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.

Paying for heavy equipment training can often be a stumbling block for many individuals. There are a number of payment options and in some cases, government assistance may be available to pay for some or all of your training. For veterans and serving armed services members, the GI Bill may offer you assistance in this area.

What assistance is available to you will vary and will depend on your personal circumstances and the reasons for training. For example, if you were injured while on active duty and now need re-training to enter the workforce, you may find there is extra assistance available. You may also be eligible for assistance if you are a dependent of an eligible veteran or service member.

Heavy equipment training is the perfect option for many returning service personnel. You are working outdoors operating equipment that you are totally in control of. At the same time you are working as part of a team and having to follow set plans to complete a job. If you’re worried about income, careers as heavy equipment operators are generally well paid and once you gain experience, continually in demand.

If you are a veteran, an active service member, or a dependent of either of those, and you’re considering a career as a heavy equipment operator then consider applying for financial aid to pay for your training. You can apply for that aid through this link, or talk to us at ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools – it could be the start of a new career.

One of the big changes that has taken place over the last twenty years has been in the number of women that have taken on truck driving as a career. When you think about a truck driver, most people imagine beer swilling, foul mouthed men in singlets and shorts – nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many businesses now provide their truck drivers with a uniform of sorts, even if it’s just a monogrammed shirt.

Women entering the truck driving ranks has become easier over the years and most employers now don’t balk at hiring a woman driver. The reality is that today’s trucks don’t require brute strength; they have power steering and gear boxes that almost change up or down on their own. Truck drivers are rarely required to load or unload their cargo – that is left to specialized equipment like forklifts or overhead cranes.

Like all careers, the learning curve for women is no different to that of men. Truck driver training schools like ATS Truck Driving School can have a student ready to sit for their commercial drivers license in as little as three weeks. That is three weeks of solid behind the wheel training together with in class theoretical knowledge building.

If you are woman looking for a different type of career – why not consider taking on truck driving. The work is interesting, the pay good and the opportunities there. Women and truck driving have been a successful mix for many years now and you can be a part of it too.

Step into the cab of a modern grader and you will wonder if it is a piece of heavy equipment, or a well designed office. Compare modern graders from those of twenty years ago. The outside working components have only changed marginally. But in the cab – let’s just say that twenty years ago most graders didn’t have cabs; all they had were roll bars.

The modern cab on a grader has wrap-around windows and air conditioning. It’s no longer a hot (or cold) and dusty (or muddy) job. When I say air conditioning, I mean climate control – the full system with dust exclusion filters and all. Add to this two-way radios for communication, CD players for entertainment and you start to get the picture – and you haven’t even started the motor yet.

Operating has now been simplified with some manufacturers moving from levers to joy-stick type controls. Add to this computer-aided settings for the blades, often connected to a GPS system, and suddenly the grader is a huge machine capable of completing jobs to finest measurements. It really is amazing how much change has gone into a machine as complex as a grader.

Despite all these changes, the operations of a grader are still pretty much the same. A blade is set to a specific height and angle and the grader then carves the surface to a finish dictated by engineers and plans. Learning to operate a grader can be undertaken in as little as three weeks with operators then ready to enter the work force. Interested in grader operator training? Contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools for more information.

In an age where everyone is becoming environmentally conscious, moves are afoot to reclaim land and return it to its former natural glory. While bulldozers may have been a part of the original stripping of the land, they are now an integral part of the teams trying to re-vegetate these areas. Little has changed for the bulldozer. They still go in and strip the land bare again – only this time, rather than farming, building or open spaces, that stripped land is being planted out with vegetation that is native to that area.

I say little has changed for the bulldozer and to a point that is correct. However, for a re-vegetation program to be effective, all of the old unwanted vegetation has to be removed – roots and all. The area often needs working several times to ensure that no viable seeds remain that will contaminate the natural vegetation. Bulldozer operators are also required to sculpt the land so that it can become a natural area again.

Heavy equipment in general is now playing a huge role in environmental issues. In fact, new heavy equipment coming in to the marketplace are themselves environmentally friendly. They comply with low emissions and some of this equipment is also running on alternative fuels, bulldozers included.

If you want to be a part of the new greening movement, yet have a hankering to operate heavy equipment like bulldozers, the two are no longer incompatible. In fact, as we move forward into the future the two will become closely allied. You can do both – you just need to undertake the best heavy equipment training around and to then find the right employers.

Backhoe operators have one of the most varied careers when it comes heavy equipment. One moment they are excavator operators and the next, loader operators. Because of their versatility, they are also used in a wide variety of situations. Home building, landscaping, construction of services such as water and sewage, forestry and road constructions are just a few areas where you will find a backhoe. As an operator, you could find yourself working in any one of those places – everyday it may be different.

When it comes to owning an earth moving business, backhoes are often the first choice because of that versatility. As an owner operator, backhoes can do some of the work of an excavator or a loader. This means owner operators can offer their services to a wider range of clients.

As a career, backhoe operators are well sought after, particularly those that have a wide range of experience. The only way to gain that experience is by starting at the bottom and working your way up. Starting at the bottom means finding a good backhoe or heavy equipment training provider – one that will train you to industry standards so that you are employable from the day you graduate.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have a long history of providing proficient operators to industry. We also have a very effective career services department that may be able to help you secure that first job. As industry leaders in heavy equipment training, we pride ourselves on the reputation gained with employers across the country. Are you looking for a career that takes you outdoors, is varied and, at times, challenging then consider a career as a backhoe operator.

The best heavy equipment training in the world is useless if you can’t find employment following your training. This is where a good career services component can make a huge difference between a successful heavy equipment career and sitting at home wondering why you spent all that money on training. Let’s be honest, heavy equipment training is not exactly cheap. I wouldn’t call it expensive either, especially when you consider the pay packet that successful operators receive.

Career services come in many different formats. There are private agencies that will charge you (and the employer) when a successful placement is made. The problems with these services is that they are paid for successful placements, not the right placements, so their focus is on getting people into work, any work. The best career services providers are those attached to training bodies. Their focus is on getting the right people into the right jobs.

Why are they different? Career services attached to training providers don’t rely on placements for income – it is all part of the training service. At ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, our career services department spends its time working on two fronts – first, working with students to prepare them for work in the field of heavy equipment. The second front is equally important – this is time spent developing relationships with employers.

That second front is very important. By developing relationships with employers and employer groups we have our fingers on the pulse of what is important to them, what skills and what personal attributes they are looking for. We can take that information and factor it into our training programs thus providing employers with graduates that are going to be productive from day one.

If you are considering a career in heavy equipment then talk to us about your options. We not only provide industry leading training, we also provide career services that help you to get a start and to convert your training into a successful career as a heavy equipment operator.

Mobile crane operator training is probably one of the more taxing training programs when it comes to heavy equipment operations, but then, mobile cranes are used in so many different areas. With a mobile crane, you can’t just arrive at a job; attach the crane’s hook and start lifting. There is much more to the job and it often takes some thought.

To begin with, mobile cranes need to be stabilized. If you look carefully at a mobile crane you will see it has hydraulic legs. This lifts the crane’s wheels off the ground and provides a stable base. How and where these are used will also depend on the ground you’re on. Once the crane is stabilized and ready for use, the operator then has to assess the load together with current conditions such as wind. Armed with this information, the operator can then perform the lift. For most experienced operators, this is all done in a matter of seconds, not minutes or hours – it becomes second nature.

How does a mobile crane operator develop this ‘second nature’? Solid training and experience! ATS Crane Operator Schools can provide prospective mobile crane operators with training that will make them proficient in the operations of a mobile crane. Experience? That requires a job and we can even help graduates out in that area as well. We have a highly skilled group working in our career services section. Their role is to help you gain meaningful employment as soon as possible after graduating.

Becoming a mobile crane operator does involve some intense training. However, the training is well within the capacity of most people and once you get into the field, you will find that experience will build on your training very quickly. Mobile crane operators – they are well paid, the work is varied and it only takes three weeks of mobile crane operator training to become proficient. Interested? Contact us for more details.

Acquiring a commercial drivers license and gaining a little experience driving trucks can add a number of benefits to your employment opportunities into the future. If you’re a heavy equipment operator, then being able to also transport your equipment to a job has obvious benefits. However, heavy equipment is not the only occupation that can benefit from a commercial drivers license.

Logging, mining and agriculture are areas where the possession of commercial drivers license can be of benefit. If an employer knows that you are licensed, and that you have some experience, you become an asset to the business; someone they can call on to drive a truck should they be short of drivers. This is known as multi-skilling and many employers are now recognizing the benefits of having multi-skilled workers in their work force.

Other areas where a commercial drivers license could be an asset include warehousing, bulk terminals, ports and certain manufacturing industries. Acquiring a commercial drivers license also adds another dimension to your current career. If employment options become limited in your field of employment, you can always fall back to truck driving until employment situation improves.

If you are interested in adding a commercial drivers license to your skills base you can do so in as little as three weeks. ATS Truck Driver Schools can provide you with all the driving skills required to first, pass the commercial truck drivers licensing test, and secondly, to work in the industry. Truck driving is a career with many options in itself and can be well paid when compared to many other career options. In fact, if you compare training time to income, a commercial truck driver training course comes out well in front. Interested? Contact us today for more information.

With oil slicks threatening the beaches in the south there is a good chance that loader operators will be called in to help alleviate some of the problems. One of the easiest ways to handle polluted beaches is to simply move the affected areas away for decontamination. Doing it in situ can be difficult, especially if harsh chemicals are required to clean the pollutant.

Loader operators can often be found on beaches after huge storms, working to either replace or reposition sand that has been affected by the storms. In some areas, wild storms have been known to strip beaches of the sand while at other times to bring in tons of sand. With the summer rapidly approaching, our beaches are one the strongest drawcards when it comes to tourism – having them fit for swimmers and surfers is a must.

Operating a loader on a beach can be tricky with the sand often moving beneath the loader’s wheels. Some of the smaller loaders are ideal for this work as their weight doesn’t cause any difficulties, or do any further damage. Operators that are skilled at working in sandy conditions are always in demand when these events occur.

Becoming a loader operator is actually a fairly simple task. Heavy equipment often overwhelms people, yet if they could see how simple some of this equipment was to operate, they would be surprised. Loaders are certainly not complicated machinery and most individuals can become proficient in a range of heavy equipment in as little as three weeks. Contact us for more information on loaders and heavy equipment training – your first step to a heavy equipment career starts with a good training program and that’s where we can help.