. Mini excavators are often used for DIY landscape projects.

Wheeled excavator

A wheeled excavator is the same as a regular excavator. The only difference is that rather than being on tracks, it is on wheels. Wheeled excavators are more popular in Europe and are typically used for working in urban areas since their wheels are kinder to finished roads and pavement than the traditional metal track. However, wheeled excavators are becoming more popular in city projects.

Hydraulic Excavator

A hydraulic excavator or digger, is a large vehicle that is designed for excavation and demolition purposes. Hydraulic excavators consist of a chassis, boom, and bucket, and move via tracks or wheels. They range in size and function. Hydraulic excavators weigh between 3,000 and 2 million pounds and their range is between 19 HP and 4,500 HP. Hydraulic excavators rely on hydraulic systems.

Hydraulic excavators are used for a wide variety of projects. They are used for demolition purposes. However, even the smaller models can also demolish buildings. Hydraulic excavators also move large amounts of material such as minerals from one place to another. They are used alongside bulldozers and loaders in a construction zone.

There are several advantages to hydraulic excavators. They are small enough to work on specific tasks within a project area and can usually be transported from one project to another by either being towed or carried on a large truck. Also, many different attachments can be used on hydraulic excavators. These attachments include a mallet for demolition purposes, a blade for scraping, or a grapple for picking up objects.

There are also disadvantages to hydraulic excavators as well. They are heavy vehicles and cannot simply be driven across large distances or on non-reinforced roads. Hydraulic excavators use a large amount of fuel which can make them very expensive to operate. Also, hydraulic excavators can be difficult to repair due to their large size and many moving parts.

Construction Excavation

Construction excavation is essential to the construction process. It is the process of removing soil and rock from a specific area before pouring a foundation. Excavation in construction also involves leveling the ground and preparing it for the construction of a building or structure. Construction excavation is also used to dig trenches to install underground utilities, such as water and sewage pipes, electrical cables, and gas lines. This helps to ensure that the utilities are properly installed and functioning and that they do not interfere with the construction process. Excavation is used to uncover artifacts or other objects of historical or archaeological interest. This can provide valuable insights into the history and culture of the area and can help to shed light on the lives of the people who lived there.

Before beginning a project, it is important to carefully plan and design the project. Excavation can be labor-intensive depending on the size of the project. Be sure to take into account the type of soil or rock being removed, the location of the excavation site, and the potential impact on the surrounding environment. Overall, excavation is an important process that enables us to uncover an area’s hidden history and build the foundations for new construction projects. It is a challenging and demanding field of work, but it can also be incredibly rewarding, providing valuable insights into the past and helping to shape the future. Proper planning and execution are essential to ensure the safety of workers and the integrity of the site.

Finally, choosing the right excavator for your construction project depends on various factors. Consider the size of the construction project you are doing. Whether you are renting or buying construction equipment, plan carefully and use the correct equipment. This will help ensure the success of your construction project.

Those who work outdoors, such as those working in construction, should be aware of the different kinds of injuries or illnesses that you can get from the cold temperatures as well as exposure to snow and ice.

Hypothermia is a big concern when construction crews are working outside in frigid temperatures. This is especially true when the wild chill is factored in. Hypothermia happens when your body temperature drops too low then you are not able to raise it back up on your own.

Body temperature plays an integral role in the functioning of your bodily organs. If your body is too cold, then your heart cannot pump, you will have difficulty breathing, and you will experience organ failure.

If anyone is showing any symptoms of hypothermia, you should see that they get immediate medical care by calling 911.

Here are some of the symptoms of frostbite:

• Memory loss
• Shivering
• Instability when standing
• Slurred speech
• Confusion
• Extreme tiredness

Frostbite is also a common problem. When a body part is exposed to frigid temperatures for extensive timeframes, frostbite can develop. Frostbite can also happen when you wear clothing that is wet when it is very cold. The dampness could be from water, sweat, or other substances.

Frostbite damages tissue in a certain area, such as the toes, fingers, or nose, and cuts off the blood flow. Some of the signs that an individual should be aware of include:

• Blisters when warming up
• Prickling feeling
• Numbness
• Extremely cold skin
• Blue or white coloring to the skin
• Extremely cold skin

On this Thanksgiving Day, Associated Training Services expresses gratitude to the diligent men and women who contribute to the growth of America. We appreciate the opportunity to train and certify individuals who play a crucial role in keeping our nation strong. As you celebrate this holiday, take a moment to express gratitude to the significant people in your life and those who make your aspirations achievable. Kick off your boots, savor your meal, and have a joyful Thanksgiving! Wishing everyone a safe, serene, and happy holiday!

A special thank you from Associated Training Services and the Diesel Driving School goes out to our hard-working and committed employees. You are the backbone of the nation’s premier heavy equipment operator, mobile crane operator, and CDL school. Without your dedication, none of our achievements would be possible. Happy Thanksgiving to all our employees and their families – may your holiday be filled with joy and warmth.

Winter weather can add to the existing hazards one faces when working on construction. When there is a risk of snow and ice or even blustery winds, you need to take the proper precautions to help ensure the safety of your crew at the job site.

Strong winds, snow, and ice increase the risk of falls, so make sure the crew wears boots with good traction. Frostbite is also a risk, so make sure your team knows to bundle up and recommend insulated boots.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that construction workers wear at least three layers of loose clothing to stay warm. When workers must drive in wintry conditions, they need to be familiar with proper winter maintenance for vehicles. They should also know how to drive safely in inclement weather conditions.

For those working outdoors, cold stress is a serious threat. That is when the body gets too cold then cannot warm itself up. That is a condition that requires immediate attention.

Every worker must be prepared for working in cold weather, and every employer must take preparing their employees for such weather seriously.

Be sure you and/or the team check the weather forecast and stay current on the latest weather patterns, so you can be prepared for anything that heads toward the job site.

Have an emergency kit readily available on the job site, so workers can get warmed up and get the care and attention that they need should an emergency arise.

Smart pavement is now being tested and some experts believe it will be used in the real world in the near future. These are often referred to as “smart roads.” These roads are installed by connecting prefabricated blocks together. Each block has sensors and those sensors detect vehicle traffic. Those sensors can also interact with control centers and emergency command centers as well.

The heavy concrete panels contain sensors that also allow for the charging of electric vehicles. They also can produce fiber optics, and provide fast wireless data communications for autonomous vehicles. They have been proven as sturdy and reliable, able to withstand the repeated traffic of vehicles.

Smart Pavement Software

The panels can be upgraded as far as software goes, so they can work with municipalities regarding traffic control and traffic signal operation. EV charging while on roadways will be similar to the wireless charging of cell phones, according to the product developers at Integrated Roadways.

Construction crews may be looking to install smart pavement in the future, so watch the news for updates about smart road projects. The blocks can be installed in downtown areas and can be used in smaller segments or in larger sections depending on the need and the location.

Attention: All ATS Specialized Customers doing NCCCO training & testing.

Effective Date: January 1, 2024

Beginning on January 1, 2024, all NCCCO written exam testing will have to be done on a computer connected to the NCCCO written testing website.

ATS will be offering two ways for you to complete the NCCCO written testing:

• Event Online Testing (EOT): This method allows for an organization, such as yours, to set up an approved testing room at your location, as long as the room, table layout, and computers meet the NCCCO requirements. Your organization would be responsible for all costs associated with setting up the room and computers. ATS will assist you in setting up your room and computer stations to meet these requirements. This method will allow your employees to complete their NCCCO written exams at your site upon completion of any classroom training. Note: Applications for E.O.T. site approval must be submitted 30 days in advance.
  
• Testing in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin: ATS is an approved E.O.T. testing facility that you can use for any NCCCO written testing that we can schedule based on your needs. If this method is used, ATS will schedule the testing date, and submit/pay for all NCCCO written candidate applications. If this method is used, ATS can still deliver the classroom training and practical testing at your location and then your employees can take their written exams in Sun Prairie to limit their time away from home. The written exams generally take two to four hours.
  

There are many reasons people choose a career in construction. Here are some of the more common reasons that people choose to work in construction.

• You can see the results of your work. Your hard work pays off. You can see the finished project.
• You get to be outdoors. Your day is not spent in the office. Instead, you get to visit different construction sites and work on different projects.
• There are many different job opportunities, and you can choose different paths. You can train to do different jobs, so you can do various work duties. You may be a truck driver, a heavy equipment operator or you could be an expert carpenter or work in masonry.
• You have job stability. There is a shortage of construction workers, and workers are always in demand. You will not have trouble finding work.
• The construction industry will always be needed. There will always be a need for new construction projects, and there will always be a need for construction workers.

If you are serious about choosing a career that will give you job satisfaction, construction should be on your shortlist. To learn more about construction opportunities, talk with an educational facility that specializes in training programs for construction workers.

ATS offers specialized training and has payment options available. Call to speak with a representative about the options available.