No one can really promise you a job once you have completed your heavy equipment training, however, a job placement service can open doors to prospective employers that may otherwise have been closed. Having said that, not all job placement services are equal. Some provide a much better service than others.

One of the keys to a successful job placement service is the actual training itself. Over time, employers get to know which training organizations deliver the goods; which training organizations use honest assessment methods (rather than passing everyone regardless of skills); and which organizations use modern equipment.

Users of heavy equipment operators build a level of trust and develop networks within training organizations. You would be surprised how often an employer contacts a training organization asking for the best grader operator, or the best bulldozer operator. They have a vacancy and they want to grab the best available before someone else does. This of course is a measure of the level of respect that employer has with the training organization.

Job placement services of course don’t just sit back and wait for employers to contact them. They are actively building their own networks, talking to employers, finding out how well a previous student has done, and of course, if they have any actual or expected vacancies.

For employers, it saves them the time and hassle of advertising vacancies. Not only that, they are not inundated by job applicants. For you the student, it also means you are not competing with a lot of other applicants. This improves your chances of getting that job once you have completed your training.

If you’re looking for a heavy equipment training provider that has an effective job placement service, check out ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. Our heavy equipment job placement service kicks into gear the moment you start your training.

Crane operators are always in demand and the more experience you can gain the more in demand your skills will become. Over the last decade there has been a distinct change in the careers of crane operators with most states now requiring operators to become certified. Gaining your crane operator certification may be a bit of a hassle if you’re already employed in the industry – but it does come with a few benefits.

As each state introduced compulsory certification of crane operators, some of the older operators moved out of the industry instead of undertaking crane operator testing. This of course has opened the doors to new operators who receive crane operator training and certification at the same time. For others, certification has brought with it more stability within the industry.

For employers, crane operator certification brings with it an expectation of a minimum standard of skills and knowledge. They rely on the certification process to guarantee that standard. If you apply for a vacancy holding a certificate in your hand, the employer is confident that you meet the standard and are capable of doing the job required.

A more important benefit to operators is the portability of their qualification. Their training and certification means they can find employment virtually anywhere within the country. If they have a wealth of experience, they can often also find employment internationally, particularly working for local companies that working on projects in developing countries.

Choosing a career as a crane operator places you into one of the most satisfying and highest paid positions within the construction industry. With a steady demand of certified crane operators projected over the next five years, now is a good time to gain that training and certification. Feel free to contact us if you are looking for more information on crane operator training and certification.

Truck driving is one field of employment that is constantly in demand. Although air, rail and sea often transport products, almost everything still requires transporting by truck – even if it is only a short distance from the air, rail or sea port to its final destination.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has forecast a growth of 8% in job numbers over the next six years. This is an increase of over 250,000 additional drivers bringing the total number to over 3.6 million. Add to this the number of drivers retiring or moving on to alternative careers, thought to be around 5% each year, and you can see why truck drivers, particularly those with their commercial drivers licenses (CDL), are in high demand.

Long distance haulage can be demanding with drivers having to spend not just hours away from home, often it is days or even weeks. Some drivers have their rigs set up with beds, TVs and even microwaves and mini-refrigerators – talk about the comforts of home. However, driving for 10 hours straight, often overnight, can be wearing on the body. Fortunately, today’s trucks have the comfort of air conditioning, padded seats, power steering and GPS to help with navigation.

One of the benefits of obtaining and maintaining your Class A CDL license is that you can move in and out of the truck driving workforce. When employment in your regular field is tight, you can often rely on truck driving as a viable fill in. Heavy equipment operators can also benefit from obtaining their CDL as they are in a position then to transport their equipment to and from work sites. This saves a potential employer the problem of rostering two people to do a job – one to transport and one to operate.

The outlook is good for truck driving and now is a great time to take advantage of truck driver training. Once completed you will be in a position to take up many of the opportunities that will arise over the next 12 months.

One of the most highly skilled heavy equipment operators is that of a backhoe operator. Where motor graders are often found finishing a job, backhoe operators work from start to finish and often require high levels of precision.

If you consider some of the types of work undertaken by backhoe operators you may gain an idea of how precise they need to be. Take a standard backyard inground swimming pool. Because of the tight spaces, the only equipment suited to the job is that of a backhoe. They are required to dig the hole precisely to plans. This often includes a slope to accommodate the various pool depths and either dead straight or curved walls. This takes a lot precision and attention to detail.

Swimming pools are one thing. What about an archeological dig? We may not have archeological digs in every backyard but when they do occur, a backhoe operator is often called in to get things started. Again, it takes a lot of attention, a lot of precision, and the ability to treat the dig with a lot of care. This takes the effort of a highly trained and skilled operator.

Back to the normal everyday type of work undertaken by backhoe operators. Whether digging foundations, a trench for pipes and cables, or clearing debris, the same degree of precision and attention to detail is required. Get the foundations wrong and it can cause all sorts of problems and a trench dug from point A to C is useless if B is where the trench needs to be.

The job outlook for backhoe operators is not as prosperous as bulldozer or grader operators. National growth is expected to be around 4% – around 2500 new operators nationally each year. This also takes into account the number of operators who leave the industry. In yesterday’s post I highlighted grader operators and Illinois was looking at around 300 new operators each year. For backhoe operators, they expect growth at around 180 new operators this year falling to around 100 new operators each year after that. The trend seems to be similar in most other states with a high demand forecast for this year and a general taper over the next five years.

Wages for backhoe operators are also varied, ranging from as little as $31,000 to just over $65,000 per year. The median is $41,000 (www.bls.gov). The number of operators employed in the mining sector is expected to decline over the next five years although as the economy starts to pickup, this could change dramatically. Overall, the employment and wage outlook is positive, with a high rise in vacancies expected over the next six to twelve months.

If you have ever considered a career as a specialist backhoe operator then there is no better time to train than right now. If you act now, you can take advantage of predicted short term growth in the industry. Fortunately, backhoe training is often part of a general heavy equipment training program so you will also gain experience and knowledge on other heavy equipment – being multi-skilled is always a bonus in today’s workplace.

You would be surprised at some wages being offered these days. Whilst there has been a period of doom and gloom coming through most media outlets, some employment sectors seem to have become deaf to it all. Construction is one industry that now fits that bill. Grader operators, particularly experienced operators with knowledge of GPS and other IT based grader enhancements, can command very high wages.

If you take a look at employment prospects in an area like New York, the outlook looks promising. They are predicting demand to increase by 150 new operators every year through to 2016. When it comes to wages, the mean is around $36,000, but get this: the top paid workers are commanding over $75,000 each year. (NYCareerZone.org)

It’s not just New York either! Illinois is another area where employment growth has been steady. Projections are for that to continue at around 7% per annum. If you don’t like percentages, that is around 300 new operators each year. How much do you get paid in Illinois? The median there is just over $38,000 with the best operators receiving around $73,000. That’s a bit lower than NY but I think you get the message. Skilled and experienced operators can command high wages. Starting wages are around double the minimum wage – not a bad place to start. (Illinois WorkNet.com)

Operating a grader is a little more difficult than operating a bulldozer or loader and it can take up to five years to achieve the level of skills required to command the highest wages. However, once you learn to operate a grader you will have the skills for a lifetime of employment.

Grader operators prepare the foundations for many of our major constructions, particularly roads and large buildings. Budding operators should have a passing knowledge of physics and be comfortable around large heavy equipment. The ability to work to plans and as part of a team are particularly important. As you can see, the outlook for grader operators is looking good and the wages – well they are certainly nothing to sneeze at!

Bulldozer operators really do have a grand life. They work outdoors, get to master complex heavy equipment and often become a part of a great work team building relationships that last a lifetime. At the same time they are helping to build roads, bridges, houses and other construction projects that are designed to last well past their own life time. There are many bulldozer operators that can drive through an area and point to the many projects they worked on – always with a hint of pride.

Although the economic climate has looked bleak, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) has forecast a growth of at least 8% over the next decade. With an aging population there will be more operators retiring than commencing over that period, which will inevitably lead to labor shortages – a factor now being recognized by many sections of the construction community.

One area where labor shortages could have an impact is on wages. According to Salary.com, the median salary for bulldozer operators is currently around $38,285. There are highs and lows across the nation with those working in more isolated areas earning a much higher salary. If there does become a shortage of qualified bulldozer operators then salaries could climb even higher as employers outbid each other for talented operators.

One of the great things about a career as a bulldozer operator is that it is open to almost anyone. You don’t need to be a high school graduate to commence training as training is open to all ages. In fact, some employers actually prefer mature aged operators, this doesn’t mean the young miss out since there are plenty of opportunities for all.

Training to become a bulldozer operator is not difficult. Good hand-eye coordination, a desire to work outdoors, and the ability to work as part of a team are three of the most important factors. If you wish to train to become a bulldozer operator then there is no time like the present to get started. There is a whole world of opportunity waiting for freshly qualified and eager bulldozer operators.

The introduction of new equipment and new technology can often bring operational difficulties. This is particularly true for heavy equipment like bulldozers, excavators, and graders. The introduction of GPS is one such technology that was discussed in yesterday’s post. Other technologies include the introduction of computer systems, particularly those that help to monitor and optimize hydraulic fluids.

Many businesses are able to take up training offers made by the manufacturers of these machines. Others are either not in a position to take up any offers, find them too expensive, or, in many cases, are simply not offered any training – they are just handed instruction booklets.

Associated Training Services has a specialized division – ATS Specialized Training – that offers specialized training to businesses across the nation. Your employees can be trained at either one of ATS’s training schools or at the employee’s workplace. Training is designed to meet the particular needs of the business taking into account the type of equipment used and the type of work undertaken by that equipment.

Employees can also be assessed using nationally accredited assessment criteria. These criteria have been set by organizations such as the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), OSHA, and MSHA. For crane operators, they can be assessed using NCCCO criteria to become certified crane operators. This is a compulsory requirement in some states.

Specialized heavy equipment training is not for every employer. However, when undertaken as a workgroup, it can increase productivity and decrease accidents and downtime. Contact us at 1.800.678.8120 or through our website for more information on specialized heavy equipment training.

California is one of the largest states when it comes to construction and public highways. Believe it or not, current employment levels in the construction industry are down around 4% compared to last year – however, there are still almost 700,000 people employed in that one industry sector. You have also got to take into account the budget problems that Big Arnie is having so many of the projects forecast to start this year are still on the drawing board. This means of course that the demand for heavy equipment operators has not reached its peak yet, and probably won’t until the end of summer.

If demand is still growing then now is the time to consider your future. Have you had passing thoughts of working as a heavy equipment operator? Have you ever stopped and watched in awe as bulldozers of front end loaders ply their trade? They can certainly move a lot of earth in fairly short time.

Associated Training Services have two training establishments in California, one in Victorville and one in Eldorado Hills. Bulldozer training is undertaken as part of a heavy equipment training program where you also receive instruction on other earth moving equipment such as front end loaders and excavators.

Demand for suitably qualified heavy equipment operators is on the rise across the nation. When California hits its peak and starts looking for operators, they will not be able to rely on those coming from interstate as they have in the past – they are too busy on the projects underway in their home states. We are going to need freshly trained and qualified operators, preferably with a little experience behind them, even if it is for only a month or two.

Start and complete your heavy equipment training now and make use of the growing demand to gain experience for those big projects when they start. You may never get a better opportunity to enter this well paid sector of the work force.

I am sure you have heard of GPS in cars and trucks. Those little devices that sit on your dash and tell you where to go – in the nicest kind of way of course. At least, they give you driving directions, tell you which roads to avoid, where the traffic snarls are, and the quickest way to get to your destination. Pretty clever little devices really – in fact, there is so much more to GPS than just helping you get to your destination.

The construction industry is starting to rely on GPS in a big way, however, they are stuck with one big problem – there are not enough trained GPS operators in the industry. If you already work as a heavy equipment operator, or if you have a yearning to drive one of those big monsters, perhaps now is the time to consider training in something like GPS training for heavy equipment operators.

Ever wondered how they started a bridge from both sides yet met perfectly in the middle? What about these highways? They are often working on four or more sections at once, yet they all meet exactly where they are meant to. The answer in the past was hours of very careful surveying. Now, surveyors work with GPS to map out a route and the heavy equipment operators take over – again using that same data determined by the surveyors.

Associated Training Services have a network of heavy equipment training centers for you to choose from. If you are interested in GPS training for heavy equipment operators then our training school located in Ohio has just the course to satisfy your needs. The demand for specialist operators is growing and, being a specialist field of employment, often attracts a much higher wage – you can’t say no to that.

There are a lot of trucking companies that are now starting to feel the pinch from the economic downturn, however, it’s not quite what you think. Rather than having to tighten their belts and perhaps put off drivers, they are starting to feel the strain of not having enough truck drivers to keep up with demand. These companies are now looking towards truck driver training schools in a bid to recruit the best from each training group before they hit the labor market.

The economic stimulus package is behind this problem as literally thousands of package driven projects start to get under way, all at the same time. The logistics can be a nightmare for many companies, particularly the smaller owner operator companies. We are reaching a point where trucks are being used 24/7 to deliver building materials, road construction materials like road base, and heavy equipment.

If you are looking for a career change and truck driving appeals to you, now is the time to act. Whilst truck drivers in the construction area are kept busy, there is more good news for drivers just around the corner. Construction is labor intensive. This means more people working, more people with pay checks, and more people spending. Where do they spend? The majority of people spend their money on housing, food, utilities and in the retail sector.

The retail sector is where the next jump in demand for truck drivers will occur. Retailers have tended to run their stock down over the last 12 months but as people start to spend, they are going to need more stock – quickly. This will only add to the demand for more truck drivers. The question is, will you be ready to take advantage of this increase in demand?

Associated Training Schools has over 45 years of experience training individuals to become successful truck drivers. Their truck driver training program takes individuals through a training program that includes in-class instruction, vehicle maneuvering and on road driving and prepares them for the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) test required to obtain a truck drivers license. If you’re looking for a career in truck driving – now is the time to act.