Reports have indicated that there were 4,000 construction jobs added during May 2019. The Associated General Contractors of America reported that during the last 12 months there has been a 3 percent increase, which totals 215,000 new jobs. That is a significant construction jobs increase.

The number of those in the construction industry looking for employment is at a record low. The lowered unemployment rate and the increase in jobs are being credited to a tight job market instead of a decrease in projects. Many experts expect the trend to continue.

According to the Association, the construction industry’s unemployment rate is even lower than the unemployment rate throughout the country overall. While the average salary in the construction industry is 10 percent greater than employment in the private sector, the number of openings for workers in the construction field continues to climb.

Looking At Unemployment Rates

In May 2018, the construction industry had an unemployment rate of 4.4 percent. One year later – in May 2019 – the unemployment rate for the industry had dropped to 3.2 percent. Looking at the numbers, that is a drop from 415,000 to 294,000 construction workers. Both the unemployment rate and the actual number of unemployed construction workers were at their lowest since 2000.

A government report indicated that in April 2019 there were 360,000 construction job openings in April 2019. That figure was the highest in the last 19 years of recordkeeping for that specific detail. The average hourly rate in the construction industry is $30.68, and that amount is about 10 percent higher than the average rate of $27.83 in the private sector.

Since there is a limited number of workers available, many companies offer construction workers better benefits and are increasing pay rates. More construction companies are working diligently to recruit the most experienced and better-trained workers to fill any open positions.

Getting The Right Training

If you are interested in a construction career, you should get the proper training so you can be prepared for the job. Associated Training Services (ATS) offers a variety of hands-on training programs. Call us today to learn how we can help you get on track to a new career.

When it comes to crushed stone or earthmoving services in the vicinity of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, Hammersley Stone has become a trusted name. For more than half a century, Hammersley Stone has provided first-rate services. As a member of the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association, Hammersley Stone is a full-service contractor that can take care of a variety of needs for builders, contractors, and property owners.

Here are a few of the things that Hammersley can do to help with a building project:

• Site grading
• Land development
• Street and road construction
• Site development
• Sewer, water, and septic systems
• Building excavation
• Backfill
• Concrete and asphalt recycling
• Portable screening
• Screened topsoil
• Onsite rock crushing
• Building demolition
• Railroad rehabilitation
• Sand and crushed limestone
• Rock excavation
• Parking lots and driveway prep and building
• Paths and trails

Taking the time to sit down with the client to better understand the needs of the project as well as customer expectations, the Hammersley Stone team will go a step above and beyond to ensure all needs and expectations are met.

Crushed Products and Materials

Offering a variety of crushed products and fill materials that can be used for a variety of projects and to help with various construction needs, Hammersley can help with different kinds of project needs. Here are a few of the available materials:

• Crushed limestone products
• Crushed sandstone products
• Recycled materials, including those from recycled concrete and asphalt
• Topsoil
• Fill materials

Hammersley will also take recyclable materials and crush them for reuse, such as clean concrete and clean asphalt. These products are used for road bases, driveways, parking lots, retaining walls, and more.

Trust in Hammersley Stone

Hammersley Stone is a name you can trust for your project. They definitely believe in putting customers first, so they deserve a 5-star rating on all levels. They stick by their word and believe in customer satisfaction.

If you are looking for a dependable contractor to help you with your land moving needs or to provide crushed products or materials for your projects, call Hammersley Stone at (608) 845-7804 to get a free estimate for your project specifications.

A rock quarry is a place where minerals, sand, and rocks are extracted from the earth’s surface. An open-pit mine a rock quarry is open to the earth’s surface. Quarries are used to provide landscaping materials and construction materials. Rock quarries have varying lifespans, and the materials can be depleted in as few as 5 years, or they could last for as long as 50 years.

Rock Quarry Equipment

Many kinds of heavy equipment are used in a rock quarry to remove rocks and minerals. Stripping and drilling equipment is used to remove the material between the materials being extracted and the surface. Usually, large-scale bulldozers, which are called crawler tractors, are used. Blasting with explosives is often necessary. The crawler tractors can remove large amounts of dirt by using front-mounted blades and rear-mounted ripper arms.

Wheel loaders have hydraulic buckets and arms that can load the dirt that the crawler tractors move. These massive loaders have a bucket with a capacity of as much as 35 tons. These loaders are used for loading rocks and minerals into rock trucks, which then transport the goods to be processed. Rock trucks are huge trucks that are used to haul the excess dirt that is moved so the rock can be extracted. These trucks can have engines with up to 3,500 horsepower and can haul up to 3,600 tons. They can haul a lot of material in a short timeframe.

Crushers are used to turn large rocks into small stones. These are powerful machines that have fixed steel plates, vibrators, and jaws so they can crush material from the trucks and turn it into the finished product that is sold to customers. These crushers can be adjusted to produce gravel and stone of different sizes and weights, depending on the needs of the client base. After the crushing has been completed, smaller-scale yard loaders will take the product and create smaller stockpiles, where customers will then come pick it up.

The Proper Training

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator School trains individuals to operate all kinds of heavy equipment so they can pursue careers working in a rock quarry. To learn more about the programs available at Associated Training Services, call (800) 383-7364 today.

Heavy equipment operators are always needed, but those who can operate cranes and other heavy equipment for the oil industry are in great demand. While many heavy equipment operators work a 40-hour week, those who work in the gas and oil industry often must work overtime and rotating shifts.

Those who work in the oil industry might have to work during inclement weather and can expect to be in a remote, noisy, dusty, and dirty work environment. To get a job working with heavy equipment, you must have undergone the proper training and you will need to take all the necessary safety precautions. You will need to wear protective gear that includes steel-toe boots, gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, and hearing protection.

Heavy Equipment Operators in the Oil and Gas Industry

Heavy equipment operators operate different kinds of heavy equipment to grade, excavate, and landscape earth or move equipment and materials. Heavy equipment is needed in the oil and gas industry to maintain roads to oilfields, pipeline right-of-ways, and wellpads while also helping with the mining and reclamation of oil sands.

While there are some heavy equipment operators who can handle several different kinds of equipment, there are those who specialize and focus on one specific machine. Here are some of the typical heavy equipment roles in the oil industry and gas industry:

• Bulldozer operators
• Backhoe operators
• Excavators
• Front-end loaders
• Power shovel operators
• Grader operators
• Heavy haul truckers
• Motor scrapers
• Buggy operators

Those who operate heavy equipment in the oil industry and gas industries are usually responsible for lubricating, refilling fluids, cleaning and maintaining the equipment, and conducting pre-operational inspections on the equipment. Also, some employers may expect heavy equipment operators to perform minor repairs on the equipment they operate.

Training and Experience

To operate heavy machinery in the oil industry and gas industry, the individual must have the proper training. That means you will need to have a high school diploma and heavy equipment operating courses along with on-the-job training. ATS operates a heavy equipment operator training school. To learn more, call (800) 383-7464.

If you are interested in operating heavy equipment, you might want to train to get a job working with the railroads. A railroad crane, which is sometimes called a crane car or wrecker, is a kind of crane that is used for working on railroads for three different purposes.

Here are reasons railroad cranes are used:

• Freight handling
• Permanent way maintenance
• Accident recovery work

While the crane’s design might differ based on the kind of work it will be used for, it will have the same basic configuration. They are designed with a rotating body that is mounted onto a chassis that has flanged wheels. The body will support the boom and has the mechanisms used for operating and lifting. Most larger cranes will have a cabin for the operator.

A coupling gear is fitted onto the chassis so a locomotive can move the crane, but many cranes are self-propelled so they can somewhat move around the job site. If the crane has a jib that is larger and extends beyond the chassis length, a boom car will be provided to protect the jib and to let the crane be coupled within the train. A boom car is a flat wagon that allows the jib to be secured for transport. It often has storage areas for supplies and special equipment.

Operating Crane on Railroads

Operating a railroad crane requires special skills and training. The operator must understand the operations process and all the safety techniques because the equipment will be used for detailed jobs in tight spaces. And, if the job isn’t done correctly, it could put many lives on the line and millions of dollars of equipment at risk.

Railroad cranes have capacities ranging from 15 tons to 250 tons. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets requirements and standards regarding railroad crane operation. If you are interested in a career in railroads as a crane operator, you will need to get the proper training and certifications so you can adhere to the standards established by OSHA.

Associated Training Services (ATS) offers a heavy equipment training school that teaches students how to use cranes, including those used by railroad companies. To learn more about the programs available, call (800) 383-7364 today!

Snow removal can be a lucrative business during the winter months. Many landscaping and construction companies offer snow removal services to keep the cash coming in and employees working during the off-season when construction slowdowns occur. Snow can present hazards that are very different than those encountered on the traditional construction site.

Safety should be a significant concern when you add snow removal to the services offered by your business. Professional snow removal takes much more than just a snow plow. Here are some of the different kinds of heavy equipment used for the snow removal process:

• Heavy-duty snow blades
• Power plows
• Box plows
• Skid steer snow blower
• Oscillating snow push
• Snow plow attachments
• Clamp-on snow blades
• Snowblower attachments
• Graders

Before the snowfall, make sure you have your equipment and trucks ready. You want to make sure your snow plows and trucks are set up for safety. That means you will need to make sure you strobe lights or flashing lights because visibility is lower even in daylight hours when it is snowing. You want to stand out to get noticed when you are driving around in the snow and plowing parking lots.

Make sure all employees have undergone the proper training. Safe drivers are much more likely to take better care of the equipment. You are most likely using the trucks year-round for all kinds of projects, so you don’t want them to be damaged while working in the winter weather and removing snow. Make sure your staff can drive safely in the snow and ice and be sure you put snow tires on your trucks before sending them out.

Remember that even the safest driver can have an accident and there are going to be less-experienced drivers out there in the snow as well. Be sure you have the right insurance coverage for your snow removal operations. Make sure you have bodily injury and property damage liability, collision and comprehensive, uninsured motorists’ bodily injury and property damage, and equipment coverage. Also, check local and state laws regarding operating such a business.

What is the Purpose of Directional Drilling

Being able to lay pipes, conduits, and other underground connectivity without digging trenches has transformed how we approach many projects, and the directional drilling that enables it has rapidly grown in popularity with both clients and contractors as a result. As the technology has been refined, many projects have been completed that would have been impossible without the use of the direct drilling technology, however for those interested in just how it has changed construction, it is by understanding how the technology works on site, and what it allows construction teams to do, that is key.

A good example of the progress directional drilling has allowed can be seen in a recent project that involved a gas pipe crossing the Delaware River, and not only that but also a railroad line as well. Before directional drilling this project would have been incredibly challenging, disrupting the railroad operation, but with directional drilling, this could all be avoided.

Starting on one side of the crossing, the directional drilling machine began drilling the channel to the depth required and was then able to create the underground tunnel, going under both the river and railroad, to emerge where required. With over 8,000 feet of 24-inch steep piping installed, this was a huge undertaking that was completed on time and with no disruption to any railroad operation, something that would be impossible with any other installation process.

While the ability to install underground pipework without digging large channels saves money and time, and directional drilling is rightly praised for that, it is the ability to install piping and other underground equipment without disturbing the surrounding environment that is perhaps the most important aspect. Here it was a busy working railroad, in other projects, notably the rollout of new fiber broadband equipment by both Comcast and Google, it is the ability to install conduit without any disruption to a pavement, road, business, home, or anything else that not only makes directional drilling so valuable, but that enables projects to be carried out when previously you would see public opposition due to the levels of disruption proposed.

In that way, directional drilling is not just cost-efficient and time-saving, but it also enables projects that might otherwise be impractical or be delayed for years due to legal challenges. As more projects adopt drilling to avoid extensive excavation, the need for skilled directional drilling machine operators grows with it, and this has become one of the most in-demand skill sets in construction today.

Whatever career you are looking at within the heavy machinery or trucking industry, whether crane operator, haul truck driver, or something else, the journey begins with high-quality training and national credentials. Here is where you hone your skills, in the classroom and on-site, to be able to operate in a safe, effective manner, enabling any student to build a successful career with in-demand skills.

However, there are a lot of choices when it comes to training, and finding the right course can be a little overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be though if you know what to look for. Quality tuition is a must, delivered by industry experts through engaging classroom content and practical, onsite experience that prepares students for all aspects of the job. It is this in-depth understanding of the job and its requirements, along with the practical experience that only hands-on instruction can provide, which gives students the confidence to take on the responsibilities and succeed in their chosen careers.

But having all of that skill and understanding is only of use if employers understand that you have them. In this competitive industry, having the right skills is essential to land that job, especially when first starting out.  That is why our training courses deliver nationally recognized credentials, from the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).

Our crane operator examinations are all NCCCO certified, with both written and practical tests, and this combination of NCCER and NCCCO recognition provides a solid base of national recognition for our students. Not only does it guarantee the quality of instruction, but ensures that every student’s achievements and abilities are acknowledged countrywide, by employers, regulators, and others throughout their career. For any student looking to build a career as a crane operator, this should be an essential part of any course you look at.

It’s that time of year again, to prepare for winter road work. Winter is here for most states or is fast approaching for others, the weather is getting colder and the possibility of snow is rising every day in many parts of the country. So, what does your state government do to prepare for the winter, especially in those places where mountains of snow need to be cleared every week?

They obviously need to collect the equipment and materials needed in central compounds, ready to be deployed, which means snowplows, trucks, and other heavy equipment of course, along with the materials they use. It can vary from state to state, depending on how severe the winter is expected to be, but in general, there are two treatments for roads to protect from ice and snow.

The first is for anti-icing, which is to stop ice buildup on the roads, to begin with. Here, they use a liquid solution to lower the temperature at that water freezes and stops snow and ice from sticking to the road and pavement surfaces. You may be used to salt being the anti-ice solution, but high winds can blow salt off the road before the snow turns up, or the way salt is applied leads to it bouncing everywhere, often way from the road surface, losing its effectiveness. Instead, the liquid solution, usually liquid brine, stays where it is sprayed, so less waste and it works better. In the very cold temperatures of some states, they use liquid magnesium chloride instead, which is more expensive but remains effective at much lower temperatures.

During a snowstorm, and afterward, the process used is de-icing, and here is where snowplows are used to clear the surface snow and ice, while further de-icing materials are used to loosen the grip of the snow and ice on the road surface, for this rock salt is an economical and effective material to use. This combination of de-icing material and the snowplows and dump trucks can usually clear roads fairly quickly and get people on the move again.

So, to prepare, states and counties assemble their liquid brine, rock salt, spray trucks, and snowplows in strategic locations around the road network, ready to be deployed as needed but to be effective, they really need to apply the anti-icing measures before the storm arrives. To do that, they use the highly accurate national weather service forecasts, helping them to see storms coming and then, as they move closer, to track in real time via satellite. This ensures the heavy machinery operators know when and where treatments need to be applied for the best results.

Next time the snow starts to fall, think about the work, machinery, and manpower that is behind the efforts to keep your roads clear. For machinery operators, whether that is a snowplow, or spray truck putting the de-icing or anti-icing treatment down, this is one contract where a job well done can make a difference to thousands of people the very next day.

All over the country, there is an increased demand for horizontal drilling construction involving buried pipes, cables, and fiber optics, largely driven by the importance of internet connections to everyday life, be that for work or at home. Once, that involved digging big trenches right along roads and paths, laying the cables, and then filling them back in, but today you will rarely see that kind of construction. So, how do they install all these underground pipes and cables without any trenches? The answer to that is horizontal directional drilling or HDD.

It is a simple idea but took technology a while to catch up and be able to accomplish it, but the basic operation involves digging an entrance pit, a single hole that is there to catch drill water, and then simply drilling horizontally along the required path at the correct depth from there. The drilling machines involved are complex and can drill as much as 1000 feet underground, requiring skillful control and situational awareness from the operator.

As you can imagine, the ability to lay cables and other communication equipment below ground without disturbing the surface is incredibly useful, especially in cities and towns, where using this approach means no more roadworks, traffic disruption, and so on. It is not just there, any location near rivers and other obstructions where excavation simply is not practical also benefits, saving time and money for the contractor and often making otherwise impossible projects viable. With an almost limitless demand for new communication options as well, the two together make this the fastest-growing method for utilities, the communications industry, and municipalities in the country.

Why is this important to know? Because it really is the fastest-growing equipment used in the industry today, and that means skilled horizontal drill operators are in high demand. As you know, high-demand jobs pay well, and with an ever-changing work environment and on-site teamwork required, it is also an interesting and enjoyable career too. Here at ATS, we offer a Directional Drill Training Program that provides the knowledge, experienced staff, and curricula needed to deliver highly skilled drill operators for any organization.

Using a combination of hands-on experience with real equipment and classroom theory work, our comprehensive course and dedicated instructors help trainees not only learn the skills and knowledge needed to operate horizontal drilling equipment effectively but to operate safely and efficiently on-site. The intention is to ensure that every attendee leaves the course completely capable of operating the equipment skillfully and safely at all times, with a good understanding of both overground and underground operations and maintenance.

The course covers all aspects of horizontal drill operation, including safety, general maintenance, pre-planning, field operation, drilling fluids, downhole tools, and electronics, providing a complete understanding of HDD operations. With such demand all over the country, this is a valuable opportunity for those looking to expand their skill set or to enhance existing knowledge. With HDD only increasing in use, the skills this course provides offer real opportunities in the construction industry today.