You can gain experience and a variable range of training by simply doing – that is – borrowing a piece of heavy equipment and practicing, perhaps with an old hand showing you some of the ropes. There are even employers who may be willing to employ you based on that experience, the number is reducing every year however.

Gaining certification through format training is not exactly ‘cheap’ – but then you don’t want anything that is ‘cheap’ these days. The old saying ‘cheap and nasty’ often holds true and it can be particularly true when it comes to training. Having said that, training is not overly expensive, not when you consider what you are getting in return for your dollars.

Certification is virtually a life long qualification. Sure, there are some jobs or industries where you have to keep up to date with the latest techniques and safety rules. There are some areas that require at the very least license renewals (CDL truck licenses for example), however the training and original certification are still valid.

The cost of your training and certification should then be considered an investment – an investment in your future. You will always find employment in the heavy equipment field – it’s simply a matter of maintaining your skill levels and experience.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can provide you with quality training in heavy equipment, cranes and truck driving. Training is done to nationally accredited standards and certifications issued are also to nationally accredited standards. Invest in your future with a well paying career in heavy equipment operations, crane operations or truck driving. You will never regret your investment.

As a general rule, the machinery that forms the category of heavy equipment is pretty hardy. They are tough beasts and afraid of no one and nothing – except perhaps the bitterly cold temperatures that have invaded us.

Nearly all heavy equipment machinery come with one similarity – they run on diesel. Diesel is a fuel that provides plenty of grunt for machinery and trucks alike, it also has one bad habit. As the temperature drops, the wax naturally found in diesel fuel begins to form crystals. These crystals can, and often do, clog the fuel filter eventually starving the engine of fuel and causing it to stall – if it starts in the first place.

The point at which wax crystals form in diesel fuel is known as the cloud point. As the fuel gets colder beyond that cloud point, more and more wax crystals form. As a heavy equipment operator, do you know at what temperature your fuel will form these crystals? Do you know how to fix the problem, or better yet, how to avoid it?

As you learn how to operate heavy equipment you start to get a feel for the engine and how it is performing. You also learn to trust certain fuel additives that help prevent these problems, in this case, additives that dissolve the wax crystals as they form, or prevent them forming in the first place. The last thing you need is to have your machine towed to a workshop to have the filter replaced and the lines cleaned out. Down time costs money.

You would be surprised at all the little things you need to learn to become a top class heavy equipment operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can get you started on a career as an operator through their first class training programs.

Just like us, heavy equipment doesn’t always appreciate the cold. There are some tricks to avoiding costly problems – if you’re really interested, ask one of our trainers when you start your training.

Some of the best paid careers in the construction industry is that of the heavy equipment operators. The classification of heavy equipment is broad and ranges from the enormous cranes and mining machines such as excavators to the small backyard skip loaders and backhoes.

In between is a broad range of equipment, all waiting for qualified operators and all paying well. The key to a success career in heavy equipment is in the word ‘qualified’. For example, crane operators need certification in many states. Heavy equipment truck drivers require their CDL, and most employers now want to see some form of accredited training for operators of graders, excavators or bulldozers.

Gaining the qualification is not that difficult. You can normally get qualified in as little as three weeks, depending on the level of qualification you are trying to achieve. For external qualifications such as your CDL, the end result will depend on how well you do during the assessment. Heavy equipment training can provide you with all the skills, how you implement them is up to you.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools deliver accredited training in a wide variety of equipment including cranes, trucks, bulldozers, front end loaders, graders and excavators. Since the training is nationally accredited, your training and certification will be recognized in all states. Your qualification may be recognized internationally as well although local licensing laws may apply.

Check out the videos online to see if this is the career for you. There are employers with well payed positions waiting for the right person to complete their training. Is that person you?

Many training schools go through a process of accreditation before delivering training programs. The heavy equipment training industry is no different. Some people ask whether or not accreditation really means anything and if it does, how does it benefit a student?

Accreditation is a process of checking to see whether or not a training school delivers training to a recognized curriculum. By using a set curriculum employers know exactly what areas have been covered in the training. In fact, it is those same employers that are often asked for input when a standard curriculum is being designed – after all, they are the employers, they know what skills they require from new heavy equipment graduates.

Training schools that are accredited are often able to deliver training programs under government funded programs. For example, ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are accredited through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). How does this benefit the student? Successful students are Nationally Certified by NCCER and receive certifications and credentials from NCCER for any of the accredited training programs.

Furthermore, we are currently certified as an eligible training provider under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) in most states. This designation allows us to participate in WIA funding programs administered by state’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD). If you are eligible, your heavy equipment training may be funded in part or completely by the government.

Some of our heavy equipment training schools are approved for the training of veterans under the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs. Students Eligible for Veterans Educational Benefits may use those benefits when attending these schools.

Once you have completed your training, the certificate you receive will be recognized in all states. This means you can seek employment in any state and be recognized as a qualified heavy equipment operator. Accreditation is important – it means your qualification is portable and recognized.

Learning to operate heavy equipment is not too difficult especially if you have good trainers with you. Hands on learning should be just that – hands on with you handling the controls. However there are sever different ways to undertake ‘hands on’ training.

In the ‘good old days’ hands on training was a case of, here are the keys, jump in and off you go. Some training establishment have a similar philosophy. The trainer stands on the ground yelling out instructions that you can hardly hear over the noise of the heavy equipment.

Other trainers will go through the basic controls in a classroom then expect you to remember them when you hop into the operators seat. Heavy equipment is more than just operating leavers. Where proficiency comes in is when you need to coordinate levers to maintain a smooth action.

The best trainers are the ones that hop into the cab with you and show you how to coordinate those levers. They watch and provide advice from alongside you. An experienced car driver can tell you a lot about the car and road, simply through the steering wheel and the foot pedals. The same is true of an experienced heavy equipment operator. They can tell you how hard the ground is; in fact some operators can tell you what type of earth you’re digging into from the feel of the controls.

Having one to one ‘hands on training’ provides the trainee with the best training experience possible. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools believe in providing their students with the best hands on experience possible. This includes having a qualified instructor in the cab with you to show you the way.

Don’t worry. Whilst having the instructor with you is a valuable training experience, you also get to fly solo, undertaking tasks using the skills developed to that time. If you are looking to be trained in heavy equipment then make sure the training is the very best possible, including guided and solo hands on training.

Many older heavy equipment operators seem to look down on heavy equipment training schools preferring operators that they themselves have taught. Fortunately those older operators are few and far between these days. Formal training is a must if you wish to have a successful long term career in the industry.

In some areas, you not only need formal training, you also need to pass tests and obtain formal licenses before you can commence work. Truck driving is a prime example. There are a few distinct benefits to receiving formal training. These include:

Safety. By going through an accredited training program, you will learn the various safety measures that must be under taken on different pieces of machinery. Even the simplest of machines can be dangerous if not operated correctly, in accordance with proper procedures, rules and regulations.

Employability. The best jobs will require accredited training otherwise the employer not even both interviewing you. Proper training in the different machinery opens a lot of doors.

Mobility. Those who have received training from a nationally accredited school will also generally receive job-placement assistance. Oftentimes this extends long after graduation.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools is a nationally accredited training provider. We also offer employment assistance to those that graduate from our training programs. If your looking for a career change then visit our site for all the information on accredited training.

2009 will be an interesting year for everyone. There has been so much doom and gloom on the financial markets that most people are looking to tighten their belts and hang on to their money. The various governments on the other hand are looking to open their wallets and spend up big, and they all hope we do the same. What’s in store for heavy equipment operators then if money is tight?

Employment prospects for heavy equipment operators are good. In fact you may even find there is a shortage of operators in some sectors. Truck drivers are always in heavy demand. We all eat and we all buy the basic necessities. In fact some areas of consumer spending will increase as we all decide to stay at home to eat and play.

Whilst home construction may fall in 2009, the reality is that there is not a huge call for heavy equipment operators. Sure, bulldozers may come in and level a building site, but on housing estates, that has often been done years in advance. Excavators, particularly the mini kind may find a small downturn. They are often employed to dig the trenches for service connections.

The real demand for heavy equipment operators is in the road building, mining, forestry and large building construction sectors. These will all see a rise in demand for operators. Roads are one area that governments throw money at when they want to spend.

With the price of commodities on the rise, the employment prospects for heavy equipment operators in mines will increase. The large building construction sector will also see a rise in demand for operators as again governments build new hospitals and schools.

2009 will be a good year for trained and qualified heavy equipment operators. If your thinking of taking up a career as a heavy equipment operator then enroll today. This is the last opportunity to take advantage of our training discount. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools start new training programs on a regular basis. Get in now and take advantage of the employment prospects for 2009.

If you have a son or daughter that has ambitions of being a heavy equipment operator then perhaps the perfect Christmas present is a training program offered by ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

Enrollment is quick and easy and can be done either by telephone (1.800.678.8120) or online. You can review the training program and course dates through the web site and view videos related to heavy equipment training. If your not quite ready to enroll then why not request a brochure and DVD – you can always throw it into their stocking for them to review.

If heavy equipment is not their main interest then perhaps crane operator or truck driving could be an option. If they are not sure of their capabilities then enroll them in the free online training program that provides an introduction into heavy equipment operations.

A training program may sound like a strange gift, however it is the kind of gift that will stay with them forever once they have completed the training. Heavy equipment operators are in high demand throughout the year no matter what the economy is doing.

Have you ever noticed those signs? They are still popping up around the country and there is one simple reason – we are still building and that means we need more heavy equipment operators.

Civil engineering companies always have a need for skilled heavy equipment operators. As with most workplaces, the more experience you have the more employable you are. However new operators can always find a place if they have had the right training.

Employers are becoming more discerning. Learning to operate heavy equipment from your father will no longer cut it. Employers are looking for heavy equipment operators that have been trained by professional trainers. Operators don’t just need the skills to operate the equipment, they also need to know the safety requirements that legislators have put in place.

Heavy equipment training should now be undertaken through accredited training providers such as ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools. Employers recognize the training provided by these establishments and often give preference to these graduates.

The industry needs new operators. If that is you – make sure you get the best training first to ensure your new career is successful.

Humans are so competitive. It doesn’t really matter what sort of work you do, there is always going to be some sort of competition and heavy equipment operators are no different. They have their own competitions to try and prove who is the best operator.

Most of the heavy equipment competitions involve precision. If your using a backhoe, how quickly can you dig a trench that is exactly four feet deep, four feet wide and twenty foot long – and as straight as possible? What about a front end loader, how quickly can you move a load of material from point A to point B leaving point A nice and clean the pile at point B neatly shaped. I could go on but I think you get the idea.

Precision is the key, however as heavy equipment operators become more proficient, speed has been added to the mix. These competitions have becomes very competitive and bring many spectators from outside the industry – why? It is actually a lot of fun watching these large machines go head to head in a race.

Believe it or not, the prizes for some of these competitions can be huge. There is a competition in the new year where first prize is a brand new excavator – now these machines are not cheap.

Of course, to compete at that level you need plenty of experience and before you can get that experience you need training. Get the best heavy equipment training to prepare you for work from the training provider that has all the experience and credentials – ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools. You may not win one of these competitions tomorrow – but we can get you started.