If you need to move dirt then you’ll most likely see a bulldozer or front-end loader at work. If you want to dig holes then you’ll often see an excavator at work. If you need to dig holes and move dirt then the best option is to go for a backhoe. Why use two or three pieces of heavy equipment when one piece will do the job? Almost every decent sized construction firm has a backhoe or two and for most owner operators, their first equipment of choice is the backhoe.

Versatility is the key and for those just starting out in business having a piece of equipment that can do a wide range of jobs means they can tender and advertise for more work. If you own and operate a excavator, while there may be plenty of work available now, there will also be quiet times when excavators are not called for. The same can be said about loaders and bulldozers. Because a backhoe effectively crosses over the roles of loader and excavator, the amount of quiet time is much less. The same situation occurs in the workplace.

Training to become a backhoe operator is not that difficult. People from all walks of life and from all ages can and do train to become backhoe operators. Women have also found this to be an easier entry into the heavy equipment work force. After three weeks of heavy equipment training, graduate operators are ready for entry level employment in the heavy equipment industry. By selecting a career as a backhoe operator you can potentially open more doors than those that select single-use equipment like excavators and bulldozers.

If you’re interested in finding out more about heavy equipment in general, why not attend a free introductory class. These classes are totally free with no obligation and are conducted across a range of locations. Free classes are already scheduled up until mid-December so contact us at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools to find out where our closest school is located and when their next free heavy equipment classes are scheduled. A single phone call could change your life and start you on the road to a successful career as a heavy equipment operator.

If you’re a heavy equipment operator then you may be starting to notice that employers are now preferring to employ operators that have their commercial drivers license. In today’s tight markets, employers are looking to cut costs and if they can have operators that can also take their equipment out to a work site then they have saved the cost of a dedicated truck driver. This is especially true of business owners that only have a handful of equipment in use at any one time. A dedicated truck driver would most likely sit idle for several hours a day, and that’s wasted money in today’s economic climate.

For heavy equipment operators, it makes sense. Armed with the right training and a CDL, you can truck your equipment to a work site, perform the tasks required, then truck your equipment onto the next job. There is no waiting around for a truck to arrive and transport your equipment – you are in complete control of your work space. For businesses, as we mentioned, the cost factor is of utmost importance.

If you are a heavy equipment operator looking to add a commercial drivers license to your range of skills, you only require three weeks of truck driver training and to then pass the necessary tests to be licensed. That three weeks is a sound investment in your future as it not only provides you with a skill and license that employers are looking for, it also opens the door for further employment options such as dump truck driving or general truck driving.

Employers are looking to employ individuals who can offer a range of skills. This makes those employees versatile and available for work where and when needed. Are you versatile? Do you have a range of skills that make you more valuable than the next operator? That could be the key to increasing your employment opportunities – and your value to employers.