It may surprise some potential heavy equipment operators to learn that up to half of their working life is spent driving their equipment. Now I know most would say, “of course they drive their equipment; how do they move around if they don’t drive?” However, the point I am making here is that driving skills and the awareness of driver is just as important as knowing how to operator your heavy equipment.

Heavy equipment, if not handled correctly, can roll fairly easily. You may feel that a bulldozer is big and heavy and that it wouldn’t be possible to roll – believe me, they can roll, and when they do it can be quite devastating. Excavators and front end loaders have a higher center of gravity and will roll quite easily given the right circumstances.

Operators also need to be aware when operating their heavy equipment in congested areas such as construction sites. Giving way to other equipment and trucks, being aware of pedestrian traffic, buildings, and overhead power lines are all part of a heavy equipment operator’s day. These are driving skills as much as operator skills, and generally run true for all heavy equipment.

Workplace safety is a big factor today. Operating equipment in a safe manner is the goal as businesses aim for zero down time because of accidents. Every time there is a serious accident, the workplace, the employer, and the employee come under close scrutiny from government agencies. If they feel there is a lack of safe work practices, they will come down hard with severe penalties. The best way to avoid an accident is by undertaking heavy equipment training through an accredited training organization. Once you have completed your training, remember that you are a driver.

There are thousands of heavy equipment operators who go to work each day, often on a construction site where the only people they need to relate to is fellow workers and managers. There is growing need in the community for heavy equipment operators who can also work a public relations role. These are the operators that work with other businesses or home owners. It goes under the guise of customer service, however, it does play a role that goes beyond just customer service.

Being able to work with clients is important in today’s workforce. Those clients are the very people who can make or a break a business, and with it, your career. If you can follow the instructions and complete the client’s requirements in a timely fashion, that client is more likely to recommend you to others. They are also more likely to call on you the next time they need your services.

Customer service includes communicating with a client, perhaps discussing how the job can best be completed, and often filling out billing information such as hours and equipment used. Some businesses require their operators to also collect a payment once the job has been completed. Tact, a pleasant demeanor and a professional approach are all vital traits that a heavy equipment operator requires to work in this environment.

We can provide the training to help you become a heavy equipment operator. Whether or not you have what it takes to take on a customer service role will depend very much on your past experiences, your personality, and your ability to get on with other people. If you have what it takes to add customer service skills to your heavy equipment operating skills, then you’ll find there are plenty of opportunities for you in the field of heavy equipment operations.

Bulldozers are famous for pushing dirt around. They have incredible strength for their size and are capable of pushing tons of dirt in a day. Bulldozers can make use of that strength to pull as well. In today’s video, you’ll see a bulldozer using a twin ripper to break up the ground ready for removal. Bulldozers often work in partnership with a scraper. The bulldozer rips open the ground and the scraper comes through and lifts the loose soil into its hopper to be dumped elsewhere.

In this video, you’ll get a glimpse of a scraper working in the background. Take a closer look at the action towards the end of the video. You’ll get a close look at the ripper in action, and the power of the bulldozer. You’ll see the bulldozer tracks skidding in place as the ripper gets caught, however, once the tracks bite and the bulldozer regains traction, those ripper teeth just carve through the ground.

Bulldozer operators are amongst the busiest heavy equipment operators around today. Bulldozers form the basis of most heavy equipment companies since they really do all the hard preparation work on a building site. You can learn to operate a bulldozer through a heavy equipment training school. At ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, we include both bulldozers and scrapers in our training – in fact, you’ll learn how to operate a range of machinery, a factor you’ll welcome in the workplace as employers are now looking for multi-skilled heavy equipment operators.

Whether you receive your training from an accredited training school, or from a friend or relative, it’s your future that’s at stake. You need to gain as much as possible out of that training. With an accredited training school, you know you are going to receive training that’s set to an industry standard. You are also going to be trained in the right way of doing things rather than learning someone else’s bad habits.

Whichever way you decide to go, the onus ultimately is on you to learn as much as possible. In an accredited training school like ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, you are going to receive training in a classroom (for the theoretical components), on the ground (for walk around and equipment identification), and in the driver’s seat (actually operating the equipment in a work like environment). Some consider the theoretical side to be rather boring (although we do make it as interesting as possible), it is still an essential aspect of your training.

When it comes to sitting in the driver’s seat and learning how to operate heavy equipment, get as much practice as possible, especially in areas that you find difficult. The more you practice, the easier it becomes – and practicing the right techniques will help you perfect your skills.

Getting the most out of heavy equipment training doesn’t just stop with your heavy equipment training. We have a career services section that works with students to help them find their first job once they have graduated. This service is free to students, and can be a very valuable side to your training. Our career services personnel can show you how to write an industry acceptable resume and job application. They can also help you with interview techniques, all skills that you will come to rely on in the years ahead.

Statistics show that students who make the best use of their training are the graduates who have the best success in their new career. If you’re considering a career change to heavy equipment operations, make sure you choose an accredited heavy equipment training school and then be sure to get as much as possible out of your training – you won’t regret it.