When I talk about compact heavy equipment, I am not necessarily talking about small, today I am referring to the compactor. This equipment ranges in size from the pair of size 12’s up to to huge heavy machines.

I don’t feel like stomping along a 20 mile stretch of highway to compact the base so let’s forget the size 12’s. I don’t feel like pushing a hand held compactor along that road either so it’s time to call in the heavy equipment.

Of course compactors have one major role to play in life. They compact the surface to make a firm stable base. Compactors normally use a combination of weight and vibration. The vibration basically shakes the the base material around so that the heavy weight can force it together tightly.

Compactors are one of those heavy equipment machines that don’t necessarily require training. What is often required is training on a standard heavy equipment machine such as a tractor or bulldozer. In fact tractors are often one the machines used to tow compactors around as they perform their duty.

Of course, other aspects of heavy equipment training such as safety are equally important. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools offer a broad range of training options that may provide a base of skills required to operate a compactor. Request a free brochure or view our online videos to see what we can offer you.

Heavy equipment job descriptions used to include terms such as ‘working in hot and dusty conditions’ or ‘prepared to work in weather extremes’. That is far from the situation today.

If you are fortunate to operate some of the latest heavy equipment models you would think you are in a control room. They now come fitted with air conditioning, filtered air, two-way radios, cd/radios with stereo speakers. I have seen one model that came fully equipped with a mini refrigerator to keep your drinks cool.

The days of freezing your butt off early in the morning then cooking in the afternoon are on their way out. No more breathing dust or getting soaked to the skin in an open cab. Today’s heavy equipment cabs are fully enclosed and weather proofed.

In the past, the controls were, at best, hydraulic assisted. Now you have the benefit of not just power steering, but also power assisted controls to operate the various devices. Heavy equipment operators from fifty years ago would not recognize these machines.

If this sounds like the career for you, perhaps you should look into training to enable you to get your foot in the door. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have a variety of training programs – check them out to assess your options.

The mining sector is a large employer of heavy equipment operators particularly those with experience in equipment that used in the mines. Mines fall into two segments, open cut or above ground and underground.

Above ground heavy equipment operators use excavating, loading machines and draglines equipped with scoops, shovels, or buckets to dig and load sand, gravel, earth, or similar materials into trucks or onto conveyors. This is a job that is open to the extremes of weather. Most workers are employed on 8 hour shifts, sometimes around the clock, seven days per week.

Underground heavy equipment operators use underground loading machines to load coal, ore, or rock into shuttles and mine cars or onto conveyors. Loading equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scrapers or scoops, and machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyors. Whilst underground miners are protected from weather extremes, there is added danger being underground. As with above ground workers, most shifts are 8 hours although it is not uncommon to work rotating seven day shifts around the clock.

These are challenging jobs and whilst the remuneration is not terrific, the wages are reasonable. There is a constant need for heavy equipment operators in the mining industry, particularly underground due to the transient nature of many of the workers.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can help you gain the skills required to operate heavy equipment in the mining sector.

The mining industry, particularly the large open cut mines and quarries are always on the lookout for heavy equipment operators. The work is hard and often involves rotating shifts. There are many mines that operate 24 hours a day seven days a week.

Whilst the hours are long, and the locations sometimes remote, the pay is excellent. Because the locations are reasonably remote, the opportunity to save is good and many young operators start of in the mines where they can save their income and buy their heavy equipment machine to start their own business.

If you don’t mind working in the heat (or cold), the dust (and sometimes mud), in remote locations then starting your heavy equipment career in the mining industry could be for you. The compensation in dollar terms is certainly attractive.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide the training to get you started in a mining career. Check out the free online training to see if you’re ready to start an exciting career in heavy equipment.

Selecting a career and paying for training can be a big step for many individuals, particularly if you have a few doubts about the career itself, or your abilities to succeed. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools recognize this situation so they have put together some in depth information pages and a free online training program.

The information pages provide all the information required to determine if this is the career for you. Information includes the types of jobs that a heavy equipment operator could be expected to do, the working conditions and the job prospects.

The free training program takes you through the basic operations of a range of heavy equipment including motor graders, backhoes, bulldozers and excavators. There are seven different types of machine used in the training.

By working your way through each of the modules you can gain an understanding of the the work expected of each operator. After you have completed this basic training, you will be in a much better position to analyze your own capabilities and determine which heavy equipment is suited to your skills and learning abilities. You can then concentrate on learning all about those particular machines.

A career in heavy equipment can be very rewarding with job opportunities opening up no only around the country, but also around the world. Take the first step and try the free training – it’s free so you have nothing to lose except a little time. You never know, it may open the door on a whole new career.

Heavy equipment is often thought of as big bulldozers or motor graders, however the term could be applied to a variety of different machines. The backhoe loader is just one of them.

Backhoe loaders are very versatile machines and can be found on many construction sites. Despite their size, they play many roles and can be used to dig, to load and to carry items. Backhoe loaders are two-faced mini beasts. I call them mini as some can be dwarf when compared to heavy equipment like a bullbozer. The backhoe loader has a small digging (or backhoe) bucket at one end that is often used for digging holes and trenches. At the other end is a wider bucket that can be used to carry items or to load materials onto trucks.

Compared to heavy equipment like excavators or bulldozers, backhoe loaders are more compact and easy to handle on a construction site. Being wheeled, their travel speed allows them to be taken on the road instead of having to be loaded onto a trailer for transport.

Having both the backhoe and loader function on one piece of equipment is very convenient and a time saver. The operator can dig and load without having to switch from one piece of equipment to another. Heavy equipment training provides the skills required to operate a backhoe loader.

If you fancy yourself as a backhoe loader operator then consider ATS Heavy Equipment Training School for the best in heavy equipment training.

Having spent the week reviewing the latest Department of Labor stats on the future of employment in the heavy equipment industry, perhaps it’s time to review how we can help you get started into a great career as a heavy equipment operator.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have their own job placement assistance service for anyone wanting to start a career in the industry. There are hundreds of employers in the database all wanting to employ trained and competent heavy equipment operators.

Through the database you can locate employers in specific geographical locations throughout the United States. The goal is to assist our graduates in finding employment opportunities.

Each campus has a job placement assistance director. Their role is:

Your campus has a job placement assistance director that you can talk to about job placement. From the very first day the School will emphasize job placement assistance as a cooperative effort where the School and the student work together to achieve a common goal: SUCCESSFUL JOB PLACEMENT.

Our assistance commences during your first week of training and continues until you are successfully places. We also follow up to ensure that everyone is happy with the job placement.

The heavy equipment field is strong and growing and requires freshly trained recruits to add the work pool. You can get your start to a career by contacting ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

Heavy equipment is normally associated with construction and often with just land clearing and road building. There are however many other areas where heavy equipment operators are required. These include farms, forestry, mining and cargo ports.

The Department of Labor is expecting strong growth in the requirement for heavy equipment operators in these areas. Growth ranges from a strong 10% in mining to 4% in forestry with farming and cargo around the 7%.

Wages in these occupations range from around the $11 for rural/farming occupations to $18 for crane operators working in our ports.

Truck haulage is expect to rise significantly as the cost of fuel impacts on the airline industry. Growth is difficult to asses given the option of rail versus road. If road continues to expand then employment growth to reach 12-13% in coming years.

Wages for truck drivers vary greatly with local drivers receiving a little over $15 per hour. Long distance drivers are being paid per trip rather than per hour and wages vary according to the distance traveled.

As we have seen with this weeks posts, the requirement for heavy equipment operators is growing strongly in all sectors of our economy. The wages are also growing at a rate comparable to inflation with conditions for workers improving all the time.

Given the new technology and ability of employers to do more with less, the increase in labor in these sectors is significant. Economic downturn normally calls for cuts in the workforce. This is not so in the heavy equipment skills area.

To join the heavy equipment work force you need the appropriate skills. We keep pace with modern trends and employer requirements and offer training that is relevant to these needs. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools would be happy to discuss your training needs and provide you with the opportunity to kick start you career.

If you are in the heavy equipment operator sector then your paychecks are growing quite strongly as the demand for your skills grows.

Latest figures from the Department of Labor show the median hourly rate for heavy equipment operators at $17.74 with some as high as $23.98. These rates were for those in the construction industry. Sector breakdowns are as follows:

Highway, street, and bridge construction $19.88
Utility system construction $18.62
Other specialty trade contractors $18.00
Other heavy and civil engineering construction $17.63
Local government $15.95

Heavy equipment operators in the paving, surfacing, and tamping areas received a slightly lower median of $15.05 with some earning as high as $19.71. Sector breakdowns:

Other specialty trade contractors $15.26
Highway, street, and bridge construction 15.11
Local government 14.86

Median hourly earnings of wage and salary piledriver operators were $22.20 with a top rate of $31.65. Sector breakdowns:

Other heavy and civil engineering construction $28.60
Highway, street, and bridge construction 22.50
Other specialty trade contractors 20.60
Utility system construction 18.62

Compared to many other industries the growth in paychecks for heavy equipment operators is still strong and growing annually.

Tomorrows post will look at other heavy equipment sectors such as mining and forestry. Careers in the heavy equipment sector are strong so if you are looking for a start – visit ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

If you are looking for a career in the heavy equipment industry then you have chosen the correct career path.

According to the Department of Labor’s employment statistics, employment in the heavy equipment field should grow by at least 8% – this is despite increased productivity levels being achieved using modern technology.

The department reported:

[source]More piledriver operators will be needed …
…More paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators will be needed ….
…Job opportunities for construction equipment operators are expected to be very good….

In addition, many job openings will arise from job growth and from the need to replace experienced construction equipment operators who transfer to other occupations, retire, or leave the job for other reasons. Construction equipment operators who can use a large variety of equipment will have the best prospects. Operators with pipeline experience will have especially good opportunities.

The department also feels it will it easier for willing workers to get heavy equipment operator jobs. What is required is for operators to have training relevant to the needs of employers with employers willing to continue on the job training.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide effective training to meet the needs of employers. We also have a job placement service to help freshly trained operators gain the experience required to move onto more demanding task.