In an era in which technology is taking over everywhere, there is still no compromise when it comes to training to become a heavy equipment operator. Sure, you can learn theory through a book, or online over the Internet, or perhaps even through a CD or DVD. However, nothing beats in-the-seat real time operator experience. I know there have been attempts to train operators using simulators, similar to those used by airline pilots, however, they still don’t deliver that same real life experience – even pilots need time in a real airplane to experience the real thing.

There is a lot that modern technology can simulate, and it does do a good job in general. When it comes to employing new heavy equipment operators, most employers want operators who have had experience in a ‘real’ machine, not just through a simulator. Where simulators do have a roll is in early training – it provides a safe environment where accidents cause harm to no one and to no equipment.

Of course, a good heavy equipment operator training school will ensure that students are trained in a safe environment that includes close supervision – and you learn a lot through your mistakes. Simulators can often be too forgiving when it comes to mistakes, not ideal when you’re trying to learn to become a good operator.

Simulators have one further failing that needs to be considered – simulators generally train operators to use the latest heavy equipment. The reality is that most workplaces use heavy equipment that is ten or more years old – certainly not the latest. Training schools that use real heavy equipment will have machinery that ranges in age, some new and some old, and that is the best equipment to train on since you gain a more diverse range of skills. What’s your preference, training in real heavy equipment, or training in a simulator?

There is a lot to think about for those individuals who are interested in a career as a crane operator. There is of course your crane operator training and then finding that all-important first job. You should also give serious thought to the type of crane you wish to operate, however, don’t expect to undertake training then walk into a job operating one of those large high-rise building cranes – it just won’t happen. They require the skills of very experienced operators. Whilst training and employment are important, you will also need to consider how you intend funding your training, whether or not you can travel each day to attend training, and the impact your training may have on your family.

The easiest path is to find a training school such as ATS that delivers a complete crane operator training program. This includes assistance with finance to cover your training costs, assistance with housing while attending training, and assistance to find that first job after you have completed your training. You will also need to complete the requirements for certification as a crane operator – you will need this certification to be eligible for employment as a crane operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can also help you obtain this certification.

By having everything handled under the one training program, you remove any stress from yourself. This means you can concentrate on your training. It also helps to reduce the effect that training may have on your family. It only takes three weeks of training to gain the skills required to commence work as a crane operator, and with crane operators earning lucrative pay checks each month, you’ll very quickly recover the costs of your training.

Crane operator training programs commence every three weeks, and they often fill quickly due to limited class sizes. We believe in giving our students as much in-the-seat training as possible whilst also ensuring they receive classroom-based training in safety and theoretical areas. Looking for a career as a crane operator? Take away the hassles by looking for a complete crane operator training program.

Short and long term job prospects are looking good for heavy equipment operators. Construction as an industry is growing, and with spring and summer just around the corner you can expect to see a surge in job opportunities in the short term. Being an industry that has an older employment base, many of whom fit into the ‘baby boomer’ category, long term prospects for new operators is almost assured – those ‘baby boomers’ are about to retire, and that will create a huge vacuum in experienced heavy equipment operators. If you’re looking for a career that has a bright future, then heavy equipment operations is certainly well worth some thought. Job vacancies this month have included:

• Excavator, dozer, scraper and motor grader operators required in Howells, NE
• Bulldozer operators required in Mowbridge, SD
• Heavy equipment operators required for spring hire in Mobridge, SD.
• Heavy Equipment Operators required for work in several states including LA, KS and TX.
• Heavy equipment operators for jobs in IA and MN.

Truck drivers are also always in demand with this month’s job vacancies including:

• Drivers required for concrete pumper trucks in Houston, TX. This business has locations in 16 states.
• CDL-A drivers, Tanker and Hazmat, required. Want to be home at night? Start pay in WI .51, MN .43, and NY .49
• Local delivery drivers required for building products in Madison, WI. Local driving means you’re home each night.
• Employer is hiring CDL-A drivers for work in WI, MN, IA and IN with mileage pay in the .40’s

Visit our jobs website for the latest job listings – it’s free to access for anyone looking for work as heavy equipment operators, truck drivers or crane operators. If you’re interested in a career in any of those fields, then visit ATS. There you’ll find more information on how to build a successful career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver and/or crane operator.

There’s a lot of satisfaction gained in a career as a heavy equipment operator. In most cases, you can really see what you have achieved at the end of the day. Consider a bulldozer operator, at the end of the day, they can look back at all the earth they have moved. For a grader operator, there’s a perfectly graded stretch of ground, perhaps the base for a new road. Loader operators can look back at all the dirt they have moved. When a project has been completed, there’s a new road to drive on they can say they helped to build, or a new school, hospital or housing project. The role of a heavy equipment operator is tangible – you can see the results of your work, and in most cases, those results are there to see for decades.

Job satisfaction goes beyond results. There’s the satisfaction a heavy equipment operator gains whilst working. It’s not until you get in the operator’s seat and commence moving dirt that you realize how powerful heavy equipment is – and that includes the little babies like skid steer loaders. A bulldozer is a beast that can push tons of earth around each day, and as an operator, you can feel that power at your fingertips. Heavy equipment operators don’t need power trips. Every trip is already full of power, and plenty of it too.

What may surprise many is that modern heavy equipment is so easy to operate. You can learn to operate a range of heavy equipment in as little as three weeks, and we are talking about being work ready after three weeks. With a little more experience on the job, heavy equipment operators can bring home good monthly pay checks, easily covering the costs of their training.

If you want a career that’s full of job satisfaction, then consider a career as a heavy equipment operator. It’s one job where you can proudly state your being well paid to move the earth.

Employers are changing their focus as modern heavy equipment becomes easier to operate. In years gone by, you could specialize in one piece of heavy equipment, let’s say a bulldozer, and spend your whole working life just operating that equipment. There are still opportunities to specialize, however, they are becoming less of an option for new operators entering the industry. The preference for many employers is for heavy equipment operators who can operate a range of machinery.

In fact, employers are going beyond heavy equipment, often requesting applications from skilled heavy equipment operators who also have a commercial drivers license (CDL). From employers’ point of view, it makes a lot of sense. Why employ ten separate operators and truck drivers when five will cover all of the equipment used, and the flat-bed trailers required to transport them. This reduces costs for the employer and gives them the flexibility to place operators wherever they are needed each day.

For new heavy equipment operators, the aim should be to gain experience on as wide a range of heavy equipment as possible. If you have the opportunity, you should also consider adding a commercial drivers license to your repertoire of skills. This will make you more employable and will open far more doors than those available to specialist heavy equipment operators.

The heavy equipment operator training program at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools includes access to heavy equipment such as:

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

We also have a truck driver training program available that helps operators obtain a commercial drivers license. Once you have graduated from these programs, you will have all the skills required to obtain entry level employment in the heavy equipment industry. You will also have the added benefit of a CDL should demand for heavy equipment operators ever drop off.

Take a look outside – is it still winter? It certainly feels like it, yet when it comes to heavy equipment operator jobs, employers are already planning for spring. Whilst many construction projects grind to a halt over winter, construction business owners don’t – they have to plan and prepare projects so they can hit the ground running when the weather turns. It’s time to keep your eyes open for potential vacancies with employers stating they are “now taking applications for spring projects.” This week’s job vacancies include:

Truck Drivers
Houston, TX
Operators required for concrete pumper trucks. Business has locations in 16 states.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Howells, NE
Employer looking to hire operators for excavator, dozer, scraper and motor graders.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Mobridge, SD
A dozer operator is required now.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Mobridge, SD
Variety of operators will be required for spring hire.

Heavy Equipment Operators
LA, KS and TX
Employer is hiring Heavy Equipment Operators for work in several states.

Truck Drivers
WI, MN and NY
CDL-A drivers, Tanker and Hazmat, required. Want to be home at night? Start pay in WI .51, MN .43, and NY .49

Truck Drivers
Madison, WI
Local delivery drivers required for building products. Local driving means you’re home each night.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Decorah, IA
Applications are being accepted from heavy equipment operators for IA and MN projects

If you are interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, crane operator, or truck driver, then now is the time to start. If you undertake training now, you will be ready for the spring hiring. Visit our website for more information on training and moving into an interesting career as a heavy equipment operator, crane operator or truck driver. Visit our jobs website for more information on current job listings.

Being a dump truck driver can be quite challenging since the job itself involves more than just driving. There are many that consider dump truck driving to be easy, and it can be at times. If you are simply transporting material from A to B and dumping it in one spot, it’s just a truck driving job.

Dump truck drivers generally do far more than that. On construction sites, and more so on road building projects, dump truck drivers don’t just dump their load. Their role is to spread the material in their dumper, and they do this by opening the hopper slightly – the size of opening depending very much on the material being spread and how much is required. The dumper is then slowly raised as the driver moves across the area when the material is required. This becomes a real test of skill for dump truck drivers since the construction team are relying on his/her accuracy in spreading that material.

It takes a lot of practice to learn how different materials react to this spreading process. Sand will obviously move out a lot faster than gravel. The driver will also need to ensure the dump tray is being raised at the right speed. Too slow and the material won’t flow as required, and too fast will see too much of the material being laid.

Our truck driver training program gives you the opportunity to learn all about dump trucks and how to operate them effectively. You’ll get plenty of time behind the wheel to practice your truck driving skills, and you’ll get plenty of time to practice operating the dumping mechanism. If you’re looking for a truck driving job that involves more than just driving, consider a career as a dump truck driver.

The concept of a bulldozer is very simple – place a strong motor at one end and blade at the other and then set the equipment to work pushing dirt. Road graders owe part of their original design to bulldozers. Where a road grader differs is in the placement of that blade – instead of being at the front, it is slung beneath the vehicle. A road grader still does the same job, pushing dirt, except it does it with more finesse, and to fine measurements.

You can still find old tractors with blades attached, and for simple tasks around the farm they do fine. Commercially built bulldozers come in a wide range of sizes, including giants that are used in mines and on large scale projects. The world’s largest bulldozer is the Komatsu D575A. This dozer can shift 90 cubic yards of dirt in a single sweep using a standard blade, and 125 cubic yards per sweep using the largest blade available – now that’s a lot of dirt. As a comparison, the most common bulldozer in use is the Caterpillar D9. This machine can move around 22 cubic yards per sweep or about a quarter of the load that a D575A can move.

At the opposite end of the scale is the world’s smallest bulldozer, sometimes referred to as a calfdozer. These are not common dozers although they can be found in underground mines, in forestry areas, and as snow plows, especially around ski resorts.

No matter the size, these bulldozers all have one thing in common – they are designed to push dirt (or snow) around. Furthermore, their operation is almost identical, given that each brand of bulldozer has slightly different operation methods. Once you have learned how to operate a bulldozer, size becomes irrelevant – those skills are easily transferable. What’s you’re preference? Driving a huge D575A, a standard D9, or perhaps a calfdozer? Gain the skills the choice becomes yours.

Truck drivers and heavy equipment operators are still in high demand, even as winter sets in. Winter storms won’t stop the trucks getting through, and for heavy equipment operators, storms often mean more work. Many heavy equipment operators spend their winter months clearing snow so there’s plenty of work available. This month’s job vacancies include:

Heavy Equipment Operators
United States
Job applications are being accepted for Heavy Equipment Operators.

Heavy Equipment Operators
LA, KS and TX
Employer is hiring Heavy Equipment Operators for work in several states.

Truck Drivers
WI, MN and NY
CDL-A drivers, Tanker and Hazmat, required. Want to be home at night? Start pay in WI .51, MN .43, and NY .49

Truck Drivers
Madison, WI
Local delivery drivers required for building products. Local driving means you’re home each night.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Decorah, IA
Applications are being accepted from heavy equipment operators for IA and MN projects

Truck Drivers
WI, MN, IA, IN
Employer is hiring CDL-A driver with mileage pay in the .40?s

Truck Drivers
Decorah, IA
Applications being accepted from truck drivers for IA and MN projects.

You can find more information on current job vacancies on our jobs website. If you’re looking for an interesting career, then you’ll be hard pressed to find one that is as varied as that of a truck driver or heavy equipment operator. You can find more information on how to start a career as a heavy equipment operator on our training website.

There have been a lot of changes made to heavy equipment over the last 50 years. At the same time, the actual work that heavy equipment does has remained very much the same. A bulldozer is still nothing more than a tractor with a large blade at the front designed to push dirt. There is a similarity to modern cars – they still take us from A to B, however, there have been big changes made to motors and to the interiors of cars. Heavy equipment is no different.

Modern heavy equipment is being made to be more environmentally friendly. Lower emissions, better fuel economy, and much improved hydraulic systems have made modern equipment easier to operate, and very efficient. There have been big changes inside the operators cab as well. Many are sealed from the outside environment and rely on airconditioning to maintain a comfortable work space. It has also meant that computer technology’s reliability has improved – there’s no dust, dirt and high humidity entering the cab to create problems.

Some of the biggest improvements can be found in the controls that now face an operator. They look very similar to those of 50 years ago, and their use is very much the same. The new technology comes in the form of electronics. This makes the controls very touch sensitive, however, in the hands of an experienced operator, able to perform fine movements. There is one regular contest held each year that tests an operator’s skills in this area – they have to pick up an egg using the bucket of a backhoe – that does take a lot of skill.

Heavy equipment operators now work in a comfortable environment with finely tuned controls. This makes the job a little more demanding in that fine motor skills are required, however, this has made working as a heavy equipment operator much more enjoyable – the operator is at one with their equipment, unlike the past where they spend all day wrestling their equipment. For equipment owners, efficiencies are much improved, as is reliability. If there is a downside, it comes in the form of more complex maintenance, and a higher cost when it comes to breakdowns – but then, good operators try to prevent breakdowns by regularly checking their equipment and undertaking basic maintenance regularly. Like all areas of industry, technology is having a big impact on heavy equipment operations.