Recent weeks have shown that demand for certified crane operators is still strong, and predictions are that demand will continue to grow. The industry is beginning to feel the effect of the ‘baby boom’ as these operators age and start to consider retirement. The predictions are that more operators will leave the workforce than enter over the next five years, a worrying sign for some employers as natural demand increases.

For those considering a career change, becoming a certified crane operator has a lot to offer. The work is stable and well paid, there are a wide range of crane options for new graduates work in, and training is not a long drawn out process. For most people, you can be trained and certified and ready for work in as little as a month, and with demand for operators increasing, employed fairly quickly after certification.

There are two components to a successful career as a crane operator. The first is your basic training, the second your certification, and that comes back to your training. Certification comes with an added benefit – your qualification is a national one so it is valid in every state. It’s also worth pointing out that certification is now compulsory for all crane operators.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools has several crane operator training programs available. Upon completion of your training, we also provide the assessments for certification as a crane operator. Once certified, our career services personnel can help you find that first job where you can start to build your experience, and a successful career. If you’re looking for a well paid career that’s in demand, then consider a career as a crane operator.

This week’s job listings show that, even in winter, crane operators remain in high demand. Heavy equipment job vacancies are still strong while truck driving opportunities come and go very quickly – there is, however, strong demand for truck drivers. Most of our job listings over the last couple of weeks have been for multiple positions, in many cases for new construction project. If you are interested in these or any other heavy equipment, crane operations, or truck driving jobs, then visit our job site for more information and all the current listings.

• Crane Operators – TX, Baytown
• Crane Operators – IA, Forest City
• Crane Operators – WI, Wauwatosa
• Crane Operator – PA, Hanover
• Crane Operators – Afghanistan and Kuwait
• Bulldozer Operators – TX, LA and MS
• Truck Drivers – ND, Williston
• Plant Operator – FL, Vero Beach
• Heavy Equipment Operator – CO, Denver
• Heavy Equipment Operator – Maryland

The trend is still for operators with a commercial drivers license, or with experience on a range of heavy equipment. If you’re looking to gain experience on road plant, then look for general heavy equipment vacancies with road construction companies. If you’re a good operator, they may give you the opportunity to gain experience on road plant that is currently in use. If you’re looking for a career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver, or certified crane operator, then visit our training site for more information training opportunities.

That is what we are seeing more and more these days – job vacancies for heavy equipment operators with commercial drivers licenses. For many smaller employers, it can be hard to justify employing individuals who only have the one skill. Employers are now wanting the flexibility to move employees from job to job depending on the demand, and that’s impossible if their employees have limited skills.

Being mult-skilled is a must in many professions now, and heavy equipment operations is no different. It’s not just the CDL that matters either. Being able to operate a range of heavy equipment also helps, and today, that’s not difficult to achieve. Modern heavy equipment training methods don’t focus on a single piece of equipment. At ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, we offer heavy equipment training across a range of equipment including:

• Backhoes
• Wheel Loaders
• Scrapers
• Excavators
• Bulldozers
• Road Graders
• Rock Trucks
• Skid Steers
• All-Terrain Forklifts

Graduating operators are able to seek entry level employment where they can gain experience operating equipment in the field. If graduates can obtain employment in positions where a range of equipment is use, they can develop skills across the range, further enhancing their employment opportunities. By then adding a commercial drivers license, operators have the complete package to offer employers.

When it comes to sustaining a career in any profession, it’s important to understand what it is that employers are looking for. If you can deliver on that criteria, then your employment prospects increase dramatically. For new heavy equipment operators, adding a CDL as quickly as possible will not only help you find employment, you will quickly gain access to a range of heavy equipment, even if it is only loading/unloading and transporting that equipment. It’s a start that will help you develop a long term career as a heavy equipment operator.

Most people think of a bulldozer as a big heavy earth moving machine that spends its time pushing dirt around. While that is its primary function, bulldozers are actually quite versatile, especially if you step around back. What many people don’t realize is that a bulldozer can be fitted with tools at the rear; for example, single or multiple shank rippers. These are used, as the name suggests, to rip into the ground.

A bulldozer’s ripper has multiple uses, however, its primary use is to break open very hard ground. The ripper can also be used to tear up rock, concrete or sealed roads. The front dozer blades can then push through the material clearing the way for further work. Another attachment that is similar to a ripper can be added that helps to break apart tree stumps, a common activity when land is being cleared.

It’s also common for bulldozers to have scrapers, winches and even heavy weights added to the rear. The heavy weights provide more stability and traction when the equipment is used to push dirt in difficult situations. When learning to operate a bulldozer, you should become as familiar with the rear area and the attachments available as you are with the front. Bulldozer operators are often required to rip open hard packed surfaces before bulldozing the top layer away, a difficult task if you have only familiarized yourself with the front end.

Heavy equipment training provided by a well respected training organization will include some instruction on what the rear section of a bulldozer is used for. Bulldozers don’t just push dirt around. They do have other uses, and to be a good bulldozer operator you need to learn as much as possible about those alternatives.

One option open to heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, and crane operators, is to seek opportunities overseas. One job listing in our Saturday job listing series required 80 crane operators for work in either Afghanistan and Kuwait. In fact, wherever the U.S. has had a military presence, you’ll find work for capable operators and drivers. You can also find work in many African nations where aid is helping to build roads, schools, hospitals and dams.

Before looking for work overseas, you will need to complete an appropriate training program. Crane operators generally need to be certified; truck drivers will need their commercial drivers license; and heavy equipment operators will need to have completed an approved heavy equipment training program. It will also help your cause if you can get six-twelve months of experience here in the U.S. before applying for international positions.

There is a high demand for experienced heavy equipment operators overseas. The pay is good, and, depending on where you work and who you work for, there are hefty tax concessions on your income. The downside is that you are working in remote areas a long way from home. You may even find you are working in somewhat hostile conditions and in areas that are quite primitive compared to what you enjoy at home right now. In some places, something as simple as running water is non-existent.

U.S. crane and heavy equipment operators (and truck drivers) are preferred in many locations, particularly where U.S. contractors are involved. They prefer to employ from home, fly suitable recruits to their work locations, and to fly them home again once their contracts have been fulfilled. These operators and drivers are generally offered new contracts to return after a short period R and R at home, often with bonuses for renewing those contracts. It does take a special type of person to work overseas under trying conditions, however, many enjoy the experience and continue to return year after year.

If you have a yearning to work overseas in remote and primitive locations, then perhaps heavy equipment operations, truck driving, or crane operations is worth considering.

If you’re looking for work in the heavy equipment, crane operations or truck driving fields then you’ve come to the right place. This week we have no fewer than 13 job listings, and many of these are for multiple operators in multiple areas. Enough of the chatter, here are the latest job listings – don’t forget to visit our job site for more information and to get first hand the latest job listed.

Crane Operators – IA, Forest City
Employer is looking for operators who require long-term work in N-Central Iowa and S Minnesota. Only certified operators need apply.

Truck Drivers – ND, Williston
Employer is looking for truck drivers with Hazmat endorsement for oil field work

Roll-Off Drivers – WI, Waunakee

Truck Drivers – Washington, DC

Heavy Equipment Operators – Washington, DC

Crane Operators – WI, Wauwatosa
Employer requires several crane operators and crane mechanics.

Crane Operator – PA, Hanover

Bulldozer Operators – TX, LA and MS.
D5, D6, and D8 Dozer operators wanted

Truck Drivers – ND, Williston, ND
CDL-A drivers with tanker and hazmat endorsement.

Bulldozer Operators – TX, LA and soon MS
Employer requires more dozer operators for making forestry roads

Plant Operator – FL, Vero Beach
Employer requires plant operator who can operate variety of equipment

Heavy Equipment Operator – CO, Denver
Wanted! Heavy Equipment Operator in Public Works

Heavy Equipment Operator – Maryland
PRIMARY FUNCTION Operates backhoe operator, truck crane operator and Heavy truck driver.

OVERSEAS CRANE
80 Crane operators needed in Afghanistan and Kuwait. First $92,000 is tax free.

If you are considering a career in heavy equipment, crane operations or truck driving, then you are going to need quality training delivered by well respected experienced trainers. ATS delivers that training while also providing employment assistance to all graduates. If you need more information, contact us through our training website.

There is a misconception amongst many in the community that heavy equipment careers are fairly itinerant by nature. This is far from the truth. Sure, there are major construction companies that move from project to project, taking their equipment and their operators with them. However, the majority of work for heavy equipment operators is local, with most operators home for dinner each night.

As for being a career for young single males – the majority of workers in this industry are over 40 and married, most with children. You can dispel the male only component as well, there are a lot of women who are now working as heavy equipment operators, and enjoying every minute of it. In reality, anyone can become a heavy equipment operator; all it takes is desire and an aptitude for operating equipment.

When it comes to employment opportunities, local construction leads the way while municipal councils run a close second. Private contractors are also big employers, offering equipment and operators for lease to farmers, developers and, on occasion, environmental groups wanting sensitive areas cleared of non-native vegetation. Even large construction companies, with their somewhat itinerant workforce, need to employ local operators to fill gaps in their ranks.

This means that most operators own their home, and work from their home base. These workers take the daily commute to and from their workplaces like everyone else, just a little earlier than most. A heavy equipment career is certainly not restricted to young single males (although the industry would love to see more of them join the ranks). A short heavy equipment training program is all that most people require to start successful careers as operators.