There has been a growth in dump trucks in recent years although you may be surprised at where this growth is. Mention dump trucks and you are probably imagining a truck with a large bin on its back that can be tipped to empty. That’s the traditional dump truck also known as a rigid dump truck. However, the growth has been in what are known as articulated dump trucks.

As the name suggests, articulated dump trucks are in two parts with tray or bin separate to the tractor or drive component. Driving an articulated dump truck is similar to driving with a trailer, this means reversing can be tricky if you are not skilled in the art. Does one form of dump truck offer any benefits over the other? Generally speaking, no. However, where an articulated truck is superior is in off-road capabilities, particularly on slopes and in muddy conditions.

Since an articulated dump truck does not act in the same manner as a rigid dump truck, you would think that specialist training may be in order. If you are trained only in a rigid dump truck then extra training could be required. If you undertake your training through ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools then further training shouldn’t be required.

ATS train truck drivers in both rigid and articulated vehicles. This provides students with skills to drive either a rigid truck like a dump truck, or articulated vehicles such as tractor-trailers and, of course, articulated dump trucks. Driving an articulated dump truck can be a challenging and rewarding job. If you’re interested in learning how to drive a dump truck – call us to discuss your dump truck training options.

Although many areas are covered in snow, there is still a lot of work going on that utilizes the power of bulldozers. Land clearing in preparation for spring and summer building programs are high on the agenda. It can be difficult building houses when the weather is unpredictable, but you can certainly clear the land and prepare areas like roads and home sites.

Construction is not the only area where bulldozers are being kept busy. Winter is a good time to commence land restoration programs. The bulldozers work to remove old unwanted vegetation. The land is worked, often with composted material so that when spring starts to warm the air, vegetation native to that area can be planted. The soil is rich and ready to take the new vegetation whilst competition is low having been shaved off by the bulldozers.

These two jobs have several things in common apart from being winter jobs. They both involve land clearing to a purpose, to a design or plan. They can both have bulldozers working at precarious angles (at least they seem to be precarious) as they clear away the sides of hills. For new housing developments, the bulldozer may also need to carve out embankments for new roads, bridges and waterways.

Training operate a bulldozer is not that difficult given the modern equipment in use. Most freshly trained operators could work on either of these projects if close supervision is available. They are certainly good for developing skills and gaining valuable hours in the operator’s seat. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can get the ball rolling with hands on training in bulldozers. Before you know it, you could be out there helping to clear the next major housing development.

Backhoes were once the machinery of choice when it came to ‘light’ excavations. These are jobs like shallow trenches, foundations for houses and landscape gardening. Backhoes were smaller, lighter and more flexible than other heavy equipment – they could go in, get the job done and be out again in next to no time. This preference is now being challenged by excavators – albeit mini-excavators.

Where a mini-excavator does lose popularity is in the area of flexibility and the fact that mini-excavators still rely on tracks rather than wheels. However, some mini-excavators are smaller than the smallest backhoes so flexibility doesn’t enter the equation – that just leaves those tracks.

Backhoes have a real advantage having wheels rather than tracks – they can drive quite quickly on public roads. Excavators, with their tracks, are still slow in comparison. However, despite some of these negatives, mini-excavators are gaining in popularity and it is at the expense of backhoes.

With this trend, what should you specialize in, backhoes or excavators? I’ll let you in on a little secret – you can do both. Backhoes, excavators and loaders all complement each other when it comes to skills. Yes, each piece of equipment is operated differently. However, sometimes those differences are not that great. With a backhoe, you have the combined skills of an excavator and a loader.

To gain these skills you need to complete a heavy equipment training program such as that offered by ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. Our training program will provide you with experience on a range of heavy equipment including backhoes, excavators and loaders. Our training programs are nationally recognized, which means your skills upon graduation will be recognized nationally. Excavators may be trying to take over from backhoes but they will never do it – if they do, you will have all the skills necessary to operate either one – and a loader as well.

Excavator operators need a keen sense of placement in their environment since the job itself takes them and their excavator right to the edge – literally. If you look closely at this image, another couple of feet and the excavator would be in the trench rather than creating it. Knowing where you are and, just as importantly, knowing what is happening under you are crucial when it comes to safety.

Depending on the soil type, any excavation has the potential for the edges to collapse. As an operator, you should be ‘feeling’ the ground under you as you work. For experienced operators, it becomes second nature. It’s a little like ‘feeling’ the road through the steering wheel when driving a car without even thinking about it. Excavator operators do exactly the same except instead of road it’s the area around their machine.

It is hard to teach people how to interpret sensations that are felt through the hands, feet and seat of the pants. What we can do is provide training time in the operator’s seat. Being able to ‘feel’ the ground really comes from experience. The more time you have in an operator’s seat, the more attuned you will become with the machine and your environment. However, without the right basic training, the only thing you’re likely to become attuned to is sitting in the bottom of that trench.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools, we strongly believe in using a two-pronged attack when it comes to heavy equipment training. Safety and other issues are generally taught in a classroom situation. Learning to operate an excavator, for example, is done by sitting in the operator seat and doing the work yourself. Of course, we guide you and provide instruction on which levers, pedals and buttons to use, but you get a feel for how the machine works by doing the operating yourself.

Do you like living on the edge? Become an excavator operator and do it almost every day.

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.

If there is one piece of heavy equipment that revels in the wintry conditions, it has to be the skid steer loader. Being light weight (yet still considered heavy equipment), they can scoot around on top of the ice and snow with little difficulty. Every home needs one at this time of year since they make such light work of clearing driveways of ice and snow.

It’s not just the ice and snow where they come in handy. Clearing up debris on building sites, working with landscapers to turn empty spaces into wonderful gardens and doing general duties in and around construction yards is all in a day’s work for these little beasts. It’s amusing to see a skid steer loader carrying a large wheel to a dozer when they need replacing.

Working a skid steer loader is a lot of fun. If you don’t mind being seen operating one of these little muscle machines (and you shouldn’t), then they can be the perfect job for those that have a bright sense of humor. The work is never boring, the action can be fast although safety is still a primary issue, and the variety of work on offer never ending. You just never know what sort of task you are going to be asked to do next.

What sort of training do you need to operate a skid steer loader? Any heavy equipment training program that offers a variety of equipment to train on is a good start. Training on a normal loader certainly helps. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can provide that variety in your training including hands on experience in equipment like loaders and excavators. If you like the idea of zipping around on a skid steer loader – contact us now to find out when our next heavy equipment training program commences.

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.

A report released yesterday is claiming that the economic stimulus package has already created over 600,000 jobs. With an increase in public works spending still to come to fruition, and the flow on effect from increased construction, the outlook for grader operators is positive. For those looking for a career as a grader operator, now is the time to seek out grader operator training.

Graders are one of the key pieces of heavy equipment when it comes to new roads and for leveling out new housing estates. Their ability to manicure the surface to such precise angles, slopes and thicknesses means that work in these areas can be completed quickly when compared to other heavy equipment.

Training to become a grader operator is not that demanding. It takes three weeks to complete both the theory and the hands on practical training. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools provide students with late model equipment in which to train – and the training really is hands-on. None of this standing behind an instructor and watching them operate the equipment.

The demand for grader operators is on the increase. Spring and summer will see this demand grow even faster. ATS can provide assistance when it comes to financing your training. We can also provide assistance when it comes to finding your first job placement. All it takes is a little dedicated time over a three week period and you’ll be ready to start a career as a grader operator. Our graders part of your future – if so, contact us now for details on our next heavy equipment training program.

If you’re looking at a heavy equipment career you have a number of options available to you. These include the area you may wish to specialize in and how you can enter that area of choice. Despite, or perhaps because of, the recent economic downturn, heavy equipment operators are in demand and some employers feel that this spring and summer will see shortages of suitably skilled people in many heavy equipment areas. How do you get your start then?

You have a number of options and they all start with training. If you’re not professionally trained to operate heavy equipment these days, most employers won’t look at you. There are plenty of training options available. We suggest you select only those training organizations that are accredited to deliver nationally recognized training. This means any credentials you receive should be recognized nationwide.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are one option. You can start by undertaking our free online training program, or you can contact us for information about course details. We can even post out information on training programs available. We have training centers in almost a dozen locations – there is sure to be one reasonably close to you.

If you wish to specialize in one particular piece of equipment, you can. Our training covers a range of machinery depending, the range will depend on which of our training facilities you attend. It is often a wiser move to wait until you have completed your training before deciding on which piece of heavy equipment you want to specialize in. In our experience, students soon develop a natural affinity with one or more pieces of equipment and that is then where they tend to specialize. Heavy equipment careers – they are in demand and the demand is growing. Contact us for more information on heavy equipment training choices.

There are many different types of crane in use and each requires some specialized training. In the past we have successfully delivered mobile crane operator training. This has now been extended to include lattice boom crane operator training in our training facilities at Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Texas and California.

If you’re interested in a career as a lattice boom crane operator then I suggest you contact us as quickly as possible. Training programs run every three months with each training program taking five weeks. The first classes of 2010 start in February and they are filling quickly.

As with all our training, the lattice boom crane operator training program is an accredited training program. Those students that successfully complete all the requirements will be awarded a NCCCO crane operator certification. This certification is required in many states for anyone working on a crane. You must also have the correct certification for the type of crane you are operating.

Crane operators are always in demand and are one of the highest paid workers on any construction site. The work is varied, challenging and always interesting. The increase in construction projects over the last 12 months has seen the demand for crane operators increase across all crane types. Lattice boom crane operators are often in greater demand than any other at present because of this increase in construction work.

If you are considering a career as a crane operator, consider the lattice boom crane operator training program. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools provide hands on training using late model equipment which will prepare you for a stable career as a crane operator.