Are you a heavy equipment contractor? Do you employ heavy equipment operators? Have you considered encouraging your heavy equipment operators to gain a commercial drivers license? As a business owner, having employees that are multi-skilled makes a lot of sense and can, over time, save your business a lot of money.

The heavy equipment industry is a classic example of where multi-skilled employees can be a real boon. How many small jobs have you had over the past 12 months, is my next question. These are the jobs where you send out a piece of heavy equipment to do a job and then retrieve it at the end of the day, or at some stage during the day, with the job done. For most contractors, they load up the trailer and have it driven to the work-site then the tractor and trailer (sometimes only the tractor) return to base only to have to go back out at the end of the day.

This takes two employees, one for the tractor trailer and one to operate the heavy equipment. It also means a heavier use of fuel with an extra return trip added to the job. If your heavy equipment operators have their commercial drivers licenses, you can send them out with the tractor, trailer and equipment and they can return when the job has been completed. There is no waiting around, only a single employer required, and a significant saving in fuel – all costs that affect your bottom line.

In fact, the amount of money saved over a twelve month period could well truly cover the cost of training. As an employer, you could sponsor the training of your employees and still show an increase in profits at the end of the year. Training through Associated Training Services only takes three weeks – three weeks that could significantly boost your bottom line.

There has been a lot of talk recently about how the construction industry has held together despite the recession. In fact, the recession has probably helped it out considering all the money that has been thrown into thousands of programs around the country. The silent winners have been the truck drivers.

Truck driving is one of those skills and qualifications that a lot of people take for granted. Yet, without truck drivers, the heavy equipment required for these projects would still be sitting idle in the contractor’s yards. It’s not just the heavy equipment either. These projects require building materials and often need to have rock and debris removed before work can start.

Work as a truck driver covers a broad spectrum of jobs. You could be a heavy equipment hauler; perhaps a dump truck driver; or a truck delivering building materials. These are all jobs that are essential to any construction project thus making truck drivers valuable members of any construction team.

Learning to become a truck driver is not difficult. It only takes a few weeks and you have the skills required. The hardest component is passing the test to qualify for a commercial drivers license. Pass this test and you’re officially a truck driver. It is then up to you to decide in which area you want to specialize.

ATS has been teaching people to drive trucks for over 25 years. We have a great track record for delivering truck driver training that enables most students to qualify for their CDL at their first attempt. Are you a truck driver in the making? The nation’s heavy equipment needs people with good truck driving skills to move that equipment from job to job.

It’s a play on words I know, but a commercial drivers license does offer a degree of employment security no matter what the climate; political, economic, or atmospheric. Even in tough times, such as the one we have just been through, truck drivers were still in demand. It’s a basic need – we have to eat and our food arrives in the supermarkets on trucks. In fact, from farm gate to supermarkets, trucks are the one common factor.

Truck drivers can work in a variety of occupations. There are the long distance interstate drivers. They almost live in their cabs being away from home for days at a time. If long distance is not for you, there are the short haul drivers who drive, generally speaking, intrastate. They generally spend no more than one night away from home depending on which states they operate in and what types of loads they carry.

The most popular form of truck driver is the local driver. They work within a town or city and spend almost every night in their own beds. These are the truck drivers you see on our local roads every day. They deliver food items, building supplies and short haul products if the town is a major sea or rail hub.

Training for a commercial drivers license is not as arduous as many think. A truck driver training program takes around three weeks. This should include as much time as possible behind the wheel gaining driving skills. Once you have gained the skills required, it is simply a matter of undertaking a testing session through your state licensing authority. If you pass these tests, your commercial drivers license is issued and you are ready to seek work as a truck driver. No matter what the climate is – you’ll almost always find employment opportunities.

If you have ever thought about a truck driving career then now is certainly a good time to give it some more thought. Our economy is still shaky yet the demand for truck drivers is going up. Once our economy returns to some normality it is predicted we will be short of competent and experienced truck drivers. Gaining your commercial driver license now, and then getting what ever experience you can on a variety of different trucks will see you well set up for the boom.

Taking on a truck driving career is not that difficult. Three weeks of training through the ATS Truck Driving School will see you well prepared to take on the commercial drivers license test. Pass the test and you will receive your license. That’s it. Of course, the three weeks of truck driver training are fairly intense and cover behind the wheel areas such as:

• tractor-trailer reversing
• driving in traffic
• safe braking and braking distances

This is hands on training, not sitting in a class room being told how to do it, or sitting in the passenger seat watching someone else doing it. This is you do the driving; you learning the skills; and you gaining the experience. In fact, when it comes to training, it’s all about you succeeding. You see, we don’t consider ourselves successful until we see you being successful.

Our approach of the last 45 years of successful training is to focus on the needs of industry and to then provide industry with drivers that are ready to meet those needs. In short, we train you to be successful at truck driving because you gain the skills that employers are looking for. Are you ready to take part in the next boom in truck driving careers?

If you’re interested in a career as a truck driver then your first move has to be to acquire a commercial drivers license or CDL. Without this license, you cannot legally drive a truck on a public road. Your next question is probably, “How long and how many hours of truck driving do I need”. The answer may well surprise you.

For those diligent and able to grasp driving concepts quickly, you can complete your truck driver training program in as little as three weeks. Through ATS Truck Driving School we provide you with both the hands-on behind-the-wheel training as well as the classroom training in road rules and other relevant material. Once you have completed your training, you will be ready to pass your CDL tests and be qualified to drive trucks on the open roads.

We don’t miss anything with our training. Reversing in articulated vehicles can be difficult but we spend time training you on how to do it and then give you time to practice the maneuver. You also get time driving on the open road so you get a feel for what it is like having traffic around you. Driving tips like safe breaking are also part of your training.

At ATS we have a long a proud record for training truck drivers. Our drivers work in a wide range of industries including construction, excavation, road building, sand and gravel and the mining industry. In fact, if you can think of a truck driving job, I am sure there will be an ATS graduate somewhere driving a truck in that job. If you’re interested in a career as a truck driver, contact us for more information on how you can complete a truck driver training program in as little as three week.

With a commercial drivers license you open the door to a lot more opportunities. We are not talking about being a truck driver here although it does of course involve driving trucks. I am looking more at those who have careers in heavy equipment operations like operating a bulldozer or excavator. At present, if a bulldozer is required on a site somewhere, it takes it two operators to complete the job – one to drive the bulldozer to the site and one to operate the bulldozer.

How many employers would jump at the chance of employing one person to do both jobs? There are a lot of employers that would grab the opportunity at present, particularly if they are taking contracts for land clearing type jobs where only one piece of equipment is needed. The operator takes the equipment out to the site, does a days work then drives the truck back to base. The truck is then free for other jobs. The operator uses their vehicle to get to the site then.

Once the job is almost complete, the operator takes the truck back, finishes the work then takes the whole lot back to base. Job done and only one operator required. The saving in wages for that employer can be huge if spread over several pieces of machinery.

If you are one of those operators that is also holding a commercial drivers license, you are more likely to be employed these days than someone who doesn’t have their CDL. Obtaining your CDL only takes three weeks of training through ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. The training is followed by a licensing test carried out by your state licensing authority. Once licensed, you can have a greater say in where and for whom you are going to work – that has to be good.

It seems that in some parts of the country there are plenty of trucks but few truck drivers to drive them. Truck driving as a career choice has been waning in recent years and this is leading to shortages of skilled drivers. There are many reasons for the loss in popularity – one reason being touted is our education system.

For once, the education system is being blamed for doing too good a job. Our youth are staying at school longer with more and more attending college each year. With college degrees behind them, truck driving is the last thing on their minds. While our youth may not find driving a truck interesting, there are many in the 25-45 year age groups that are considering career changes. While our education system is pumping well educated individuals, it hasn’t made life any better. There are many now who are turning their backs on their degrees and looking for jobs that offer more in the way of interest.

Truck driving certainly has a lot to offer. It pays reasonably well, offers plenty of variety, and is a skill that can be picked up quite quickly. At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools, we offer a combined hands on and in class truck driver training program that can have you driving a truck in as little as three weeks. Once you complete your training, it’s simply a matter of obtaining your commercial drivers license and you’re ready for the road. Don’t worry, we train you in everything necessary to obtain that license. If you’re considering a career change – consider truck driving – it’s a choice you won’t regret.

If there is one occupation that remains in demand even through hard times, it has to be that of a truck driver. Obtaining a commercial drivers license (CDL) is one of the things that I recommend for all, particularly those wanting to get into the building, mining or forestry industries. Having that one license adds that versatility to your career that many employers are seeking.

I have often mentioned the success that many heavy equipment operators have if they also have a CDL. It runs true through many industries. You may be working as a lowly warehouse person, but having that CDL and the skill of driving a truck means you can be called upon when necessary, even if it’s just to move a truck out of the loading dock so another can take its place.

Truck drivers are always in demand. It does depend on whether or not you specialize, of course. Sometimes it’s the big rig or interstate drivers that are in demand and sometimes it’s local haulers, those that deliver within a town, or to nearby towns. The increase in funding to the construction industry last year saw a large jump in demand for heavy equipment operators. What went largely unnoticed was the jump in demand for truck drivers capable of hauling heavy equipment. Think about it! If there is an increase in demand for heavy equipment, that equipment needs to be moved and if there is a lot of movement going on, there will need to be a lot of drivers around.

We have been training truck drivers for over 25 years. The truck driver training program at ATS prepares students to sit the commercial driver’s license test (theory and practical tests) by delivering both in class and behind the wheel training. If a CDL can give your career a little boost, contact us today for details on our truck driver training programs.

Truck driving as a career offers a lot to those that like variety. You can drive the same stretch of road every day for years, yet it’s not the same. There are different weather conditions and, of course, your fellow road users are different every day. You have the idiots that want to take a truck on by overtaking when there’s no room, and you have the reverse, those that are terrified by big rigs. They suddenly slow down when they see one in their rear vision mirror and drive with so much caution they almost create accidents.

Learning to be a truck driver is not that difficult. Learning to put up with other drivers takes a life time. In fact, as a driver, I don’t think you ever get used to the way others drive. Being on the road, you see them all – the crazy, the drunks, the teens partying while driving and nervous nannies.

If you’re interested in a career as a commercial truck driver, it is as easy as ABC:

A – ask us at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools about our truck driving training programs. We have over 25 years experience training people to drive trucks. We can advise you where your nearest training school is and when the next courses start.

B – Begin your training. Start your training with ATS and we will provide you with all the on and off road skills required to achieve your commercial truck driving license.

C – Complete the testing for a commercial drivers license (CDL) and you’re ready to hit the road as a professional truck driver.

With a professional training organization like ATS behind you, you will receive all the support necessary to obtain your CDL and then to locate suitable employment. Remember – all it starts with is ‘A’ – ask us about our truck driver training programs. It’s the first step to a successful truck driving career.

There is one thing you can almost guarantee around the nation – there is a truck delivering its load somewhere. If there is a truck then there is also a driver and the only only way to get into the driver’s seat is by obtaining a commercial drivers license. No license – no work – it is as simple as that.

Our nation relies on the transportation of goods and much of that is done using trucks. There are the huge interstate truck trailer combos plying the highways right down to the small trucks making home deliveries around town. Almost all of them require a driver with a commercial drivers license. The easiest way to obtain a commercial drivers license is by undertaking a truck driver training course through a reputable truck driver training school.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools has been around for a quarter of a century. We started by training people to become truck drivers and we are now one of the most reputable truck driver training schools in the nation. We don’t just teach people how to drive a truck. We teach people the skills required to gain their commercial drivers license. That license is then your license to gaining sustainable employment.

Truck drivers are always in demand. Even during the recession, people still required goods and those goods had to be delivered to the stores somehow. Truck driving is not only a job that is always in demand, it is the kind of job that pays reasonably well and has a high job satisfaction level.