Mention OSHA and contractors, managers and even heavy equipment operators start to get nervous. I don’t know why! If you have received comprehensive training and you implement what you have learned then a visit from the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector should be a walk in the park.

Despite rumors to the contrary, OSHA inspectors are not the enemy. Like you, they have a job to do and their job is to ensure that all work places are safe. Your job is to follow all the required occupational health and safety requirements. Heavy equipment operators have a important role to play in workplace safety given the power of their machinery.

One of the biggest differences between formally trained and ‘on-the-job’ trained heavy equipment operators is often their knowledge of occupational safety requirements. All accredited training programs like those offered at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools include safety training. This training is in line with federal legislative requirements.

Serious violations of OSHA requirements can bring fines of up to $7,000 each – and that is each offense and each person. What is known as willful offenses ( that is – the blatant disregard for OSHA rules) can cost up to $70,000 each. That is a lot of money which could potentially cripple a business and cost you your job – and your career. The last thing you need is a reputation for being a heavy equipment operator that ignores occupational safety requirements.

It sounds serious, and it is, yet by undertaking a good safety training program and following the safety requirements for each workplace, no heavy equipment operator need fear a visit from the OSHA inspectors.

Crane operators are highly skilled professionals requiring specialized training and certification. As a reward, crane operators generally better wages than other heavy equipment operators.

The role of a crane operator is often quite challenging. There are a lot of factors to take into account every time a crane is positioned. There are also a of different variable that need consideration before and during each lift. In fact, no two lifts are the same, even if your working on a site doing the same lift fifty times a day.

Crane safety is the biggest issue and requires constant thought and attention. The certification process is based on a need for better safety considerations on work sites. In the past, there have been too many work related incidents that have led to death or injury. Crane operator training is now regulated with prospective crane operators having to pass written and practical tests to gain certification.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are qualified to deliver crane operator training in both fixed cab and swing cab mobile hydraulic cranes. We are also authorized to undertake assessments (both written and practical). Graduates of this program will receive a National Certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

If you’re ready for a change in careers and the challenge of working as a crane operator appeals to you, then visit our web site to check out your training and certification options. Being one of the best paid jobs on any construction site is a plus; having a career that is interesting and always changing is an even better plus; as crane operator, your get both.

Sounds like a great news story doesn’t it. Yet that title is actually true, heavy equipment will be needed to drag our economy out of the current recession. How do I know it’s true? The most powerful person on the country said so and he is putting your tax dollars in to make the point.

Back in December 2008, President Obama made an announcement that should have every heavy equipment operator checking their licenses, qualifications and any other work requirements including safety clothing.

President Obama promised to put together the largest public works construction program ever seen to revive the economy. His program includes infrastructure projects that repair roads and bridges, renovations in schools, sewer systems, mass transit, electric grids, dams and other utilities.

His plan will create millions of jobs by investing the single largest amount in national infrastructure projects since the creation of the interstate highway system more than 50 years ago. That is a lot of money and a large chunk of that will need to go into the employment of heavy equipment operators. A lot of these projects will require highly experiences operators – that could be great news for younger operators coming into the employment market.

Experienced heavy equipment operators will be attracted to the higher wages on offer for many of these projects. Under normal circumstances, when there is a huge attraction to particular areas for skilled workers, there is a vacuum left on a local level. This is were freshly trained recruits can step in to fill the vacuum and gain valuable skills locally.

If you are interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator then now may be the time to start your training. President Obama made it clear that this project was to be one of the first to be implemented by the new government.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can have you trained and on the road to a new career in a matter of weeks. A career as heavy equipment operator awaits you – will you be ready to help dig our economy out of this recession?

Career loans are there for a purpose. When funds are a little tight it can be a temptation to put off a career move and the problem is, once you put of the move, it is so easy to keep putting it off. One of the biggest benefits of a career loan is that you are able pay for your training from the income you receive from your new career.

It is a simple process. Sign up for one of the career loans on offer; do the training for a heavy equipment operator; get a job; then pay of the career loan. When you compare the wage rates for heavy equipment operators to many other positions, you will see that your ability to repay a career loan is not that difficult – and you have a skill for life!

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools have several different options for financing your tuition. Your first step is to fill out an online application for one of the career loans. You can also mail or fax your application if that is more convenient.

Once your application has been received it will take around 48 hours for approval. The biggest holdup in any application process the failure to fill in the form correctly. A copy of your drivers license will also be required.

Before applying for one of our career loans, check your eligibility for any of the State or Federal government funding programs including:

• Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
• Department of Workforce Development
• Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
• Displaced Workers
• Displaced Farmers
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Tribal Education (BIA)
• Veteran’s Benefits (VA)

You don’t have to let the lack of funds prevent you from starting a career as a heavy equipment operator. Check our website to see whether or not one of our career loans is the key to your new career.

Generally speaking, the words ‘heavy equipment’ and ‘environmentalist’ rarely get mentioned in the same sentence – when they are mentioned, it is often not in the nicest way. That is slowly changing with many companies taking a ‘green’ approach to their business.

Ten or twenty years ago, preparing an area for a building, highway or housing development meant going in with heavy equipment an razing the area back to bare ground. These days, construction companies are lot more cautious. With housing developments, areas are cleared for roads and house building but as many of the larger trees as possible are left standing.

Likewise with some road building. Environmental studies are undertaken first with sensitive areas protected. Heavy equipment with tracks will often be used since it can be less harmful to the environment than tires.

Working as a heavy equipment operator is not longer simply a matter if ripping everything up. In many locations around the country, heavy equipment is being used to rehabilitate areas. This is especially true of some the smaller equipment such as bobcats, however bulldozers also have their place.

There are several companies that specialize in ground clearing in environmentally fragile situations. If you have a keen interest in the environment and yet a desire to work in the heavy equipment field, and you have thought the two conflicting, think again. The two can work together. In fact the future will rely on individuals who can work effectively whilst maintaining environmental factors.

Your first steps to becoming an environmentally friendly heavy equipment operator starts with your training. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can help you to get your career off the ground.

Regular care of your heavy equipment and its attachments can prevent the need for costly repairs or replacements down the track. Just as importantly, good maintenance can prevent down time, a factor that not only involves the costs of replacements, but also the loss of income – a double penalty. Who should do the maintenance of heavy equipment attachments?

There are two sides to maintenance. There is the daily inspections and minor tasks such as lubrication that should be undertaken by the operator. The operator is the person who uses the attachments, knows how well they are performing, and is best placed to identify any problems developing. The second side to maintenance may well involve a mechanic who can work on problems identified by the operator – before they become major issues.

The operators daily inspection should cover more than just a walk around wear and tear check. Attachments rely on being connected to the heavy equipment and these connections are often areas of high stress. A daily check should include:

• Checks the attachment’s hoses and fittings for cracks or leaks and ensure all shielding is in place.
• Checking fittings to ensure that they are not loose.
• Checking that hoses and fittings are clean and free of contaminants.
• Ensuring all attachment’s critical points are lubricated and functioning properly.
• Inspecting any locking mechanisms to ensure they are operating properly.

These are not time consuming or onerous tasks. An experienced operator can undertake these checks while they are coupling or uncoupling an attachment. The long term benefits for the organization are immeasurable when a preventative maintenance program is undertaken regularly.

Of course the only way to know whether or not an attachment is in good working condition is through experience and training. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools includes preventative maintenance in their heavy equipment training programs. You can see the full list of training modules through our website.

You can gain experience and a variable range of training by simply doing – that is – borrowing a piece of heavy equipment and practicing, perhaps with an old hand showing you some of the ropes. There are even employers who may be willing to employ you based on that experience, the number is reducing every year however.

Gaining certification through format training is not exactly ‘cheap’ – but then you don’t want anything that is ‘cheap’ these days. The old saying ‘cheap and nasty’ often holds true and it can be particularly true when it comes to training. Having said that, training is not overly expensive, not when you consider what you are getting in return for your dollars.

Certification is virtually a life long qualification. Sure, there are some jobs or industries where you have to keep up to date with the latest techniques and safety rules. There are some areas that require at the very least license renewals (CDL truck licenses for example), however the training and original certification are still valid.

The cost of your training and certification should then be considered an investment – an investment in your future. You will always find employment in the heavy equipment field – it’s simply a matter of maintaining your skill levels and experience.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can provide you with quality training in heavy equipment, cranes and truck driving. Training is done to nationally accredited standards and certifications issued are also to nationally accredited standards. Invest in your future with a well paying career in heavy equipment operations, crane operations or truck driving. You will never regret your investment.

As a general rule, the machinery that forms the category of heavy equipment is pretty hardy. They are tough beasts and afraid of no one and nothing – except perhaps the bitterly cold temperatures that have invaded us.

Nearly all heavy equipment machinery come with one similarity – they run on diesel. Diesel is a fuel that provides plenty of grunt for machinery and trucks alike, it also has one bad habit. As the temperature drops, the wax naturally found in diesel fuel begins to form crystals. These crystals can, and often do, clog the fuel filter eventually starving the engine of fuel and causing it to stall – if it starts in the first place.

The point at which wax crystals form in diesel fuel is known as the cloud point. As the fuel gets colder beyond that cloud point, more and more wax crystals form. As a heavy equipment operator, do you know at what temperature your fuel will form these crystals? Do you know how to fix the problem, or better yet, how to avoid it?

As you learn how to operate heavy equipment you start to get a feel for the engine and how it is performing. You also learn to trust certain fuel additives that help prevent these problems, in this case, additives that dissolve the wax crystals as they form, or prevent them forming in the first place. The last thing you need is to have your machine towed to a workshop to have the filter replaced and the lines cleaned out. Down time costs money.

You would be surprised at all the little things you need to learn to become a top class heavy equipment operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can get you started on a career as an operator through their first class training programs.

Just like us, heavy equipment doesn’t always appreciate the cold. There are some tricks to avoiding costly problems – if you’re really interested, ask one of our trainers when you start your training.

Some of the best paid careers in the construction industry is that of the heavy equipment operators. The classification of heavy equipment is broad and ranges from the enormous cranes and mining machines such as excavators to the small backyard skip loaders and backhoes.

In between is a broad range of equipment, all waiting for qualified operators and all paying well. The key to a success career in heavy equipment is in the word ‘qualified’. For example, crane operators need certification in many states. Heavy equipment truck drivers require their CDL, and most employers now want to see some form of accredited training for operators of graders, excavators or bulldozers.

Gaining the qualification is not that difficult. You can normally get qualified in as little as three weeks, depending on the level of qualification you are trying to achieve. For external qualifications such as your CDL, the end result will depend on how well you do during the assessment. Heavy equipment training can provide you with all the skills, how you implement them is up to you.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools deliver accredited training in a wide variety of equipment including cranes, trucks, bulldozers, front end loaders, graders and excavators. Since the training is nationally accredited, your training and certification will be recognized in all states. Your qualification may be recognized internationally as well although local licensing laws may apply.

Check out the videos online to see if this is the career for you. There are employers with well payed positions waiting for the right person to complete their training. Is that person you?

There are times when companies find it necessary to employ crane operators in remote locations. This could be in the field of logging, mining or specialist constructions like road or dam building. There are other companies that have specialized positions involving crane operation in non-standard conditions. In these situations, specialist crane operator training is required, often on site rather than at a training school.

The facilitate these situations, ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools offer specialized crane operator training for employers. This training can take place at an ATS training location or at the employer’s location. If the training fulfills the requirements of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) for certification then testing certifying is also available.

ATS also have crane operation instructors who are able to travel to remote locations for crane training, testing, and certification where appropriate. These specialized crane training programs can be customized to meet the employer’s time and cost requirements.

Being able to deliver training that is customized to a company’s need is important in today’s busy world. Customized training means that as an employer, you know your crane operators are skilled to perform all the task required within your organization. This is particularly important if you have work-specific cranes built to fulfill a dedicated role.

If you require more information on specialist crane operator training then contact one of our training schools or 1.800.678.8120 and we will be happy to discuss your training requirements, either on your site or at one of our training facilities.