The days of focusing on one piece of heavy equipment as a career are quickly fading. Employers are constantly looking for heavy equipment operators who are multi-skilled, generally on heavy equipment, however, there are other associated skills that employers look for. A commercial drivers license is always handy to have since many employers prefer operators who can also drive trucks.

A look at this past weekend’s job opportunities is a good indication of what employers are looking for, although interestingly enough, this weekend is one of the few where a CDL didn’t appear in one or more job listings. Instead, we had employers that included the following:

• Must have hours on Trackhoe, Backhoe, Dozer and/or Grader;
• safe operation of various heavy equipment vehicles; and
• operates equipment including excavator, compactor, bulldozer, forklift and front end loader

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools offer training on a wide range of heavy equipment including:

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

Once you have covered the basic training, you should look for opportunities where you can build up hours on a range of heavy equipment. You’ll become more confident on each unit, and over time, build up a range of skills that employers will find attractive.

When looking to change careers, it often pays to carefully study job advertisements in that niche. You will then know what employers are looking for and so prepare yourself for those requirements. Employers are still picky when it comes to heavy equipment operators – they know the type of worker they want, and they know which training establishments provide the best graduates – so deliver them what they are looking for. Over time, you’ll have the pick of the jobs.

If you’re looking for a job that pays top wages, offers an excellent benefit package, or perhaps provides you with an opportunity to work for a global leader, then keep on reading. This week’s job listings include opportunities with theses features for heavy equipment operators.

Pipeline Foreman & Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator
Dewey, OK
Hiring Pipeline Foreman & Experienced Heavy Equipment Operators! Must have hours on Trackhoe, Backhoe, Dozer and/or Grader TOP WAGES & BENEFITS!

Heavy Equipment Operator
Tyler, TX
A global leader in engineering, consulting, design, program management, construction and operations, is looking for heavy equipment operators.

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) is required.

Heavy Equipment/Scale Operator – Landfill
Punta Gorda, FL
POSITION SUMMARY…Reporting to an Operations Manager/Supervisor, this position operates heavy equipment to move materials and tow trailers for the purpose of transferring spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in a productive and safe manner. Safely and productively operates equipment including excavator, compactor, bulldozer, forklift and front end loader.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Portage, IN
A leading provider of services to steel companies throughout the United States and Canada, has several openings for Heavy Equipment Operators at our job site. Primarily we are in need of loader operators. Full time, permanent employment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental, prescription drugs, disability, life insurance, and 401k. 2-3 years experience as heavy equipment operator preferred.

If you require more information on these or any other job opportunities, or if you’re an employer looking for heavy equipment operators, crane operators or truck drivers, then visit our job site. It’s totally free and available for both employers and job seekers.

Good heavy equipment operators are in short supply in some areas and this is forcing businesses to look at other options. In Canada they are taking their training programs into the high schools training 17- and 18-year-old students for a career as heavy equipment operators. For the youngsters, it’s a great program. The moment they leave school they are ready to start work earning good money, and as one student suggested:

This is a giant Tonka toy ….. This is my dream come true. I just love it.

There are numerous programs across the country that help unemployed and/or ex-military persons retrain as heavy equipment operators. Is there really that big a shortage of skilled heavy equipment operators? The construction industry is one that has aged over the last twenty years. Becoming a heavy equipment operator hasn’t been high on the agenda of young adults as they graduate from high school and college. With the lack of youth coming through, and a very high proportion of baby-boomers working in the industry, there is a prediction that operator numbers will plummet over the next ten years if we don’t recruit new operators to the industry.

Will moving into the schools help alleviate this problem? Every program that develops new entrants will help. However, the approach in Canada has been to only accept 15 students each year into their program. That is really only a drop in the ocean when we are going to need thousands over the next decade.

For those considering a career change, you could do worse than consider a career as a heavy equipment operator. The wages are good, and once experienced, there will be plenty of work available over the next ten to fifteen years. Don’t leave it to the kids; jump in now and grab your chance for a new career.

Mention heavy equipment and most people will think of bulldozers, graders and excavators. However, there is much smaller equipment in use every day that also wears the heavy equipment label. This group of heavy equipment machinery includes mini-trenchers, mini-loaders like the skid steer loader and mini excavators. Whilst these smaller machines are easier to operate that than their larger counterparts, operators still require training.

Heavy equipment safety is almost the same no matter how large or small the machinery is. Understanding soils, reading site plans, and working as part of an overall team is also identical irrespective of the machinery’s size. Operators will tell you that operating those little guys can be a lot of fun and certainly makes for an interesting break away from the larger equipment.

Who uses these smaller machines? They are actually used a lot in construction and have become a popular tool for landscape gardening. Excavators, backhoes and loaders can do all the muscle work, however, as a project comes close to completion, it can be difficult squeezing those larger machines around buildings. That’s where those little guys are so important – they can fit down a standard driveway and can actually complete a lot of work in a short space of time. They are also economical when it comes to adding the finishing touches.

If you are interested in a career as an operator of smaller heavy equipment, you will still need to complete a heavy equipment training program. On completion, you will be well prepared for work operating heavy equipment of all sizes.

If there was one piece of advice that I could offer to anyone contemplating a career as a truck driver, heavy equipment operator, or crane operator, it would be to thoroughly check out their training options. There are a lot of training options available and they range from the totally unplanned training you receive from a friend or relative to the training programs that run for six, or even twelve months. And there are plenty of other options that sit in between.

It’s not so much the length of the training program that matters. We could put together a training program that ran for three months, and like many other training establishments that run longer courses, you will spend most of your time pushing dirt from A to B then back again; or digging a hole, then filling it in again, only to dig the same hole the next day. Practice is important, however, what is most important are the skills and knowledge you learn as they relate to the workplace.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have developed training programs designed to have graduates work ready on completion. Rather than charging you thousands of dollars for long practice sessions, our three week training program concentrates on the essential skills and knowledge required by both government regulatory authorities, and by employers. After 50 years in the business of training, we have developed strong relationships with both groups, and this has helped us fine tune our training.

Whilst training is the most important factor, it is not the only factor to look at when comparing schools. You should also consider what financial assistance each school offers, what employment assistance is offered, and what post training assistance there is.

If you decide to take a closer look at ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised on all three fronts. We offer financial assistance (including training for those qualified for government funded training programs), we have a well organized employment services department, and we continue to assist graduates where ever we can once they have completed their training. And that training is first class – don’t believe me? Put us to the test – come and take a closer look.

There are almost always job vacancies for heavy equipment operators, crane operators and truck drivers. Sometimes those job vacancies are not in your immediate area, however, you may only need to look in the next county to find a great job. The real question then is how far are you prepared to travel each day. I have grouped this week’s job vacancies by county to make it easier for you to find something close to home.

One point that is worth noting, many of the heavy equipment job vacancies prefer operators with a commercial drivers license. If you don’t have one, perhaps it’s time you considered adding one. We can help you fast track your CDL through our truck driver training program.

The job opportunities received this week include:

Heavy Equipment Operators Wanted:

Morgan City, LA
Marietta, GA
Portage, OH
Wauchula, FL
City of Saint Cloud, FL
Cooper City, FL
Tyler, TX
Huntsville, AL
Grand Forks, ND
3 Forks, MT
Onalaska, WI
Hancock, MN

Truck Drivers Wanted:

Morgan City, LA
Windsor, WI
Huntsville, AL
Watford, ND
Grand Forks, ND

Crane Operators Wanted:

TX, State.
Madison, WI
Darien, WI

If you require more information on these or any other job opportunities as they arrive, visit our job site. It’s totally free and available for both employers and job seekers.

Bulldozers are not as versatile as some units of heavy equipment. In fact, a bulldozer’s main claim to fame is its sheer strength. A bulldozer is really a glorified tractor that has had a large blade added to the front. When I say “glorified,” today’s bulldozers look nothing like their origins, yet to all intents and purposes, that’s all a bulldozer is – a tractor.

When it comes to work, bulldozers go where no normal tractor would risk. Where tractors have large tires, bulldozers run on treads, much like a military tank. This means they can easily traverse sand, mud and the kind of terrain that no normal vehicle could handle. The large working blade at the front is where all the action is, and there’s plenty of power behind that blade.

A bulldozer operator can work in a wide range of sites including a battlefield (the military employs a large number of bulldozer operators), construction (including road building and site clearing for houses and buildings), mines and quarries. In simple terms, a bulldozer’s job is to just push earth around. In practical terms, the job is never as easy as that. A bulldozer operator needs a good knowledge of soil types and how they will react to being pushed around. A bulldozer operator also needs a good understanding of plans and how to read and work to a plan.

Whilst pushing dirt around is a bulldozer operator’s main function, they are also responsible for their equipment. This means giving the equipment a good inspection before and after a days work, keeping essential fluids filled, and ensuring the safe operation of the equipment. Bulldozers can also have a range of attachments added to the rear of the equipment. These have a variety of uses including ripping up compacted areas, digging out roots, and breaking up concrete.

It takes three weeks of quality heavy equipment training to become a bulldozer operator. Once you graduate, there is work available for new operators, and you’ll appreciate the decent paycheck that bulldozer operators receive.

The life of a heavy equipment operator is not that tough. However, you will need to make some changes, particularly if you are coming from a sedentary working life like that found in an office. There are little things that many people don’t consider when changing to an outdoor and active working life. A good example is thinking sun smart – protecting your skin from the harsh sun. For those coming from an indoor working life, your skin may well burn quickly and easily.

That may sound silly, however, the first time you get seriously sun burnt, you won’t think it silly. That, however, is an easy option to consider. You will also need to consider:

• Working outdoors – can you work outdoors in all weathers? Whilst sunburn is one consideration, working in sub-zero temperatures clearing snow is another. There is a lot to like about the outdoors, however, so don’t think of it as a negative. These days, most heavy equipment operators work in climate controlled cabs.
• Working as part of a team – are you a team player? Heavy equipment operators are often an integral part of a team. If you haven’t been a part of a close team, you will need to learn to communicate and work closely with others.
• Working independently – being a team player is one thing, working independently is another. If you go the extra yard and also acquire a commercial drivers license, you could find yourself working alone on a regular basis.
• Maintaining a broad skills base – today’s heavy equipment operators should be skilled across a range of equipment. Having a commercial drivers license is also a big help. Multi-skilled operators have the benefit of a wider range of job opportunities, and more variety in their day-to-day work.

If you can adapt to the working life of a heavy equipment operator, then there are plenty of job opportunities opening up every day. Call us and we’ll help you organize a heavy equipment training program that will have you work ready within a month.

Saturday’s job opportunities showed strong for operators of a wide range of heavy equipment, however, it was the number of vacancies for skilled mobile crane operators that really stood out. One employer is looking for 30 mobile crane operators, a sure sign of resurgence in construction activities. Whilst many of these positions are for skilled and experienced operators, the operators have to come from somewhere, and that provides a lot of opportunities for new mobile crane operators.

Will employers take on new mobile crane operators? Many of them will, especially if they have several mobile cranes and their work load includes entry level type work. Many employers are now willing to take on new operators, employing them as co-drivers until they find their feet within the company. It’s a great introduction to the industry as you get to work alongside an experienced and seasoned mobile crane operator – a great follow-up to a good quality crane operator training program.

Crane operators of all types now need to be certified before they can operate a crane. Our training program exceeds the minimum requirements to become a crane operator, and all graduates are offered the opportunity to have their skills and knowledge assessed for certification at our training school. Having a one-stop-shop for both training and certification assessment makes the process much easier for students and allows for a faster and smoother transition to the workplace.

Graduates of ATS Heavy Equipment Training School’s crane operator training programs are also given assistance to find their first job. Our Career Services personnel will work with students throughout their training program to help them identify and apply for job vacancies. Graduates can also access our jobs website where job vacancies are frequently posted. The demand is there for skilled mobile crane operators. We can deliver the training to build the skills required; you just need to decide when you can start that training.

Spring must be well and truly here judging from the job opportunities that we have received this week. Most of the opportunities are for multiple operators as well. Spring is a busy time for construction, especially dozer operators since they are generally the first called into any site.

It’s interesting to note the increase in demand for crane operators, and the continued preference for heavy equipment operators with a CDL. If you don’t have a CDL, now is a good time to acquire one and we can certainly help you do that through our truck driver training program.

The job opportunities received this week include:

Loader Operator
Portage, OH
a supplier of concrete that operates locally is looking for a loader operator

Heavy Equipment Operators
Marietta, GA
Employer is Hiring Heavy Equipment Operators

Equipment Operator
Wauchula, FL
Equipment/Loader Operator – operating heavy equipment while adhering to safety policies and procedures.

Heavy Equipment Operators and drivers
Morgan City, LA
hiring drivers and Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy Equipment Operator-Public Services
City of Saint Cloud, FL
This position includes Streets and Drainage, Water/Wastewater Line Systems. It requires the operation of heavy trucks and a variety of other equipment in order to maintain roads, rights-of-way, drainage areas, the landfill.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Tyler, TX

CDL-A Truck Driver
Windsor, WI
hiring local CDL-A driver this week! to deliver modular homes to construction sites.

Crane Operators and Riggers
TX, State.
hiring 30 Crane operators for 30 ton Mobiles and 20 Riggers

Dozer Operators, Gradall Operators, ReadyMix Drivers, Traffic Control
Huntsville, AL
Employer hiring Dozer and Gradall operators, ReadyMix drivers and Traffic control people.

Crane Operators
Madison, WI
Employer hiring now, crane operators.

Mobile Crane Operator
Darien, WI
60 Ton Mobile Crane operator required

Tanker Drivers
Watford, ND
hiring tanker drivers for oilfield work. Need tanker and hazmat endorsements.

Equipment Operators and CDL Drivers
Grand Forks, ND
Employer is hiring Equipment operators and CDL drivers.

Loader Operators, Grader Operators, Excavator Operators
3 Forks, MT
Employer is taking applications for loaders, graders and excavators operators with CDL.

Heavy Equipment Operators with CDL
Cooper City, FL
hiring heavy equipment operators, must have CDL also.

Dozer Operator, Excavator Operator
Onalaska, WI
Looking for dozer and excavator operator.

Rochester, MN, Rochester Sand and Gravel doing spring hiring.

Hancock, MN, Koel WE WILL BE HIRING SOON. Street Reconstruction, Demolition, and EXCAVATION

If you require more information on these or any other job opportunities as they arrive, visit our job site. It’s totally free and available for both employers and job seekers.