One of the most versatile members of the heavy equipment family are backhoes and they really do earn their keep when it comes to housing projects. The reason for backhoes being so popular is because they are able to perform all the work required – the ultimate multi-task machine.

Backhoes are able to perform a lot of the work of a bulldozer, clearing the land ready for construction. Whilst they may not have the power of a bulldozer, they still pack plenty of grunt and their scoop at the front not only cuts into the surface like bulldozer, it can also carry the dirt the same as a front end loader. There are two units of heavy equipment taken out of the picture.

Once the ground has been cleared, the backhoe can act like an excavator and dig trenches for foundations and for services that require underground pipelines. There is a third unit of heavy equipment covered.

If the ground is particularly hard, there are numerous attachments that can be added to help break it up – a task that would take half a dozen men a couple of days to do using pick-axes or by using explosives.

Backhoes are versatile enough to do all of those task and more. They are also one of the few pieces of heavy equipment that maneuver around a house whilst under construction and clean up all the debris and left over construction material.

Training to operate backhoes is done as part of an overall heavy equipment training program. This is a great way to learn how to operate a backhoe since you also gain skills on bulldozers, excavators and front end loaders. You gain the skills and the understanding of these machines, which ultimately helps in your role as a backhoe operator. It also provides you with alternative career options when required.

That is the call I am seeing these days – not experienced bulldozer operators – no, they are asking for reliable bulldozer operators. One of the problems many construction crews are now finding is a general approach of apathy when it come to travel. With a lot of highway construction being undertaken now, there are times when operators need to travel 40-50 minutes to get to the construction site.

Because of this apathy to travel, employers are looking for operators that are reliable. If the job is forty miles down the highway and work starts at 6am, you’re there, on time, every day that you’re required. Are you reliable or do you fit into the ‘apathy’ class? If you’re reliable, there is work available and it’s increasing by the day.

Some argue that the cost of gas is making this sort of work uneconomical. However, smart crews are car pooling to share expenses. There are employers around that provide transport to and from these sites, it’s just a matter of being at the construction yard on time to take advantage of that transport.

If you fit into the reliable class but don’t have any bulldozer operator training, that’s easily fixed. Heavy equipment training programs can have you in the workplace operating a bulldozer within a month of starting the training program. Read that carefully, within a month of starting, not within a month of completing.

The opportunities are there. If you’re reliable, keen to learn and willing to undertake a few weeks of intense training, both in a classroom and behind the wheel, then you can take advantage of these opportunities. The work is there – will you be?

We often talk about heavy equipment and heavy equipment careers, but what machinery is actually included in that title? My first reaction is to ask ‘how long is a piece of string’ since it can be difficult to quantify what is or isn’t ‘heavy equipment’.

Generally speaking, most wheeled, or tracked, equipment that is involved with the movement of dirt could be classified as heavy equipment. This includes:

• Backhoes
• Wheel loaders
• Front end loaders
• Scrapers
• Excavators
• Bulldozers
• Road graders
• Rock trucks
• Skid Steers
• All-Terrain Forklifts

These are your standard line up of machinery in that category. There are also specialized machines that are used in some industries that are advanced forms of those listed. Mining and forestry are big users of specialized equipment – a good example would be one of the giant long line excavators – when I say giant, I really do mean giant.

When we talk about a career as a heavy equipment operator, it generally refers to a career operating one or more machines on that list. In fact, heavy equipment training gives you a feel for almost every one of those machines giving you the flexibility to choose your equipment after training.

Many operators remain proficient on a range of machinery thus providing flexibility for their employer. Good examples are the excavator, wheel loader and backhoe. The skills required for both the excavator and wheel loader are also related to the backhoe – three machines, three times as many employment opportunities – hence a heavy equipment career. Do you have a choice, or would you like the option of learning to operate a range of heavy equipment?

Heavy equipment; bulldozers, graders, excavators; all lumbering giants with a reputation for destroying all that lays before it, right? Wrong. Heavy equipment operators have been at the forefront of greening projects for decades. In fact, since way before ‘greening’ became so important.

Whether building roads or clearing land for farming, heavy equipment operators have had a reputation for mindlessly destroying everything in sight. Many in fact had the opposite view. If they were clearing land for a road, they only cleared what was needed for that road. The same has been true for general construction and farming.

These days, heavy equipment is actively involved in rehabilitation projects and this is set to jump markedly as President Obama’s aim to create 5 million new green construction jobs over the next ten years comes to fruition. This will be achieved through an investment of $150 billion in construction, most of it in heavy construction.

For individuals who care for the environment, gaining skills as heavy equipment operators can set them up for life in careers that will help them achieve their environmental aims. Training heavy equipment operators for green projects is part of ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools aim with training programs designed to pass on some of the knowledge required to work in this area.

Are you interested in greening America? Are you interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator? If you answer yes to both questions, check out what ATS has to offer in the way of training for future green heavy equipment operators.

It may sound strange, but soil type knowledge is one of the most important skills an excavator operator can acquire. Soils are not the same – that’s fairly obvious, but what I mean by that statement is that soils react very differently when being excavated. Knowing how they are going to act is an essential skill for an excavator operator.

Digging a trench in sandy soil is very different to digging in clay-based soils. Most clay-based soils tend to stick so it is fairly easy to dig trenches with walls. Sandy soils don’t stick so the walls will tend to fall back into the trench. This often means the trench needs to be wider thus creating more work.

You have the many soil types in between, each reacting slightly different to each other. And that’s not the end of the story. Soil can be made in layers and can include rock, which, in itself, is another set of knowledge. You can learn a lot about soil when you first undertake excavator training. However, it is experience that fine tunes that initial knowledge.

The next time you look at any heavy equipment operator, look beyond the basic skill of working levers and pedals. There is a set of skills based on understanding soils, rock types and often a variety of attachments for their equipment to deal with differing soils. Add to that the knowledge of safety and heavy equipment maintenance and you have highly skilled operators.

Excavators are only one type of heavy equipment, but they have become essential tools to our construction industry. As tools, they require highly skilled operators that have received their excavator training through a professional and accredited training provider.

As follow up to yesterday’s post detailing the skills of a crane operator, today’s post details the skills required to apply for most truck driving jobs. The most important component to any truck driving job is the commercial drivers license that all truck drivers need to obtain.

Your commercial drivers license really only says that you are competent at driving a truck and that you know the road rules. The license says nothing about the other skills that truck drivers generally require. Here is a list of some of the skills that employers may be looking for when recruiting new drivers.

• Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles of the size required for the job. This could range from a dump truck to tractor-trailer combination.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stopping, and handling of materials.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Being able to maintain records such as drivers logs, mileage and fuel details, deliveries and any other associated documentation.

Does it sound daunting? It isn’t. With experience these tasks are done almost without thinking. Most of them are also covered to some extent in any training you undertake. Operating the truck is only one part of your job. At your destination you may be expected to unload, or at least help, to unload your vehicle. You will also have to supervise the loading to ensure there is a reasonable distribution of weight.

Truck driver training covers a lot of the skills mentioned in this post. Obviously, truck driver training focuses first on learning to drive a truck and knowledge of the road rules required to gain your CDL. Experience over time helps to fill in any of gaps. If you have a flair for any of those skills then why not consider a career as a truck driver?

When it comes to training for any heavy equipment, crane operator training included, the language used can look a little strange. Take a look at these skills (and they are a real set of skills too):

• Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, and grappling devices.
• Determine load weights and check them against lifting capacities in order to prevent overload.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving equipment.
• Using hand and arm signals for installing, handling, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Most people would only think about the 4th item in that list, “running, maneuvering, navigating or driving equipment” when looking at skills for a crane operator. However as you can see it goes much further than that.

Keeping your machine clean and well oiled put together with an walk around inspection each day can help to avoid major maintenance issues and long down times for repairs. Knowing which weights should be used for each lift is an essential part of crane operator safety training.

The final point is equally important. Hand signals are often the only way those at ground level can communicate with a crane operator. There are many times when the crane operator cannot see the ground. Those on the ground become the operators eyes communicating by way of radio or whistles.

Looking for crane operator training? Do you think you can master that skill set? If you said yes to both then I suggest you visit ATS Heavy Equipment Operator schools and check out the start dates for the next crane operator training curse.

Do you use bulldozers or a range of other heavy equipment in a specialized environment that requires specialized skills? If so, then engaging a professional training organization to deliver customized training can cut your long term costs to a fraction of what you are currently paying.

Whilst the cost of training may seem to tell a different story, having operators that are trained to do their work quickly and efficiently without any accidents can be make the difference. The cost of having one or more units out of action can be high, particularly if you need to hire replacement units to keep the processes moving. Customized training has been shown to reduce down time quite significantly.

There are other hidden costs associated with a lack of training. Operators can become frustrated if the task is complex and they have not had adequate training. These results in those operators moving on to more satisfying employment leaving the employer to go through the expensive task of hiring a replacement. Conversely, employees that are offered customized training feel that their employers value them highly. Being able to perform tasks with their new skills add to their job satisfaction.

The end result is a team of highly skilled bulldozer operators that enjoy their job and can complete tasks without incident, day after day. A second benefit to employers is that productivity increases when are operators are trained to use their equipment effectively.

Customized training for bulldozer operators is available through ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. They can provide customized training on a range of heavy equipment along with cranes and trucks. Consult one of their experts to see if they can design a customized training program that can benefit your organization.

It doesn’t matter what trade you are in these days, you need a resume if you are looking for assistance from a job placement officer. Whether it is heavy equipment operations, crane operations or truck driving, it is the resume that first introduces you to any potential employers.

A good resume doesn’t have to be sophisticated, it really only needs three components:

Who you are: obviously a potential employer wants to know a little about you so a resume normally starts with your name and address and contact telephone number.

What you can do: this is the meat of your resume and one of the first places a prospective employer will go to. Knowing the skills and how to present them is important – the following is a brief but good example:

• Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving equipment.
• Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Your Qualifications: this is just a simple list of your qualifications and where and when you obtained them. This is where you would list and licenses such as a CDL or crane operators certificate.

Building a resume is not difficult and most job placement officers can help you out. What you need is a clear list of what you can do and what qualifications you hold. Job placement officers can help you find employment – you need to help them first and a good resume is a great start.

Over the years there have been many accidents, some resulting in deaths, simply due to lack of heavy equipment safety procedures. There are many workplaces that started to introduce workplace safety procedures in an attempt to reduce the number of accidents, injuries, deaths and property damages. Let’s face it, it is not in the interests of a business to have a machine out of action, or to pay compensation for damages, as a result of an accident.

Unfortunately there were a lot employers who simply kept it ‘business as normal’. They looked at the cost of implementing safety procedures, which was a ‘now’ cost and compared them to the possible ‘future’ cost of an accident. They decided it wasn’t worth the money. When it comes to heavy equipment safety, if something goes wrong, it is generally a big incident.

Over the last ten years consecutive governments at both state and federal level have sort to introduce workplace safety legislation that puts in place a minimum set of standards in the workplace. Part of this legislative approach was to include safety training in all courses related to construction and the use of heavy equipment. There are now teams of inspectors that travel the country making unexpected visits to industry and assessing their workplace safety procedures. If a business fails these inspections they can face heavy fines.

Before undertaking any heavy equipment training, check first to see whether or not their training is accredited. Heavy equipment safety is a compulsory component for any heavy equipment training program to become accredited. Check first and ensure your training meets any legislative requirements – if it doesn’t, you will have a certificate that is worthless since no employer will take you on – make your training count – make sure it is accredited.