If you want to enter the workplace as a bulldozer operator then it may pay to check out what accredited bulldozer training is available in your area. Employers are increasingly looking operators who have undertaken formal training. One of the key reasons behind this is the increased push for workplace safety and the huge fines that can be issued for poor workplace safety practices.

Of course that is only one reason. Bulldozer training that has been accredited means that it complies with a set a of guidelines that has been laid out by industry. The old fashion bulldozer training involved jumping into the cab and either learning from a friend (and picking up their bad habits), or teaching yourself. That can be fine when it comes to the actual operation of the bulldozer, however the role of a bulldozer operator goes far beyond that.

Employers rely on their operators to their best to keep their equipment on the job for as long as possible. This means as little time in the repair shop as possible. Part of an operators bulldozer training program includes minor maintenance and preventative maintenance measures.

Maintenance measures include ensuring fluid levels such as hydraulic and engine oil are always at the correct level, Keeping the equipment clean and free of mud, sand or debris, and daily walk around inspections to check for damage. Operators that have not had formal bulldozer training often miss these maintenance factors.

There are several establishments around the nation that deliver accredited bulldozer training. One of the largest both in size and in history is ATS Heavy Equipment Operator School. They have over 45 years of training experience and provide training in over 10 centers around the nation.

When selecting your bulldozer training company make sure the company is accredited and that the training they deliver is also accredited. ATS is accredited as a training organization through the National Center for Construction Education Research (NCCER). ATS heavy equipment Operator Schools are also accredited to deliver training and for students to be nationally certified by NCCER and receive certifications and credentials from NCCER. This makes ATS the perfect solution for bulldozer training.

You can attempt to gain a commercial drivers license with little or no training but the chances are you will fail. CDL training can also be done in an ad-hoc way – perhaps by hopping in the drivers seat with a parent or friend showing you the way. The problem is, you will pick up their bad habits whilst not learning all the road rules required to pass your licensing test.

The only way to gain a license, and with it a lucrative job within the trucking industry, is by undertaking CDL training through an industry recognized training organization. Employers favor those training organizations that deliver quality training and provide graduates who don’t just ‘pass the test’, they provide graduates with a good base of skills ready to become productive immediately.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools have been involved with truck driver training for more than 45 years. During that time they have developed a reputation for quality training across a wide range of vehicles from dump trucks to tractor trailers. Graduates have found employment in jobs as varied as equipment transporting, dump trucks/trailers, sand and gravel, paving, concrete/asphalt, mining, freight haulers, construction materials and driving tankers.

Graduates from ATS receive all the licensing permits, endorsements, and driving test needed to obtain their Commercial Drivers License. The CDL training program includes classroom based training covering road rules, safety and safe operation of equipment. Hands on training includes backing and other close quarter maneuvers, pre-trip inspections, coupling and uncoupling, and actual highway and city driving.

ATS has forged a network of over 10,000 trucking companies nationwide all providing employment to graduates when vacancies arise. If you want a career as a truck driver then ATS has everything you need to make a start. Contact ATS for information on the CDL training program.

Now that winter is officially over it is time to start preparing for summer especially if you are a bulldozer operator. It may still be cool (alright freezing) in some areas, other areas start to warm up quite quickly – too quickly for some. Heat, particular when accompanied by warm winds, can turn a lush woodland into a tinderbox within days. We all know what horrors summer can bring when it comes to bush fires – if you need a reminder then check out the devastation witnessed in Australia of the last month.

One tactic that has been used for 100’s of years is the establishment of firebreaks. For some, they are scars on the landscape, for others, they are life savers. Firebreaks can be 100-200 yards wide and are generally devoid of any inflammable materials. Whilst in the past firebreaks where created by hand – many hands in fact, these days they can be built and maintained in a fraction of the time. This is one area where the humble bulldozer comes into its own.

Bulldozer are perfectly designed for building fire breaks. The have the strength and power to knock down trees, level the ground so that fire services can gain access, and generally keep a fire break totally free of vegetation and other combustible materials.

The next two months will see bulldozer operators busy building or maintaining these fire breaks. Fancy getting out and building fire breaks but don’t know how to operate a bulldozer? Never fear, ATS is here. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools provide accredited training on a wide range of heavy equipment including bulldozer. We can have you in the cab operating a bulldozer like an old hand in a matter of weeks. What you do from there is up to you.

One popular misconception when it comes to heavy equipment is that excavators simply dig trenches. In fact, you could almost say the opposite was the case. Excavators do dig trenches, however there are other machines such as back hoes that can also do the job.

Excavators have a wide range of tasks that they can perform and they are not just restricted to the construction industry. Excavators often play a huge role in the transport of large trees. The excavator may be involved in digging out the root ball, helping to lift the tree onto a truck and, at the other end, digging the hole to take the root ball, then helping to lift the tree into that hole, The complete all around performance.

They can also be employed as part of a demolition team. Their role is varies ranging from helping to knock down walls to helping with the clean up and loading large sections of rubble onto trucks.

Excavators may also be involved with general grading and landscaping; heavy lift, particularly the lifting and placing of pipes; they have also been used in river dredging, open-pit mining and, using special hydraulic attachments, brush cutting.

The role of an excavator operator is a varied one. You can work in just about any environment from the concrete jungle of the city to the wide open spaces of the desert and everything in between. You could be digging holes today, planting trees tomorrow and involved with the precise laying of pipes the following day.

Fancy yourself as an excavator operator? The first thing you need is training, the second, a secure job. We can deliver the first and if you successfully complete your training, we may be able to help with the second. Contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools for more details.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools provides training to a wide range of clients. These include individuals looking at a career in heavy equipment, crane operations or truck driving. We also provide training to agencies looking to place their clients into training programs and employment.

A third major group includes businesses requiring specialized training that meets both workplace and regulatory requirements. This has become particularly important to businesses that utilize cranes in states where crane operator certification has become a requirement. Unlike many training organizations, we can bring the training to you.

Whichever group you belong to, individual, agency or business, we have a range of brochures that outline the services available to your specific needs. We have also developed a DVD highlighting our training facilities and equipment.

Most of the information is available on our website however nothing beats printed material especially when discussing options with third parties. If you require more details on any aspect of our heavy equipment, crane, or truck driver training programs the we are just a phone call away.

Training decisions are important to the success of any individual or business so we are happy to provide as much information as possible to help you make the right decisions. A career in heavy equipment can be very rewarding one – and for many, a fairly lucrative one. Visit ATS to request your free brochure and DVD, there is no obligation and of course – it’s free.

One of the benefits of selecting heavy equipment operations as a career is that age is not a factor. It seems that gender isn’t either.

As children start college, or indeed head off to start a career of their own, their moms find themselves stuck at home with little to do. One of the options that many select is to get back into the workforce and with age and gender no longer barriers, heavy equipment is becoming one of those career options. And why not?

If you think about it, modern heavy equipment has become so much easier to operate. Equipment in use twenty or thirty years ago were heavy and cumbersome. The steering on some units required superior strength to control. These days, power steering is the norm with electronics and hydraulics working together. Controls are almost too light.

Some of our older operators complain that controls now are too light, they can no longer ‘feel’ the earth through the controls. New operators that haven’t experienced the older heavy equipment don’t seem to have that problem.

The biggest hurdle for women entering the heavy equipment operations work force are the employers. However, they are now coming to the party and employing people of either gender, based on their merits. Women have been behind the wheels of trucks and tractors for decades so the progression to the heavy equipment is only natural. In fact, there have been women bulldozer and loader operators around for many years.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools has an open policy. We don’t discriminate and treat all individuals on an equal basis. If you’re a mom looking at career options and you love the great outdoors – consider a career as heavy equipment operator.

The impression that many of us have of heavy equipment is that of the big yellow beast belching out plumes of black oily smoke and roaring like any elephant. The modern machines are a far cry from this – in fact you could almost call them environmentally friendly. Compared to the past – they definitely are.

One of the biggest changes in modern heavy equipment has been the introduction of electronic engines. This has increased the horsepower whilst reducing emissions and emissions have been the biggest pollutants in our society.

Other changes include, for heavy equipment like loaders, the introduction of fully automatic transmissions. These also help to reduce fuel use but have the added benefit of being long wearing. In fact, extended component life due to lower gear speeds means there are less breakdowns and fewer component replacements required.

Whilst only minor steps in the overall system, every saving, whether it is fuel or components means less manufacturing and reduced pollutants.

If sitting behind the controls of one these modern environmentally friendlier beasts appeals to you then perhaps you should consider a career as a heavy equipment operator.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can get you that start in a career as a heavy equipment operator. Will deliver accredited training on a broad range of heavy equipment and our job placement program has access to hundreds of employers all looking to take the best that we can deliver.

Heavy equipment like bulldozers, excavators and even graders are incredible machines when it comes to power. Take the bulldozer as an example. For their size, they can move an incredible amount of earth. To sit in the operators seat and feel that power in your hands and through your legs – there is nothing like it.

I am sure some would argue – truck drivers, pilots, ships captains and others and they are probably right. However, with heavy equipment, the results, the power, and the earth being pushed around is now – you can see and feel it as it happens.

Learning to operate heavy equipment is a life long task. Just when you feel you know your machine inside out, you come across a job that is different, on different terrain, or requires such precise movements. Once again you are learning what your equipment can do and what you can do.

Of course, this ongoing learning process needs a good foundation to start with. The foundations of a good heavy equipment operator can only be built through training from accredited and professional heavy equipment training schools.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are not only accredited, they are also recognized for delivering quality training and preparing students for the workplace. If you want to feel the power of heavy equipment then contact us ATS either through our website or on 1.800.678.8120.

Heavy equipment safety is of the utmost importance in 21st century with businesses, contractors and operators facing heavy fines if they operate heavy equipment in an unsafe manner. This means that modern training procedures focus on getting tasks done using safe work practices.

Obviously a student is taught how to operate heavy equipment. How to move forward, how to reverse, and even how to dig a hole for example. In the past, you could learn all of this in a couple of days in the back paddock with another operator showing you what to do. Not today.

Today, before reversing, you need to check everywhere to ensure no accidents occur. Of course, over time this becomes second nature – a habit, and that is why you need qualified trainers from day one – to stop you developing bad habits.

Safety is important. No one wants to be responsible for the injury or death of another worker. Accidents generally happen due to lack of care – a lack of care that has become a habit. If you can develop strong work ethics that include operating heavy equipment safely you will find that the demand for your services will grow. Yes, heavy equipment operators gain reputations for being good, or bad, fast, or slow, and responsible or irresponsible. What sort of reputation do you want?

Undertake your heavy equipment training through on of ATS’s Heavy Equipment Operator Schools and you will be trained to develop the responsible work habits that today’s industry demands.

There are times when a heavy equipment operator cannot work during daylight hours, they are forced to work at night due to a variety of reasons. One of the prime reasons is simply access.

Virginia is a prime example. The state is only 430 miles long by 200 miles wide, the 35th in size, and yet it has the third largest highway system in the country. You would think with all that highway that traffic would not be a problem – but it is. It is a big problem for road construction crews. The highways are so busy that any highway work cannot be done during the day – it can only be done overnight when the traffic has thinned out a little and is more controllable.

Is working overnight a big problem? Many construction workers prefer it, particularly in summer when the nights are cooler and working conditions a lot easier – of course, winter is then a different story. Heavy equipment operators at least have the comfort of their cabs.

Overnight road building is not restricted to one or two pieces of equipment. The whole range is in use from bulldozer through to excavators, loaders, graders and dump trucks. This is particularly true on roads where the old seal is being pulled up, the ground reworked ready for resealing. Other jobs include highway straightening where large bends are bypassed, on/off ramp construction and bridge repairs or rebuilding.

Working as a heavy equipment operator is a challenging and yet rewarding career. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools deliver accredited training on a wide variety of heavy equipment and provide the heavy equipment industry with well trained and work ready graduates. If you are ready to be one of those work ready graduates then contact us through our website for information on your heavy equipment training options.