Mention a mobile crane and most people think of a truck with a crane attached somewhere. While the principle behind most cranes is similar, mobile cranes themselves come in many different styles, each designed to do a particular job. In some industries – for example, the logging industry – there are purpose-built cranes that are only suited to that job. Other types of cranes include:

• Rough Terrain Crane – designed to carry loads across a rough terrain
• All Terrain Crane – designed for use the highway and rough terrain
• Carry Deck Crane – this crane has a deck that holds a load for transporting
• Pick and Carry Crane – similar to a carry deck crane
• Telescopic Handler Crane – forklifts on a telescopic boom
• Crawler Crane – these cranes run on tracks (like a bulldozer) rather than wheels
• Railroad Crane – normally mounted on a flatbed rail car
• Floating Crane – normally mounted on a pontoon

These cranes can come in a range of sizes, for example, a floating crane can be the size of a ship and can be used to assist the building of oil rigs. Railroad cranes, while generally mounted on flatbed rail cars, can also have conventional wheels that can be raised and lowered over trolley wheels that can run on rails.

What is important for those interested in crane operations is that crane operator training for each of these cranes is the same. The principles of lifting are the same, the only difference being in the way individual cranes are stabilized prior to lifting. Like most machinery, this is specific to the type and brand of crane used, and requires basic on-the-job training for that specific unit, training that is provided by the employer. What a new graduate needs is a thorough introduction to mobile crane basics – from there a graduate can build on skills developed. Mobile cranes come in many guises, however, there’s only one form of mobile crane operator training required, and that the training providing by ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

So there’s no future in heavy equipment operations. Tell that to our employers who have listed these jobs with us this week. There doesn’t appear to be a shortage of jobs, just a shortage of operators. If you’re looking for work as a heavy equipment operator, then check out the following.

Heavy Equipment Operator / Construction Helper – Burlington, VT

Experienced heavy equipment operator needed.
Operator needs to have experience operating an excavator.
Experienced construction helper needed for same commercial project – must be an all around helper.

Construction Operator – Natchitoches, LA
#### Entry Level Position ####

This is an entry level position responsible for basic construction and maintenance activities of a natural gas utility system.
They may operate heavy and/or specialized equipment.
Minimum requirements include a high school diploma or equivalent,
Valid driver’s license,
The ability to work in an outdoor environment and lifting up to 60 lbs.

Equipment Operator-Transportation – Midland, TX

Performs manual and unskilled labor of more than ordinary difficulty, which often involves the use of acquired skills.
Will operates several types of light and heavy equipment.
Does related work and training as required.
Operates motorized equipment used in the construction and maintenance of streets and alleys.
Assists in loading and unloading transported equipment.

Equipment Operator / Sr. Equipment Operator – Waynesburg, PA

Operates various types of equipment and tools used in pipeline and facilities construction.
Performs repairs and maintenance of equipment as required.
Loads and unloads material and equipment from trucks as required.
Perform pipeline operator responsibilities as required.
Required to participate in on-call rotation.
Ability and willingness to travel.
Willingness to work in all weather conditions.
CDL license recommended

Equipment Operator – Battle Mountain, NV

Semi-skilled employees who operate at least one piece of heavy equipment such as loaders, scrapers, excavators and rubber-tired dozers.
Employees who can work under minimal supervision in environments where the primary objective is safe production.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Saint Augustine, FL

Providing environmental services including waste collection, recycling and disposal of waste from homes and businesses.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Mexia, TX

Operates heavy equipment at a transfer station, recyclery and/or landfill for the purpose of transferring, spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in a productive and safe manner.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Polkton, NC

Solid waste collection, transfer, disposal and recycling to approximately 2 million commercial, industrial and residential customers in 30 states.

Heavy Equipment Operator II – Joseph City, AZ

Heavy Equipment Operators are responsible for the safe operation of various heavy equipment vehicles that perform the spreading and compaction of construction and demolition, commercial and residential waste disposed of at the post collection facilities.
Occasionally, items up to 50 lb. must be lifted while performing the daily routine in all weather conditions.
Daily Equipment Inspections (DEI) are required.

Operators – Huntsville, AL

Employer is hiring Trackhoe, Dozer, Track Loader, Pan operators and CDL drivers

Operator – Dallas, TX

front loader operator required

If you are looking for a new career, then heavy equipment is one are where employers are always looking for skilled and well trained operators. The shortage is such that they even advertise positions that suited to entry level (new) operators. It only takes three weeks of heavy equipment operator training to gain those entry level skills. Once you have completed your training, you can view these and many other vacancies on our Job Site.

The last twelve months seem to have been one of devastation when it comes to natural disasters. Turkey’s recent earthquake, those in New Zealand, the violent floods in Australia, and our problems with hurricanes, tornadoes and storms have all left their marks. When the frantic efforts of rescuers and home owners finally abates, everyone is left wondering about the rebuilding required. Invariably, the first workers called into these areas are the heavy equipment operators.

Bulldozers are generally the first called to action, leveling sites, clearing away the damage, and turning what was a scene of devastation into a clear plot of land ready for rebuilding. You will often see loaders, excavators and backhoes joining in; the loaders and backhoes filling dump trucks with debris while excavators help to pull down buildings and break up walls, floors and sometimes ceilings.

This can be dangerous work so operators need to be well trained highly experienced to work on these rebuilding projects. Our role as heavy equipment trainers is to prepare students for a career in heavy equipment that could one day see them involved in these projects. When training students, we pay special attention to workplace safety, first by ensuring our students are learning in a safe environment, and secondly, by passing on the necessary skills and knowledge required to work safely.

Training should also involve as much time as possible in the operator’s seat actually moving earth, not just practicing in the air. When a student graduates from a heavy equipment training school, they should be ready for entry level employment in the industry. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools has a reputation for providing industry with graduates who are work ready, who do have sound skills, and are trained to work safely. With a good grounding in heavy equipment operations, it doesn’t take long to build up the experience required to work on natural disaster rebuilding projects.

Are you a new migrant to the U.S.? More importantly, do you have residency status or a Green Card? If so, you can start your new life with a new career as a heavy equipment operator. What you will need is a reasonable understanding of the English language in order to understand directions and safety measures.

What new migrants will find is that heavy equipment is one area that doesn’t discriminate against any individual. The bottom line for gaining employment is whether or not you can do the job – if you can, then you’re application will be treated equally – and this includes women in the heavy equipment work force. The key to a successful career is the heavy equipment training you receive. Having a good foundation of skills will set you on the road to success.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools follows the same social philosophy – everyone deserves a chance to see if heavy equipment is a career best suited to them so we don’t discriminate. If you are able to complete both the classroom and practical training, then we will accept your application and enroll you in one of our classes.

Heavy equipment training is a three week training program that provides basic skills and knowledge of a range of machinery including excavators, bulldozers, graders, loaders and backhoes to name a few. Students also receive training in all safety components related to heavy equipment and construction along with a range of classroom lessons on topics such as reading and understanding site plans. If you’re a new migrant who’s looking for a new career, consider heavy equipment operations – it’s one field that doesn’t discriminate.

When looking at recent job vacancies for heavy equipment operators, one can’t help noticing that employers are looking for operators who can operate a wide range of equipment. It’s impossible to be trained on every piece of equipment in use; for example, how do you learn to operate a snow plow in the middle of summer? I guess you could go to Alaska.

In fact, no one expects operators to have had basic training on every piece of equipment. Rather, being trained to operate the basic equipment in use is what is important. You need to learn how to dig a trench (excavators, backhoes), how to move dirt (bulldozer, grader), and how to load trucks (loaders, backhoes). More importantly, and this is the real key to a successful career as a heavy equipment operator, to build confidence in your ability to handle that basic machinery.

Why? Almost every piece of heavy equipment in use is simply an offspring of one of those units. Back to the snow plow – it’s really a cross between a loader, grader and bulldozer (depending on the type of snow plow). If you have confidence operating that machinery, it’s a piece of cake hopping into another piece of machinery and becoming proficient in its use. You will most likely require a quick how-to on that new machinery, however, since the levers, pedals and controls are similar, you will pick it up quickly.

The moral here is simple. When undertaking heavy equipment training, don’t go to a training school where you are trained on only one piece of equipment. Attend a heavy equipment training school where you’ll be trained on a variety of heavy equipment. Your aim is to become a confident as possible on as many machines as possible. This will set you up for that successful career as a heavy equipment operator.

If you are looking for work in the heavy equipment field, then feast your eyes on this week’s offerings. Better yet, head over to our jobs site for more information on how to apply for them. While many will claim there is little work available for heavy equipment operators, the truth is there is always work available somewhere – you just need to know where to look, so be sure to add us to your weekly job search activities. Here is just a short list of some of the jobs available this week.

Loader Operator – PA and WV
There are several openings in Pennsylvania and West Virginia for Loader Operators. These positions will work around drilling crews and equipment and work a 12 hour shift. Operating heavy equipment such as a front end loader, bobcat, man-lift and track hoe.

Lead Operator – AZ
Position open in Florence, AZ. A Lead Operator operates machines and/or equipment at a recyclery, landfill or transfer station, Inspects equipment at start of shift and each start up during the shift, records daily inspection forms, and safely and productively operates equipment including forklift, scraper, motor grader, sweeper and baler.

Support Equipment Operator I – NM
Performs duties related to the operation of heavy equipment in support of production including de-watering, materials delivery, maintaining berms, and surface maintenance at a skilled level. Operates heavy equipment which may include but is not limited to: haul trucks, water trucks, rubber tire dozers, track dozers, excavators, motor graders and front-end loaders.

Heavy Equipment Operator – CA
Looking for heavy equipment operators that have their HAZWOPER up to date. They need to be flexible to work overtime and on swing shifts.

Roads Equipment Operator I – CO
Full time position for an equipment operator who will operate a variety of equipment, trucks and tractors for the purpose of street and utility repair, maintenance, snow removal and construction of facilities, irrigation systems, operation and maintenance, street sweeping, road repair, vehicle cleaning, and operation of one ton truck for plowing and hauling.

Heavy Equipment Operator – CA
Enhance the quality of life for the Counties by providing a safe, well-maintained, and lasting public works infrastructure through accessible, responsive, and effective services.

Heavy Equipment Operator – IL
We are looking for a Heavy Equipment Operator to operate a variety of equipment in the operations, maintenance and construction of landfill, and related facilities. Your principal responsibilities will be to: Operate heavy equipment including, but not limited to; 35 ton trucks, D6 Dozer, wheel loaders and compactors. Perform operation, maintenance, and construction activities associated with solid waste disposal.

Heavy Equipment Operator – CA
When you become part of our team, your opportunities are endless. As a leading global engineering, construction, and services company, we support the energy, hydrocarbon, government services, minerals, civil infrastructure, power and industrial markets on six continents. Servicing our customers through ten diverse business units, we offer challenging assignments on some of the world’s largest and most complex projects.

Many of this weeks jobs require individuals who also have truck driving skills, in particular, dump truck driving skills. If you have heavy equipment experience, but no CDL, perhaps it’s time you considered adding this skill. You can undertake truck driver training and have your CDL within a month if you put your mind to it.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has, over the last few years, introduced mandatory requirements for many industries. These requirements cover general employment as well as specific occupations; for example, crane operators must now be certified and construction workers must all receive OSHA construction training. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that all employees have been through this training and to organize training for those who have not. One of the latest groups to come under the scrutiny of OSHA are riggers and signal persons.

Riggers and signal persons must now be assessed as qualified before they can be employed on any site. Qualification can be achieved in a number of ways, however, the easiest is through a Rigging/Signal Person Qualification Program. This program is undertaken over 8-12 hours and includes required training and written and practical assessments. Once participants have completed the required components, they are issued with a qualification compliance card.

If you want more rigorous training, then the Rigging/Signal Person Certification Program is available. Participants who complete this program will receive certification through the National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Whilst the NCCCO Rigging Level One and NCCCO Signal Person Certifications are above the minimum requirements for OSHA, they provide an extra level of safety further reducing accidents and expensive down time.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that all workers have undertaken the minimum level of training required. You are obliged to keep accurate records of the training that each employee has received. Employing individuals who are not trained to those minimum requirements can lead to heavy fines, and listing by OSHA as an unsafe employer. If your employees are not fully trained, talk to ATS – we can organize group training either in our training rooms, or at your site.

Assuming you want to learn to operate heavy equipment, I’ll ask a silly question. Why?

I said it was a silly question, since most people learn to operate heavy equipment so that they can find a career working on that equipment. Fairly logical, I know. However, there are many people who graduate from heavy equipment operator schools and find themselves in a vacuum. Where are the jobs? How do they apply for them? Who are the best employers? Brand new skills, raring to go, yet no place to put those skills to good use.

Whatever you do, don’t put those newfound skills to waste. In fact, here’s a suggestion, when researching a heavy equipment training school, check on their career services department. Some schools don’t even have a career services section, so eliminate them immediately. Career services form that vital link between a graduating student and that all important first job.

I won’t get your hopes up too high – we will not guarantee finding you a job. After all, you may be a complete rat bag who totally unsuited to heavy equipment operations. Hopefully we can weed you out before you graduate. Whilst undertaking your training, we will work with you to find the most suitable employers for you to approach. This will depend on where you want to work and the type of work you want to do. We will also work with you to ensure your resume and application letters are up to standard.

Students and graduates from ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools also have access to a our job site. This site is used by employers to list job vacancies when they arise. Students can also post their resumes for potential employers to check over. Every Saturday we list (on this site) some of the latest jobs available for heavy equipment operators (and truck drivers and crane operators). That’s a lot of help over and above your training – we do everything possible to ensure your new skills are not going to waste.

We often talk about grader operators and the need for accuracy in the work they do, however, they are not the only operators that need to work with accuracy. In fact, almost every piece of heavy equipment has a role that requires accuracy. Excavator operators are often under more pressure than most other operators; but then, they are venturing into delicate territory.

There has been a real push over the last decade to bury services. When you consider those services, there is electricity, gas, telephone, cable TV, and the latest – fiber optic cable. One false move by an operator and you have a gas leak, or the operator is being zapped by thousands of volts. Even worse, everyone loses power, or loses their internet connections and telephone. For the excavator operator, they only need to be out by an inch, and there’s problems.

Fortunately, most excavator operators are well trained so we rarely hear of incidents – and when we do, they are often big incidents. The key to working to precise measurements comes from the original training. Part of that training often includes learning to read site plans. It also includes heavy equipment safety training. In the past, the operator’s mantra was always ‘look up first’ – this was in reference to overhead power cables. Now, it also applies to ‘look below’.

It doesn’t matter what type of heavy equipment you are operating, safety is always going to be an issue. For some operators, such as excavator and backhoe operators, digging in areas where underground services are located is always going to be a tricky and delicate operation. When working under pressure in these situations, a cool head on the shoulders of a well-trained operator will always win through. Can you handle that pressure? Do you have a cool head? If so, have you considered a career as a heavy equipment operator?

As winter approaches, many feel that work for heavy equipment operators would start to dry up. While winter may stall some construction projects, however, there’s still plenty of alternative work available. This weekend’s job listings are varied, however, they do once again highlight the need for multi-skilled workers, especially the combination of a commercial drivers license and heavy equipment operator experience. If any of these jobs interest you, visit our job site for more details.

• Excavation Operator – Missoula, MT
  Looking for an experienced heavy equipment operator. This is a full-time position Monday to Friday starting 8am and finishing around 5pm. Applicants must have a drivers license, however, preference will be given to someone with a commercial drivers license. The position also involves manual laboring as well as equipment operation.
• Transload Operator – East Chicago, IN
  Seeking a dedicated, hard working, career-minded individual for our dry and liquid-bulk transload facility in East Chicago, IN. The ideal candidate must be detail oriented, able to work outdoors year round in all conditions.
• Light Equipment Operator – Ludlow, MA
  Looking for light equipment operator. This is a permanent, full-time position, 40 hours per week. It involves the operation of various trucks, heavy equipment and manual operation duties.
• Skidsteer operators – Huntsville, AL
• Truck drivers – Huntsville, AL
  Employer is hiring drivers with experience in tri-axle dumps. Also hiring Ready mix trucks drivers.

Don’t let anyone tell you there’s no work for heavy equipment operators or truck drivers. There is, and there always will be. If you’re interested in a career driving trucks, or operating heavy equipment, then your first step is to seek out training. Associated Training Services has a long and proud history of training truck drivers and heavy equipment operators, and you could be one of our next graduates to start a great career.