These days there really is not as much need to pull out the graders for small to mid-sized jobs, these are often the domain of bulldozers with laser-guided blades. That does not mean that graders are out of a job, far from it, it just means that they are relegated to predominantly larger tasks. There are a few reasons that we can see for this transition.

New technology allows bulldozers to perform tasks that they were not previously able to do. In particular, the aforementioned laser-guided grading systems that are now available for an affordable price really makes light work of complicated grading requirements. Light bulldozers are able to perform some remarkable feats of grading in small-scale situations. It is perhaps this that has seen some smaller companies make use of them for slightly larger jobs as well. A bulldozer, whether it is laser-guided or not is not going to do the job of a purpose built grader, but it will allow spaces that were previously too small to be graded to receive the benefit of grading.

Tighter spaces have meant that we are not always able to fit a grader into a property, nor able to give it the room it needs to maneuver. This has been the situation for some time. Graders are well suited to wide open areas, rather than the small blocks of suburbia. That is why you will find graders in large construction sites and working roads, but usually not leveling a suburban block.

So what are graders used for?

Graders are used for big jobs that require the precision that they are built for. Graders are used for creating roads and runways, and sometimes for grading large foundations. You will also find graders put to heavy use in winter, when they are put to use clearing snow from roads. If you live in an area with a lot of snow, it is scarce to see a grader going unused, no matter what time of the year you find yourself in.

If you are interested in learning more about driving bulldozers or graders, please do not hesitate to contact us at Associated Training Services.

Training and gaining certification is one thing, but it does not necessarily get you a job; this is why we offer job placement to our graduates. It is tough for a graduate of any institution be it Associated Training Services or anywhere else; tough because while you have learned the skills, you lack experience. The trouble is to get experience you need a job and to get a job you often need experience. To cut a long story short, it often helps to have someone give you a chance. That is what our job placement program is all about.

Being in the construction industry for as long as we have, we have made a great deal of connections with different construction companies around the country. There are a lot of them. We have provided graduates for a lot of big names and they recognize the fact that our students leave Associated Training Services ready to work. That is to say they are aware of the that our students have the skills that they need to would need to succeed in a real working environment. For this reason, many such companies offer job placement for our students. We can help you through the process and find you a position that you are comfortable with.

Job placement is not just a useful part of the training process, it is a crucial part of the training process. Job placement gets you out of the training center and into the real world. Most importantly, job placement gives you a chance to put your skills to use immediately. If you have any questions regarding our job placement program, please do not hesitate to contact us at Associated Training Services.

All kinds of people go into truck driving and I do mean all. Over the years you get to meet all kinds of people in heavy equipment and truck driving and the thing that stands out is that no two people are alike. Sure plenty of people come straight into truck driving after they finish school; others have fully-fledged careers that they give up for a life on the open road. What is it about truck driving that makes it appeal to so many people?

For many people the appeal is the freedom of the job. You do not need to be an owner operator to enjoy the freedom of truck driving. Even if you are driving someone else’s rig, you can enjoy the benefit. To some people, truck driving seems a lonely profession. It is anything but; there is camaraderie among truck drivers that you can see anywhere that truck drivers stop. You will also find truck drivers communicating via radio. If you enjoy your peace and quiet, you can have that too.

The thing that can either turn people on to or turn people off of truck driving is the hours on the road. Some truck driving routes will see people away from home for days on end. It is not for everyone, but it is that aspect of the job that some people really enjoy. Truck driving also pays exceptionally well, which helps too.

If you are interested in learning more about truck driving or would like to acquire a license, please feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.

If you are racking your brain thinking of ideas to make ends meet, chances are that you have not explored all of your options; carpentry certification is one of them. The great thing about carpentry certification is that you can get it at any stage of your career. It doesn’t matter if you just jumped into a new job, or whether you have been doing the unskilled labor thing for a while, carpentry is a way that you can get the training you need at a minimum cost to start earning some better money.

People tell you that there is more to life than money and they are right, but having the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you have enough to make it through any emergencies that pop up along the way is a pretty good thing. Your carpentry certification gives you that, you will feel more confident about your job security and you will have more money in your pocket at the end of each month, and that is a good thing.

Here at Associated Training Services we train people in specialized carpentry skills as well as in the operation of different kinds of heavy equipment. We have a range of courses to suit the range of people that choose to study with us. Our courses come in both full and part time schedules, so it is possible to undergo your carpentry certification training without giving up your day job. If you are considering your carpentry certification and would like to learn more about what is involved, please feel free to contact us.

When it comes to grader safety, most of the guidelines fall clearly into the category of commonsense. All the same, accidents do happen because people forget the guidelines or do not feel that they are in danger. It is just as easy to become complacent regarding grader safety as it is any other type of heavy equipment safety.

• Wear relatively tight fitting clothing with a belt. Loose clothes can catch on controls.
• Keep all of your contact points free of water, grease, mud and anything else that might cause you to slip. Contact points include the controls, losing your grip on the steering wheel can be just as dangerous as overbalancing as you exit the vehicle.
• Only operate your grader from the driver’s position.
• Keep your grader in gear when you are going downhill.
• Avoid excessive speed when you are going downhill.
• Take your turns slowly and carefully. Reduce your speed before the turn, rather than during your turn.

These are by no means all of the grader safety guidelines, but they are some of the ones that people tend to forget about when they become complacent. If you have any other grader safety recommendations, please do not hesitate to leave a comment to this article. If you are interested in grader training, grader safety or any other aspect of heavy equipment training, please contact us at Associated Training Services

A lot of people are justifiably worried about how the state of the economy will affect heavy equipment careers. The sub-prime mortgage fiasco has hit the banks quite hard and it logically follows that less people will be building new houses. Does that not then mean that there will be less opportunities for those in heavy equipment careers? It is an interesting question that deserves examination.

Heavy Equipment Careers Involve More than Just Housing

While the housing industry might be feeling a bit of a pinch, it is important to remember that heavy equipment careers can be about so much more than just housing. Heavy equipment operators work in other types of construction than just housing construction; they also work in industries such diverse industries as mining, agriculture and forestry. For many in the construction business, commercial work and government contracts are making up for the downturn in residential housing.

It never makes sense to delay your training based on the economy. The economy has been down before and it will pick up again. The jobs that are in immediate danger are unskilled labor positions. Certification gives you that safety net that you need and makes it much easier to find work if your company finds itself in financial difficulty.

If you would like to learn more about heavy equipment careers; or have a question or comment, please do not hesitate to contact us at Associated Training Services.

One of the most important aspects of your training is job placement. A great many people believe that their training ends the moment that they receive their certification; this assumption is incorrect. Once you finish your training, you will have many years in front of you to hone and perfect your skills. In a sense, your heavy equipment training is never finished. Job placement is so important because it puts your skills into use soon after you have learned them. The sooner you get into the workforce, the sooner you will develop the skills that you have begun to learn with your training.

There is no way to retain information if you are not putting it to use. If you don’t get into work quickly, there is a good possibility that you will start unlearning everything that we have taught you. This is natural and occurs with many learned skills. We offer job placement because we are in a position to help. We have many contacts in the construction industry that are able to place you just about anywhere in the country. If you feel like having a change of scenery, or if you want somewhere close to home, talk to us. We might be able to arrange something with your job placement that suits you.

If you have any questions about our job placement program, heavy equipment training or any of our courses, feel free to contact us at Associated Training Services.