Becoming a skilled bulldozer operator is a career within itself. For the more adventurous, there is a lot on offer beyond the construction and road building industries. It all starts with heavy equipment operator training. Once you have the basic set of core skills, you can find employment. This gives you the opportunity to hone those skills and become a highly skilled operator. From there, the world is your oyster, as the saying goes.

As I mentioned, careers exist for skilled bulldozer operators outside simple construction and road building. A military career is one option – bulldozer operator recruits are often in high demand in the military and after basic training, you could find yourself anywhere in the world operating bulldozers.

The mining industry is possibly the third largest employer of skilled bulldozer operators. In some areas around the world, bulldozers are used under ground as well as on top of the ground. Bulldozer operators are also ideal for training for some of the more specialized equipment used in mining. Bulldozer operators are also employed for 8-9 month contracts on bases on Antarctica. Don’t get your hopes too high, these positions are few and far between and very competitive – but then, you never know what the future holds.

Other industries that use bulldozer operators include forestry, farming and some manufacturing sectors. There are also opportunities in other areas of the world, particularly third world countries. International operators are often called in to help with special projects whilst helping to train local operators.

The role of a bulldozer operator is not restricted to just local construction and road building. There is a broad range of opportunities for skilled operators – you just need a little research to uncover some of the opportunities. It all starts with your bulldozer operator training and as the nation’s oldest heavy equipment training organization, ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools is there to get you started. Are you ready to start?

Heavy equipment operator training has many different formats with some training bodies specializing in one piece of equipment, like a bulldozer or excavator. A thorough heavy equipment program should expose the students to a variety of machinery for both practical experience and for familiarization. A student may decide to specialize in bulldozers, however, knowing how a grader works and its limitations, for example, can help the bulldozer operator when working around a grader.

Having exposure to a variety of equipment is important. It is also important to have some hands on experience in the popular machinery in use today. This includes bulldozers, excavators, graders, loaders and backhoes. When it comes to employment, these are the areas of greatest demand and the areas where most students will find employment.

Large reputable training organizations that have been around for many years have one very important attribute over many of the newer training organizations springing up and that is experience. Not so much the experience with training itself, although that is important. Their experience is in knowing what employers are looking for when looking to hire new operators – an attribute that many new training organizations haven’t as yet developed.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have been around for over 25 years. During that time they have developed a reputation for providing industry with quality operators who have been trained ready for work – in other words, they have the skills that employers are looking for. The heavy equipment training program offered by ATS includes excavators, graders, backhoes and, of course, the bulldozer. No training is complete without experience operating any of these machines.

There is a misconception that construction grinds to a halt in the middle of winter and that jobs like bulldozer operations dry up. The contrary is the case. Sure, there are some areas where construction cannot continue. Heavy snow is one example. However, where there is heavy snow there is a need for snow plow operators and bulldozer operators are perfect candidates for those jobs.

Snow, of course, is not the only problem that winter brings. Heavy rain can also cause problems and slow construction down. These problems are not, however, nationwide. Whilst one area may slow down because of winter, other areas keep working. In fact, a job as a bulldozer operator means you can literally follow the sun. You can work as far north as Alaska in the summer then move south as winter approaches.

Whilst construction may slow in some areas, mining keeps operating almost year round. Farms still require the services of bulldozer operators when clearing land and many developers use the winter period to clear and subdivide land ready for construction in the spring. In some areas, bulldozer operators are more in demand in winter than in spring or summer.

Completing a heavy equipment training program now makes sense if you’re interested in becoming a bulldozer operator. There is work around, much of it fairly basic, which is exactly what a new graduate needs to begin with. By starting with basic bulldozer jobs, you can gain the experience, and hours behind the controls, that many construction companies like to see before hiring bulldozer operators for more challenging roles. Contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools now for more information and start the new year with a new career on the way.

I could be glib and tell you to sign up for one of our heavy equipment training programs. Of course, becoming a bulldozer operator is not quite as easy as that. Mind you, it’s not all that difficult either. Let’s have a look at the steps required:

• Desire – you have to have a desire to work as a bulldozer operator. You’re here reading this so that is a start.
• Training – you will never get any job these days without some form of training. Completing a heavy equipment operator course only takes three weeks so the training commitment is not huge.
• Experience – experience has two components – in the cab and on the job. Your training provider should give you as much experience as possible inside the cab. On completion of your training you should look around to see what on the job experience you can get.
• Employment – once you have completed your training and gained some experience you can call yourself a bulldozer operator and gain employment wherever opportunities exist.

There are many employers around who will let you gain your experience whilst employed as full-fledged bulldozer operators. There are other operators who may take you on for a trial period allowing you to gain some experience in the type of work they do. If you are up to it they will then take you on permanently.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools have a good reputation for producing well trained heavy equipment operators. We also have a job placement service to help you find that first job. Becoming a bulldozer operator is not that difficult – you just need the desire and to then sign up for one of our heavy equipment training courses.

Do you like adventure? If so a career as a bulldozer operator may be just the ticket. There is plenty of reliable and steady work available for bulldozer operators. There is also a lot of work available for those who like variety.

Bulldozers are versatile machines. You could be working for a couple days out in the back blocks somewhere clearing land for farming. Your next job could be in the middle of the city clearing rubble from a demolition site, or out on new stretch of highway that is being built.

As a bulldozer operator you get to see and participate in all sides of a construction saga – the construction, the demolition and the reconstruction. Life is never dull, life is never boring and if you like to do a little traveling then a bulldozer career can offer it.

If you are tired of the monotony of sitting behind a desk or walking a factory floor then getting out and about in the sun could be the change you are looking for. As a bulldozer operator I can promise you one thing, you will see plenty of sun, a little rain and perhaps even a little snow.

Bulldozer operators are well paid compared to many other workers and with a steady flow of work currently available there is little chance of being laid off through lack of work. Training to become a bulldozer operator can be completed in as little as three weeks. With the amount of work available at present you could be employed in a new career within a month of starting your training.

If you are sick of your current job, consider a career as a bulldozer operator. If you are looking for bulldozer training designed to get you started – look no further. We have exactly what you need. The only thing missing is you.

We are rapidly approaching that time of year when traffic on many of our roads stops to a crawl, or stops altogether. The cause? Snow! Bulldozer operators are often recruited to operate the snow plows used to clear roads. They are not the only operators called upon.

In some areas, trucks and/or farm tractors are fitted with a bulldozer type blades. They perform the same role as a bulldozer although not quite as effectively. Other areas use graders. These are particularly useful in areas where the snow has been compacted.

Technically speaking, a snow plow is the blade that is fitted to any vehicle. A rail car that has a blade fitted is also known as a snow plow. Rather than having heavy equipment experience, you require train driver training to operate these vehicles.

There are of course several specific purpose vehicles that have been built that also bear the name snow plow. When looking for employment as a snow plow operator, you need to clarify what type of snow plow is being used, otherwise you may find yourself operating unfamiliar vehicles with snow plow blades attached rather than specific snow plows.

Dedicated snow plows are very similar to bulldozers so a bulldozer operator will generally have a lot of the operational skills required to operate the machine. Using a grader on icy roads is very similar to using a grader on any other surface. Graders are popular since they can be set to very fine measurements shaving the road to within fractions of an inch of the sealed surface.

Looking to work as a snow plow operator? Start by undertaking a bulldozer or grader operator training program. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools offer heavy equipment training programs that deliver skills in a range of heavy equipment – just what you need if you want to work as a snow plow operator.

There are times when, as a bulldozer operator, you hope you don’t get work. The earthquakes that have hit the South East Asian region in recent weeks have been devastating. They are a reminder that anyone – almost anywhere – suffer earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and wild fires on a regular basis – often destroying homes, neighborhoods and even whole towns. Who gets called in to wipe it all away? The bulldozers.

Bulldozers do a good job of wiping away the signs of devastation. They do a good job of clearing the way for rebuilding as well. Whilst these are jobs that most bulldozer operators don’t wish for – someone has to do them when they do occur.

This type of work can be tricky at times as bulldozer operators may find themselves working alongside family members who are trying to recover as much of their personal lives as possible. Bulldozing a site is done carefully, pushing aside debris in a way that allows those family members access to what has been left behind.

It is hard to train someone for this type of work. Basic bulldozer training lays the platform – the rest comes with time and experience. Being sensitive to the needs of the family members is a skill that cannot be taught – either you have it or you don’t. Fortunately, most people do.

The life of a bulldozer operator can be difficult at times. However, at the end of the day you have helped people, communities or towns start the rebuilding process that gets their lives back on track again. Whilst the event that caused this devastation is sad, the act of clearing away and rebuilding isn’t -in fact it can often be met with celebration, a time of rebirth. It is a tough job, but it is a very satisfying job – are you up to it?

Bulldozer operators – where do they work? It would probably be easier to list where they don’t work. Typically they work on small housing projects, landscaping, new subdivisions, construction projects of all shapes and sizes, roadwork, and anywhere that requires land clearing, including farms. In winter, you may also see them working to move snow from land and roads.

The working day starts early for a bulldozer operator. They may start work at the site or in the yard before moving with their equipment to the work site. As with all heavy equipment, the job entails more than just operating their equipment. Safety is a big issue as is preventative maintenance so the first task of the day is a thorough walk around inspection of their machine. Bulldozers are generally fitted with caterpillar type tracks – these need to be inspected for damage and jammed debris. Fuel and fluid levels need to be checked along with hoses and hose fittings.

A normal work day often includes a get together with the rest of the construction crew where the day’s work is discussed and an order of work is laid out. The bulldozer is an integral part of the team on a lot of construction sites. Having said that, there are a lot of jobs, land clearing is one, where the bulldozer operator is out working by themselves. They need to walk around the area identifying hazards and mentally planning how they will attack the task.

Working a bulldozer can be hot and dusty work. Many bulldozers now come equipped with cabins that are sealed from the elements – dust, I am sorry to say, still has a way of finding its way in. The operator works to a plan; when clearing land, it’s a case of chewing away from the outside and working your way through to the other side of the job. The operator needs to be constantly alert for hidden tree stumps, large buried rocks and very soft mud.

At the end of the day, the bulldozer operator reverses their start up procedure. They may be required to report back to a supervisor on progress and will always need to do an end of day walk around to inspect for damage caused by the days work. Bulldozer operators, like all heavy equipment operators, build a relationship with their machine. A sixth sense often kicks in telling them when something is not quite right.

You can train to become a bulldozer operator in as little as three weeks. There are two things I do know about bulldozers and heavy equipment – you may receive training today – it is still going to be a lifetime of ongoing learning and discovery. The second thing – I have never seen an unhappy bulldozer operator!

There is one job that is a real challenge to bulldozer operators and that is the work involved with wildfires. The wildfire itself is a danger. With flying embers everywhere, bulldozer operators try to create firebreaks – wide areas cleared of any fuel – in the hope it will stop, or at least slow the wildfire.

Firefighters have to be amongst the toughest workers around and bulldozer operators are right up alongside them when it comes to fighting fires. The recent California wildfires saw heavy equipment operators alongside firefighters trying to save properties and trying to prevent loss of life. It’s not just during wildfires that bulldozers work to prevent property damage.

In the cooler months, it is the bulldozer operators that are at work constantly trying to keep fire breaks and fire trails open. If vegetation overgrows either of these two, there can be real problems. Fire trails allow access to firefighting vehicles in the event of an outbreak. If the fire trail is overgrown – there is no access, which means firefighters cannot fight the fires. Keeping them clear and open is essential.

Fire breaks work a little differently. They are often used to access deep into timbered areas, however, their main role is to put a wide break in the amount of fuel that is available on the ground. Fires can and do jump fire breaks, but generally speaking, fire breaks do slow down a wild fire giving firefighters a chance of gaining the upper hand.

Do you have what it takes to operate a bulldozer with wild fires burning all around you? If so, a career as a bulldozer operator may be for you. Heavy equipment training includes learning how to operate a bulldozer. If you’re ready for the challenge – train now and gain the skills before next year’s wildfires begin.

They used to say there were two certainties in life, death and taxes – they missed the third one, garbage. Every society produces it and every society has problems handling it. At the forefront of waste disposal and landfill are the bulldozers and bulldozer operators. We should be thankful they do such a good job too.

It has to be one of those things in life that we take too much for granted. It is so easy to sit in our homes, we cook, we eat, we accumulate garbage. What do we do, we take it out to the trash can each day and, on the right day, take the trash out ready to be emptied. From that point on, we don’t want to know.

I won’t go into all the processes. Suffice to say your rubbish ends up in a landfill site somewhere. Garbage trucks empty the often compacted waste on to the landfill pile. From there, bulldozers spend the day turning the garbage over, slowly mixing it, breaking it up, and then burying it all. The bulldozer itself acts a compactor, compacting the ground and previously garbage. And they do this all day, everyday.

Whilst it may sound like a mindless task, a bulldozer operator working on a landfill site cannot afford to be mindless. They must be alert, forever watching for dangerous objects, and objects that shouldn’t be there. At the same time they need to have a good knowledge of the process they are involved with. Landfill management is a very exacting science. Garbage can only be a certain thickness before requiring a coverage of soil. The area needs to rest for a while – this is why landfill sites are forever changing their dumping zones.

Training to be a bulldozer operator is not that difficult. Working as a bulldozer operator on a landfill site that involves domestic garbage is one that requires experience and patience – a well guarded nose also helps.