Excavators are one of the core vehicles that most heavy equipment training programs cover. There is a reason for this. Many of the skills, terms used and processes extend across the complete range of heavy equipment. By learning these components, you will have the beginnings of a solid foundation in heavy equipment operations.

For most people, an excavator is nothing more than a trench digger. This may well be a major component of an excavator operator’s working life, but it is certainly not the only component. Excavators are also used in material handling, demolition, general grading and landscaping, heavy lifting (for example, the lifting and placing of pipes), river dredging and mining, just to name a few. When it comes to trenches, the skills required go far beyond just digging a hole (or trench). Excavator operators need a rounded knowledge of how to dig, service and back fill a trench; how to load material onto trucks; and related skills such as benching and sloping.

So, while an excavator may be used primarily for digging trenches, those skills can be transferred to other vehicles. For example, the principles of demolition, general grading and landscaping can be applied to most heavy equipment. Skills such as backfilling, benching and sloping can also be applied to most heavy equipment vehicles used in construction.

If you are interested in finding out more about excavators, their role in construction, and how to become an excavator operator, contact the nation’s leading supplier of well trained heavy equipment operators. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools operate training schools in a number of locations around the nation with heavy equipment training programs commencing on a regular basis. Excavator operators are well paid compared to many other careers and the opportunities are there for new operators to join the workforce.

There are always two ways to get things done – the easy way and the hard way. When looking to obtain your commercial drivers license, the same is true. The hard way – try to teach yourself, or be trained by a driver who has bad driving habits and isn’t up to date with the road rules, or the easy way – through a truck driver training school with 40 years experience training drivers. I know what my preference is – what’s yours?

Being trained by skilled truck driver trainers ensures you don’t pick up bad habits right from day one. Bad habits are one of the biggest problems in any occupation because once developed they are extremely hard to break. They say that it takes five days to develop a habit, and five weeks of conscious effort to break them. If you start with good habits, you will have a lifetime of good driving skills. Learning to drive a truck and then acquiring your commercial drivers license goes well beyond habits, however. You need good skills, particularly in some of the trickier aspects like reversing a tractor and trailer – it’s not as easy as it looks.

Highway driving, particularly in traffic, is another skill that needs to be developed. Some of these bigger rigs require a lot of road space to stop, even in an emergency. Learning these skills is essential if you are to have a long and happy career as a truck driver. Your commercial drivers license is simply a test (perhaps simple is the wrong word) that a well trained driver should pass with ease. It does come back to that basic truck driver training.

ATS Truck Driver Training Schools have the experience, the skilled trainers and the industry respect when it comes to producing well trained truck drivers. If you’re driving down the highway and you meet a truck coming the other way, who do you want behind the wheel of that truck, a well trained driver or one that has learned a lot of bad habits? I hope its an ATS trained driver!

Road graders have long been a bastion of male dominance. While women have found their way into truck driving and bulldozer operations, they haven’t shown much interest in graders. That, however, seems to be changing quite quickly. In fact, women are looking at all forms of heavy equipment now and the technical challenge of graders is becoming appealing.

Are employers ready to take on female grader operators? It appears so. Of course, equal opportunity is playing a big role, but skills are still the determining factor. These days it doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is, if you can demonstrate the skills required then you have an equal chance of landing that job. Modern machinery is one of the biggest factors in helping nontraditional workers enter the heavy equipment field.

Today’s heavy equipment relies less on the strength of the operator and more on their ability to coordinate their feet and hands. Power steering, for example, has made the operation of this equipment fingertip easy. Controls on many units of heavy equipment are similar to joysticks found with computer gaming machines – just a little heavier and more intuitive.

A sure sign that industry is more accepting of women in their ranks is to look at some of the heavy equipment training schools. In the past, you may have found one or two women attending these schools each year. Now you can often find one or two attending each time a course is conducted. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools doesn’t discriminate in any fashion. If you have what it takes to become a grader operator, or any other unit of heavy equipment, then we are there ready to train you and to help you gain a start in your new career.

While operating a grader is not quite child’s play, it’s certainly achievable for most adults no matter what gender or background. If you want to find out more about heavy equipment careers, contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your training options.

Summer is here and for some parts of the country it heralds the arrival of the fire season. It seems inevitable that every year some part of the country will burst into flames. Right now, there are bulldozers at work preparing the way for these fires. They build fire breaks, try to remove as much of the ground litter as possible and generally clear areas that could be highly combustible.

Their work is invaluable and could help to reduce the destruction caused by some of these summer fire storms. Unfortunately, the bulldozer’s role doesn’t finish there. In many cases, once a fire storm has ripped through an area, it is those same bulldozer operators that are called in to clean up the damage caused by these fires. This often involves clearing away what were once people’s homes.

Although it may sound like an easy job, working to reduce the amount of fuel on the floor takes an experienced and skilled bulldozer operator. Many of these areas are protected so the operator needs to work in such a way that ground fuel is reduced with the minimum amount of damage to the environment. These are skills that are developed over time and rely on the operator receiving good training at the start of their career.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are leaders in the field when it comes to training new recruits to the industry. The school’s reputation amongst contractors is good with many contractors sourcing their new employees direct from any one of the schools. While you cannot expect to be out creating firebreaks immediately after graduation, work is available in a variety of areas, work that will provide the experience and skills required to undertake that type of employment in the future.

Are you considering a career as a heavy equipment operator – more specifically, a bulldozer operator? If so, contact us to determine which school is closest to you and when the next heavy equipment training course commences.

Self employment is a popular path for many people involved in the heavy equipment industry and the machinery of choice are backhoes. There is a good reason for this, of course. Backhoes are versatile and can be used in a wide range of earth moving jobs. If an operator can acquire a backhoe and a set of attachments at a reasonable price, there is plenty of work available.

The downside to self employment is that backhoe operators need to become business savvy. Operators need to advertise their services, be savvy enough to know how long a job will take, how much they should charge and what sort of competition there is in their area. They also need to be aware of what sort of reputation, prices and availability that competition enjoys. For example, an operator with a good reputation may be able to charge more since their equipment is heavily booked. On the other hand, you may have a good reputation and be heavily booked so you can afford to set your prices a little higher than the competition. This is where business sense comes into play.

Like all careers, there is a starting point and for backhoes that entails training, experience and acquiring the funds to purchase your equipment. You will never gain any tangible experience unless you undertake a recognized training program. Employers are not going to risk their reputation, or their equipment, on graduates who don’t come from a recognized training program.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are well recognized within the industry for providing well trained and ready to work heavy equipment graduates. Graduates from ATS find little difficulty in finding secure employment if they display the right attitudes during their training and through their job seeking processes.

It takes time. In fact, it may well take several years before you are ready to become a self employed backhoe operator. The opportunities are there for those that are willing to learn everything there is to know about operating backhoes and the associated attachments. Just remember, if you want to become self employed as a backhoe operator, it all starts with a recognized heavy equipment training program – from there, the sky’s the limit.

Loaders are not all the same although in most cases, the operating principles are the same. All loaders perform similar actions – they have a scoop style bucket at the front and it is used to scoop up material, move it to another location, and dump it. A loader can also be used like a bulldozer to spread material like dirt, sand or gravel over an area. That concept remains the same with most loaders with the exception of some of the smaller loaders that can have various attachments added to do other types of work.

It can be disconcerting for a loader operator that is used to operating a larger wheeled loader to suddenly find themselves in the seat of a small skid steer loader, for example. Rather than the bucket arms being placed at the side and forward of the operator, now they are placed behind and over the operator. The steering is also different with skid steer loaders relying on tracks which are independently controlled using foot pedals.

Training on a variety of equipment like loaders, bulldozers and backhoes can help to familiarize operators on these different types of controls. Of course, that training needs to be hands on in-the-cab training, not just a walk around and a demonstration by a trainer. When looking for a training program involving heavy equipment, ask the training organization what equipment they have and which equipment will you be receiving hands on experience with. Don’t assume that all heavy equipment training programs are the same.

Don’t forget to include ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools on your list of possible training school options. We provide training across a range of heavy equipment including loaders, bulldozers, graders and backhoes. If you’re interested in a heavy equipment career, talk to us about where your closest school is and what equipment they have available at that location.

Crane operator training programs are not the same. Some providers offer basic training and leave it at that, others offer services that go beyond just basic training. Careers as crane operators can be well paid and the work interesting, varied and often challenging. To gain the best possible chance at securing a stable career, you need all the assistance possible – certainly more than just basic training.

So what can you expect from ATS Crane Operator Schools when it comes to crane operator training? A lot! We certainly strive to offer more than just ‘basic training’. Our aim is to provide you with all the assistance necessary to complete your training, gain certification and secure worthwhile employment. We achieve this through a number of processes. These include:

• Online Applications
• Financial Assistance
• Housing Assistance
• In-The-Seat Training
• NCCCO Test & Certification
• Nationwide Career / Employment Services

This complete package makes life much easier for you. You can apply online (including a financial assistance application), receive both in-the-seat training and classroom training, undertake certification as a crane operator and then receive assistance to help you find employment. This is one of the reasons why we are one of the leaders in crane operator training.

That is an impressive list of assistance but it counts for nothing if the training isn’t up to scratch. The fact that graduates not only complete the certification assessments with ease but also gain employment soon after graduating speaks volumes. ATS Crane Operator Training Schools have also worked hard to achieve recognition from within industry for the quality of graduates entering the workforce. If you are interested in a career as a crane operator, be sure to compare all the training programs on offer. They are not all the same!

With worse than expected employment figures out in recent weeks, you may be wondering if heavy equipment careers are still viable long term options. Long term of course is always a great unknown. However, history teaches us much when it comes to trends for long term careers. In the short term, the demand for heavy equipment operators is still steady. So what does history teach us?

Historically, construction has led economies back to recovery. Whether it has been roads, infrastructure or home building, these activities have helped to spark the economy. Construction has several effects on an economy. The first effect is felt through the pay packets of construction workers. The more in work, the more money that flows into the economy and this lifts demand. The second effect is what could be described as the snowball effect. As demand for products rise, more trucks, more production workers and more retail workers are required – this of course leads to more income in the nation and more demand again. The final effect is seen through the demand for raw materials and equipment – this also has a snowballing effect.

So what does this have to do with heavy equipment careers? We have already seen how the government reacts to an economic crisis – they throw as much money as possible into stimulating the economy and where do they throw this money? Construction. We are in the midst of one of the biggest national infrastructure building programs in decades. This has lead to an increase in demand for heavy equipment operators in the short term.

Long term? That is a harder question. However, there is one more fact that needs to be considered. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age and this is going to leave a huge hole in many industries – the construction industry included. The birth rate has dropped remarkably in the years from 1960-2000. This means there will be almost twice as many people retiring from work as those going into employment. A heavy equipment career offers no promises, but then, no career does. However, the situation in our society at present leads one to think that all employment sectors will face labor shortages in the future.

For younger people entering the work force, heavy equipment training will provide them with lifelong skills. While ever we need roads, homes, schools, hospitals or any other building, heavy equipment operators will be needed.

Paying for heavy equipment training can often be a stumbling block for many individuals. There are a number of payment options and in some cases, government assistance may be available to pay for some or all of your training. For veterans and serving armed services members, the GI Bill may offer you assistance in this area.

What assistance is available to you will vary and will depend on your personal circumstances and the reasons for training. For example, if you were injured while on active duty and now need re-training to enter the workforce, you may find there is extra assistance available. You may also be eligible for assistance if you are a dependent of an eligible veteran or service member.

Heavy equipment training is the perfect option for many returning service personnel. You are working outdoors operating equipment that you are totally in control of. At the same time you are working as part of a team and having to follow set plans to complete a job. If you’re worried about income, careers as heavy equipment operators are generally well paid and once you gain experience, continually in demand.

If you are a veteran, an active service member, or a dependent of either of those, and you’re considering a career as a heavy equipment operator then consider applying for financial aid to pay for your training. You can apply for that aid through this link, or talk to us at ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools – it could be the start of a new career.

One of the big changes that has taken place over the last twenty years has been in the number of women that have taken on truck driving as a career. When you think about a truck driver, most people imagine beer swilling, foul mouthed men in singlets and shorts – nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many businesses now provide their truck drivers with a uniform of sorts, even if it’s just a monogrammed shirt.

Women entering the truck driving ranks has become easier over the years and most employers now don’t balk at hiring a woman driver. The reality is that today’s trucks don’t require brute strength; they have power steering and gear boxes that almost change up or down on their own. Truck drivers are rarely required to load or unload their cargo – that is left to specialized equipment like forklifts or overhead cranes.

Like all careers, the learning curve for women is no different to that of men. Truck driver training schools like ATS Truck Driving School can have a student ready to sit for their commercial drivers license in as little as three weeks. That is three weeks of solid behind the wheel training together with in class theoretical knowledge building.

If you are woman looking for a different type of career – why not consider taking on truck driving. The work is interesting, the pay good and the opportunities there. Women and truck driving have been a successful mix for many years now and you can be a part of it too.