Take a look at any construction site in the country and chances are that you will see at least one excavator. Easily recognizable, the excavator is identified by its tracked body and long, jointed boom, and large bucket at the front, but the reason that it is found everywhere is that it can be used in so many ways. Of course, as the name suggests, the main use of an excavator on any site is to remove material, and digging trenches, holes, and foundations. The flexible boom means they usually load the material directly onto trucks for disposal, but such is the flexibility of the design, they are frequently used for so many more tasks as well.

Use of an Excavator and its industries

For instance, you will often find excavators being used in forestry works as well, where they can be used for moving felled trees and other tasks, and they are also a common site on mining sites, where they are used as general equipment to dig, lift and move material around. The flexibility of the design really does come into its own away from the construction site and allows the excavator to take on so many different tasks.

It’s not just building things either, you can often find excavators on demolition sites, where they are used to pull down buildings and other construction. They are often used to perform the duties of a small crane, lifting and moving heavy objects around the site. You can find excavators almost anywhere construction is being done, and on very small construction sites, you find mini-excavators! It really has become the go-to heavy machine for so many different tasks, you even find excavators being used for dredging rivers and marinas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT_js2TBYWg

This is one of the reasons that so many people love being excavator operators, the flexibility of the machine itself means that you can find yourself in almost any situation as an operator, it’s a heavy machinery job that will never get boring. Wherever you go, there will always be a need for excavators and the skilled operators who drive them, and whether you are working on a new highway or demolishing an old factory, every day is different when you operate an excavator.

For many, this combination of in-demand skills and varied work makes being an excavator operator the perfect career, and with year-round opportunities and good rates, it is easy to see why. There are many career opportunities in heavy machinery, but very few that can match the excavator for variety and job satisfaction wherever you are in the country.

We all know what bulldozers are, with their front shovel and heavy-duty tracks, it is always seen as a brute of a machine that is the muscle of the site, shifting large amounts of material where it is needed. However, a bulldozer can be found in other situations too, roadbuilding, demolition, and site preparation for construction projects, so what do they get up to in these different environments?

Bulldozers in construction

For any large construction site, the first heavy machinery on site is often the bulldozers. While we associate them with pushing large amounts of material around, they can be used in a much more precise way when required. Preparing a site for construction, by skimming away a layer of topsoil or debris, and removing plantation and weeds to allow foundations, channels, and so on to be marked out accurately is an important part of the construction process. Bulldozers are the perfect tool for this, with precise control allowing operators to take just enough of the topsoil away as required, while their impressive ability to move material is great for clearing even the heaviest of rubble away.

Roadbuilding

An important part of the construction industry, roads are constantly being built or resurfaced around the country, and on any project, you will find the bulldozer. Here bulldozers perform two tasks, firstly, removing the topsoil so that a road can be built, because a road needs solid foundations to be effective. But a bulldozer is also used after the foundation, the gravel and fill that makes up the roadbed, has been dropped in place. Here, the bulldozer is used to smooth the surface ready for the top coat of asphalt or other material, so really is an important part of the road-building process.

Demolition

Bulldozers are made in a variety of sizes, and you often find the larger ones involved in demolition. A large bulldozer is quite capable of demolishing a house, saving the time and safety concerns that come with taking it apart piece by piece manually, and of course, bulldozers are also very good at removing the resulting rubble when the site needs clearing.

Earthmoving

Whether at mines, construction sites, or other projects, moving large amounts of material is what the bulldozer was built to do, and it does this very well. Bulldozers use tracks that provide excellent grip in all conditions along with a powerful motor to push sparingly heavy loads, and it can quickly move substantial amounts of material wherever it is required.

It is easy to forget that bulldozers are capable of carrying out much more than just earthmoving, and for bulldozer operators, there are always new jobs and industries looking for their skills to further their careers. When looking for a career in heavy equipment, a bulldozer operator is definitely a great choice and a fantastic opportunity.

Progress continues with the HWY 151 rebuilding project

All over the country, large-scale roadworks are taking place to ensure that the essential transport links that keep goods moving are maintained. One such project is the Highway 151 rebuilding project in Sun Prairie, WI, which covers the road between Sun Prairie to Beaver Dam. This significant project covers a considerable length of the highway and this first stage aims to replace southbound pavement and shoulders, while the northbound will be patched and resurfaced, and bridgework improvements will be carried out at the same time. Further stages which are expected to commence between 2019 and 2025 include extending turn lanes and other roadway redesigns.

The rebuilding construction project began on May 1^st, 2018, and has progressed on schedule since. One of the interesting things about this operation is the scheduling has allowed the work to take place without significant traffic impact. While turnoffs are out of use and require a short detour, in general, the traffic has been allowed to flow smoothly all through construction.

The site itself features a large number of heavy machines in use daily, including dozers, graders, rollers and wheel loaders, and represents a significant opportunity for Wisconsin heavy machinery operators, who are enjoying increased demand for their skills. It is important to remember the importance of trained professional operators and their ability to operate machines safely in any conditions, even among flowing traffic as they do every day on this project.

For the construction industry, this is a rebuilding project that highlights the opportunity for heavy machinery operators today, not just in this project, but in similar ones all over the country, offering a great chance to build a career, while also being part of a country-wide initiative that is rebuilding the country to give America the infrastructure it needs for the 21^st century. Because of projects like this one, heavy machinery operators are in high demand, and the surge in road construction provides a fantastic platform for new operators to begin their careers. With this project continuing on through stages over the next 6 years, and similar projects in almost every county and state, this is a demand that is not going to reduce any time soon.

If you are rebuilding your current career, or even starting your first career, training to become a heavy machinery operator is an exceptional investment in yourself and an industry that is growing quickly. Well-paid, reliable work that employers are actively looking for, and operator skills are a great way to grab that new opportunity.

A dump truck is a large-wheeled truck, although they do vary in size, designed to transport and unload loose material in the volume. While they are capable of carrying a variety of substances, on-site, they mostly transport sand, gravel, soil, and waste, such as the rubble resulting from demolition.

The dump truck is easily identified through its unique feature, an open box rear bed that has a hydraulic system that allows the front of the bed to be raised, causing the load to slide out of the rear, dumping it at the desired location, and that is where the name comes from.

Operators of dump trucks can have varied jobs, enough that every day is different, and dump trucks are used in so many situations, from site work to disaster clearance, mining transport to demolition removals and so many more. In each of these situations, the dump truck is performing similar tasks, but environments and approaches can be different, with new challenges for drivers in each.

Dump Truck Drivers

For drivers, it’s all about the rules and processes on-site, because safety is the most important aspect of any operation, but especially for trucks that are operating on sites where other contractors or workers are nearby and a potential hazard. This is important in all situations, but on construction sites where there are workers also on foot, then safe operating procedures become even more important than ever.

From routes taken to speed, everything matters when it comes to safety on site, and any training for dump truck work is always focused on the safety aspects of the job. However, safety rules aside, the usual task for a dump truck, whether on a construction site, at a mine, or anywhere else, is to pick up material, transport it to a new location, and deposit it. This often requires precision driving, as sites often have restricted space, and dump trucks are generally large vehicles.

Some dump trucks are designed for one specific situation, and a good example of this would be the Haul Truck, used in the mining industry. These massive trucks are some of the largest rigid framed trucks ever made and are built to drive the flat, wide gradients of modern mines, removing material in huge volumes.

Driving these vehicles places you in charge of hundreds of tons of machine and material, and the experience is one many drivers fall in love with. While the repetition of load/unloading journeys may seem like a dull job, nothing could be farther from the truth with dump truck drivers. The skill, concentration, and dedication required to make it a rewarding, enjoyable career, one that pays well and is in much demand all over the country.

Dump trucks are the driving force behind any site, moving material to provide the environment that allows the project to be completed. It may not be the most glamorous machine you see on a site, but it’s arguably the most important.

If you are managing a construction site or running a business, having the right heavy equipment is mandatory. But there are two ways in which you can get your hand on great equipment: buying or renting it. While both of them have their advantages and disadvantages, in our article you will discuss the pros and cons of renting heavy equipment.

If you already have decided that renting the equipment is the best option for you, then we recommend learning more about one of the equipment rental service firms with the largest presence in North America, Herz Equipment Rental. For more info on the types of Hertz equipment rental services, rates, insurance options, rental locations, and more, visit the linked article. Now, let’s see what the pros and cons of renting heavy equipment are.

The Pros

1. Latest and best

Having the latest and best heavy equipment on the market can be the key to a thriving business. But unless you have a fortune lying around, then it is impossible to purchase all the latest equipment.

By renting, you enjoy updated technology while avoiding getting stuck with old, outdated equipment that doesn’t belong in your workplace. Your employees will be happy to work with the latest gear and they will be able to learn to use multiple types of equipment, which will turn them into real professionals.

2. Small, regular payments

You probably know the saying “Don’t spend all of your money in one place”. Well, that is what happens when you buy heavy equipment instead of renting it. When you rent equipment, you won’t have to pay a huge sum of money at once. Instead, you will pay small, regular amounts of money. This is best for organized business owners as they can make the payments on the same day every week or month.

Also, you can rent a piece of equipment for different periods. You can rent it for a small project, for a month or more. Different companies accept different types of payment. This should be discussed upfront with the person in charge of renting the equipment. Get the best deal for you.

3. Maintenance

Another important pro for renting heavy equipment is that some companies include maintenance in their services. This means that, if a tool breaks due to normal use, the company that rented the equipment is responsible for repairing it. However, not all companies offer free-of-charge maintenance, so do your research before renting it.

The Cons

1. Total Cost

The total cost of renting heavy equipment depends entirely on the period of time you want to rent it. For instance, if you need the equipment for a month, the cost can be very low, so you’ll be better off renting the equipment. On the other hand, if you plan to use the equipment for several years, the total cost could be bigger than the actual price of the equipment. Renting is best for small projects or for short periods of time.

2. Can’t get your money back

Another problem with renting is that you don’t get any part of the investment back. When you purchase a piece of equipment and you keep it in good shape, you have a high probability of selling it and gaining at least a part of the investment back. When renting, this is impossible because you don’t own the equipment.

3. Availability

If you want to rent, then get prepared to settle for a different model of equipment than the one you had in mind. Although rental companies update their inventory from time to time, it is impossible for them to have all models, brands, and types of equipment. So, when renting, try not to have a brand in their mind.

Most of the time you will be forced to settle for the model of equipment the rental company has. Also, you can wait for the equipment to be available, but that might not be an option if you have a project already.

Renting or buying heavy equipment can be tricky because both options come with pros and cons. However, think about the period of time you plan on using the equipment, the costs, and the equipment you are mainly interested in. If you want something big, cheap, and for a short period of time, then renting is the best option. If you need the equipment for a longer period of time and you seek a certain model or brand, you should consider purchasing it.

The unemployment rate is at its lowest in 60 years, and what it means for your career

A low unemployment rate is not something we normally see, but it can and does have an impact on our students and their careers after qualifying, so it’s important to look at what the current record-setting lows actually mean.

Its 60 years since the unemployment rate has remained below 4% for a sustained period, so these current levels mark a very different job market to the one we have been used to for the last 30 years. As with anything, supply and demand shape markets, and the job market is no different, with so many employed, the job market is more competitive than it has been for a very long time, and for students graduating from our courses now and in the near future, that is a very good thing indeed.

With so many people at work and so few unemployed, employers face stiff competition for quality employees, and this is especially true of those with desirable skills, including accreditations that are required to perform some jobs. Skills shortages are a very real thing, as employers are struggling to find people with the right skills for the job positions they are desperate to fill, and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction industry.

Of course, what that means for those with the right skills and qualifications, is that they are in demand, and wages are rising as a result. For heavy machinery operators, crane operators, riggers, and other construction positions that require training and accreditation, this means a great time to be building a career. Not only are there plenty of jobs on offer, but the wages being offered are rising, and for the right people, this can be an incredible opportunity.

This is where our training approach pays off. By using both classroom-based study and on-site experience, we train you not just in the theory, but the practical aspects of operating machinery on-site, and when taking on that first job, that experience can prove invaluable. We give you the skills and knowledge to pass accreditation exams, but also the on-site experience that will better prepare you for the first day in your new job, giving you the confidence to take on any position and succeed.

We can’t remember a better time to be building your career as a heavy machinery operator, crane operator, or any other construction industry position. With high demand for the skills, rising wages, and a steady growth in construction all over the country, we help you gain the skills that employers are looking for. Your long-term career could be just a few weeks away with one of our comprehensive, accredited training courses, you can gain skills that will last you a lifetime.

When natural disasters strike, from Hurricanes across Texas to mudslides in California, the news reports are full of information, shocking images, and stories of tragedy and heroism alike. However, such is the pace of the world we live in today, that a week later, the story has moved elsewhere, and the last we hear about those terrible situations are the images of houses buried or destroyed, flooded roads, and so on. How many of us think about what happens next, and how such devastation is cleared up?

The most important thing to occur after the devastating disaster like the mudslides in California earlier this year took place long after the TV crews and cameras had gone to the next story, and that was the long process of cleaning up, salvaging what was possible from wrecked homes and clearing up the roads to make them useable again.

Using a range of equipment, the cleanup specialist’s first challenge is not moving the mud, but the mud itself. With potential contaminants including oil, gas, pesticides, sewage, and a wide range of chemicals washed out of people’s homes, it’s a potential health hazard in its own right. Care when moving the mud was essential, and teams of dozers, loaders, and dump trucks from specialists such as National Plant Services were employed to move the huge quantities of mud, which was dumped at the coast to reinforce costal protections and prevent yet more problems from storm flooding.

With the most significant volume of mud removed in the first month, attention then turned to the infrastructure of the region. Each manhole had to be opened and checked individually, a difficult task with some invisible due to the layer of mud. The entire city collection system had been affected by the mud, and every drain, sewer, and access point had to be checked by hand. To accomplish this, teams of contractors and city workers worked together, using maps to identify where access points should be, and using dozers to scrape away remaining mud to get at them.

In some cases, where opening the manhole revealed mud right to the top, and here Vac-Con trucks were deployed to clean out the sewers and restore normal operations. Camera equipment was used to assess areas that were less obviously obstructed, and much of the work involved removing large stone and rock debris from within the pipes, left behind by the mud.

With the constant hazard of the mud and debris around them, this is tough work for any contractor, and it took 2 months of 7 days a week, 15 hours a day shifts to finish the disaster cleanup. With teams from three different disaster cleanup specialists aided by city workers and national guard engineers working together to complete the task, that is a lot of manhours and a lot of unsung effort.

It might not be as attention-grabbing as the disasters, but the people who find themselves struggling in the aftermath of any such event need the men and women who clean up after the cameras have gone. Maybe it’s time we all said a thank you for what they do.

Skid steers are small, upright, rigid-framed vehicles that are common on almost any construction site you visit. They get their name from the simple way they have maneuvered around, with the wheels on each side mechanically locked together. Usually having four wheels, to turn a skid steer, the operator changes the rotation speed of the wheels on one side or the other, causing the faster rotating side to skid around and turn the vehicle.

On sites short of space this maneuverability is incredibly useful, they can turn within their own length so are ideal for even the tightest of spaces. They are also popular because skid steers are so versatile, and for operators, that means that every day is a little different, making it a varied career that people enjoy. While the most common fitment for a skid steer is a front loader bucket. This can be used for loading as well as pushing or transporting material, but for operators, it’s a very different experience than with traditional front loaders. Skid steers are used not just on construction sites, but are found on farms as well, and are used in large numbers for landscape gardening applications too.

The agility itself makes this an interesting vehicle to operate, but the small size also means that the lift arms actually pivot behind the operator, and this itself is something an operator must get accustomed to. Loading buckets are not the only attachment in use though, and skid steers are often seen using augers for drilling, and trenchers and are even used with snow blower attachments for clearing roads of snow in winter. You will see skid steers being used to dig holes from the inside, using ramps to remove material from the excavation. This approach is often used when space is restricted, such as in projects that require excavation underneath a building, or areas where site space is significantly reduced for some reason.

A career as a skid steer operator has a lot of potential, with varied work to keep interest high and good pay and the best way to launch that career is through effective training. As with all heavy machinery, operating skid steers accurately and importantly, safely within a site environment takes skills and understanding.

Our professional training course teaches both in the classroom and on-site, providing a broad view of skid steer operation in a variety of conditions, with a particular focus on maintaining safety for the operator and other workers around the vehicle during its operation. That training when successfully completed opens the door to so many career options, and with the skid steer in so much demand across so many different industries and situations, it really is a career that can build for a lifetime.

There has been a lot of talk about the need for investment in infrastructures, and while the biggest projects are still at the early stages, Wisconsin is seeing a lot of construction activity focused on reinvigorating transport connections and providing the safe road solutions that we all need.

There is a drive for resurfacing that covers all areas of the state this summer, and this significant effort is accompanied by further works to backfill existing bridge structures and other substructures of the roadway.

A concerted effort covering various counties in Wisconsin, including Brown, Door, Fond Du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Marinette, Outagamie, Winnebago, and Shawano. Organized by the Department of Transportation, this represents a huge summer effort to restore Wisconsin highways to an acceptable condition and reinvigorate travel within the state.

While resurfacing is a common theme, projects around the state also take in other remedial works as well, including storm sewer reconstruction and renewal, railroad crossing construction, and other roadworks that can be carried out during the disruption. For heavy machinery operators, particularly graders and other road construction equipment, this is a fantastic opportunity, with skills in demand for a large number of simultaneous projects.

With various projects launching from May and continuing on to September and beyond, while this road initiative is widespread, collectively it is a huge undertaking for the state. However, that central organization does have its advantages, as Wisconsin is making use of social media to keep road users informed of any disruptions the ongoing works are causing. With a central Twitter account, they remind road users of lane restrictions and road closures each day, adding to the smooth running of these projects both for the teams working on-site and for Wisconsin road users looking to avoid any roadwork problems.

While we tend to think of infrastructure work as huge construction endeavors such as the California high-speed rail network, the reality is that these state-wide initiatives, which involve hundreds of works on dozens of sites, are where the most dramatic effect will be found for most people’s daily lives. A better, safer road surface to travel on every day as you go to work, school or the grocery run, this is where updated infrastructure leaves its mark on our lives most.

It is also where heavy machinery operators and other skilled construction workers will find long-term employment and create long-lasting, successful careers. By rebuilding infrastructure and providing safer, easier transport for Americans, this construction initiative is helping to deliver the platform that modern America needs for its workforce and industry.

For anyone looking to start a new career in construction, this really is a perfect time, and with our range of training courses offering both classroom and practical experience, we prepare you for a new career quickly and effectively. We are dedicated to teaching you the skills you need for a lifelong and successful career.

Have you ever looked up at those huge tower cranes and thought that you would like to be a crane operator? From the ground, you imagine what it must be like moving giant loads around from such a height, but what is it really like?

The day starts early, checking the weather for an idea of the conditions because for tower crane operators, the weather matters. In particular, the wind is the thing that operators are particularly interested in, because high up, wind can have a dramatic effect on the load as it is hoisted and positioned.

Tower cranes are also very much a team effort, the riggers and spotters work with the operator on every lift, and it is the team as a whole working together that makes for a safe operation. So, on-site, the team will meet and discuss the day’s planned work, going over the previous day and noting anything that didn’t work as it should, and how to avoid that issue again.

Then, it’s the long climb up, but the climb itself is also an opportunity to inspect the crane, looking for loose bolts, bad connections, damage or anything else that could cause an issue. The theme with crane operating is safety, both for the operator and for everyone around them. Once in the cab, the operator is on their own, communicating with the team via radio and perhaps taking a phone call or two, but otherwise, an operator is in the cab for 10 hours a day on their own.

It’s busy in the cab though, with lifts of all kinds going on, and every single one requiring real concentration, safety is always at the core of everything being down, taking directions from spotters and riggers, but ultimately, it’s the crane operator that decides the route for the lift. There is a lot of responsibility as a crane operator, and for many, that is part of the attraction. It’s also a rewarding career, with $100,000+ a year wages being an attraction.

For those who are attracted to it, whether it is the self-sufficiency of being alone in the cab, the idea of working closely with a team or the responsibility of organizing lifts, or maybe just the idea of a good paycheck, high-quality training is essential to acquire the skills and qualifications needed to safely operate a tower crane.

We have exceptional experience training tower crane operators, our course includes both classroom and site training, and prepares you for the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) exams that give you the certification needed to build a successful career as a tower crane operator.