The career of a heavy equipment operator is generally an interesting one. No two days are the same even though you may be working on the same job. There is always something happening, always something changing.

The job itself is not one of brute force as many people think. Most jobs take some considerable thought and planning. The real work is in the finishing touches which often have to be precise.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools offer free online training for those considering a career in the heavy equipment areas. If you are not ready for the free online training then perhaps viewing some of our videos may help.

We also offer a free brochure and DVD on heavy equipment careers and the training required. Just visit the site and either view the videos or request your free brochure and DVD.

Heavy equipment operation is one of those trades that will never disappear. No matter how tight the economy, roads are still constructed, factories still built, and food and other necessities are still freighted around the country.

The height of summer and fortunately there haven’t been too many serious fires as yet. One of the most exciting and most dangerous jobs that a bulldozer operator can experience is as a wildfire fighter.

Bulldozer are an important part of all firefighting crews that deal with forest and bush land fires. As operators you job has many different aspects. Cutting fire trails so firefighter can get in or simply firebreaks to try to stop or slow a wild fire is dangerous enough.

Other jobs include trying to bury smoldering woodland using dirt, sand or gravel. Bulldozer operators have often worked so close to fires their paint work has blistered from heat.

Once the danger of the fire has passed, their is the cleanup work, leveling areas that have been devastated ensuring there are no smoldering logs ready to star the blaze all over again. Clearing land where perhaps a house or barn once stood and helping to rebuild roads that have suffered from the heat.

A dangerous and exciting job fighting fires, but someone has to do it. If you want to learn the skills required to operate a bulldozer you should perhaps consider training through ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

Selecting a career and paying for training can be a big step for many individuals, particularly if you have a few doubts about the career itself, or your abilities to succeed. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools recognize this situation so they have put together some in depth information pages and a free online training program.

The information pages provide all the information required to determine if this is the career for you. Information includes the types of jobs that a heavy equipment operator could be expected to do, the working conditions and the job prospects.

The free training program takes you through the basic operations of a range of heavy equipment including motor graders, backhoes, bulldozers and excavators. There are seven different types of machine used in the training.

By working your way through each of the modules you can gain an understanding of the the work expected of each operator. After you have completed this basic training, you will be in a much better position to analyze your own capabilities and determine which heavy equipment is suited to your skills and learning abilities. You can then concentrate on learning all about those particular machines.

A career in heavy equipment can be very rewarding with job opportunities opening up no only around the country, but also around the world. Take the first step and try the free training – it’s free so you have nothing to lose except a little time. You never know, it may open the door on a whole new career.

Most people assume that heavy equipment relies more on grunt than finesse. However, using an excavator often requires more finesse than grunt.

Excavators are often require to dig trench to precise measurements, at time with gas or water pipes nearby. You cannot afford to make mistakes in those situations. At other times, you may be required to lower pipes or other heavy objects and these need to be lowered with precision. Heavy equipment operators that control excavators need to learn some of these precision movements.

The following short video shows exactly how precise an operator can be when required. I don’t recommend you try it at home. I do recommend ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools if you really want to learn the skills to be an excavator operator.

The versatility of heavy equipment is generally determined by its ability to move through adverse terrain. Wheels will enable a machine to do some traveling off road but when things get slippery or steep the only machines that will move are the ones on tracks.

Tracks are basically a steel highway that is picked up and laid down in a continuous circle. While being advantageous for moving heavy equipment to different places, tracks do bring along with them the expense of repair and replacement.

Tracks wear out through metal to metal contact, ground to metal contact and contact even with the air. There are many components in a track system, collectively known as undercarriage. If everything works properly, all the components wear out at the same time and all can be replaced at the same time.

When components don’t wear out at the same rate you end up throwing away items that are not completely worn out. That’s money that can’t be recovered. With good training and on the job experience, you can soon learn to tell how each component is wearing.

One of the mot important things when operating heavy equipment is to understand you machine and be able to recognize when things are not right. Learn to operate heavy equipment with tracks at ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools

The real work horse on any construction site has to be the dump truck. They work tirelessly all day every day carting loads of rubbish, building materials and rocks and placing it where it belongs. They may be called dump trucks, and they certainly do ‘dump’ their load, but their nothing careless about the way they do it.

Driving a dump truck takes some skill. At times you may be required to undertake a measured release of your load, for example when dumping stone, sand or gravel along the length of a new stretch or road. The more controlled and measured the release, the less work for the rest of the team.

Dump trucks are the beasts of burden. They bring in building materials at the start of a job. The work to move earth and rock that has been excavated from the site and when the job is almost completed, they are involved with the removal of all the rubbish and building materials that have been left behind.

Being a dump truck driver is probably every little boy’s dream (many girls too). You see them as children driving their dump trucks in their sand pits. Driving a real one is very similar, they are just so much larger.

To gain the skills to drive a dump truck you need training and the best place to acquire that training is through ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools. We will provide you with all the skills required to obtain your commercial driving license.

We have often mentioned the heavy equipment training that ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools offer. One of the best advertisements for any product comes from the mouths of those who have used a product.

Our past students have found the training to be not only comprehensive, but also delivered in a way that creates an environment to bring out the best in people. These students have been appreciative of the trainers, the facilities and the equipment used.

Being happy with the training is one thing. Being able to put that training into practice is the most important aspect – in other words, gaining employment in the heavy equipment field using equipment that they were trained to operate. In many cases, this involved obtaining licenses from third parties – for example, a CDL license.

The training provided by ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools is accredited and complies with set standards. Our students are ready to start work the moment they finish their training. If you would like to see what former students have to say about our training then visit our student feedback page and see what their feedback is.

Heavy equipment is often thought of as big bulldozers or motor graders, however the term could be applied to a variety of different machines. The backhoe loader is just one of them.

Backhoe loaders are very versatile machines and can be found on many construction sites. Despite their size, they play many roles and can be used to dig, to load and to carry items. Backhoe loaders are two-faced mini beasts. I call them mini as some can be dwarf when compared to heavy equipment like a bullbozer. The backhoe loader has a small digging (or backhoe) bucket at one end that is often used for digging holes and trenches. At the other end is a wider bucket that can be used to carry items or to load materials onto trucks.

Compared to heavy equipment like excavators or bulldozers, backhoe loaders are more compact and easy to handle on a construction site. Being wheeled, their travel speed allows them to be taken on the road instead of having to be loaded onto a trailer for transport.

Having both the backhoe and loader function on one piece of equipment is very convenient and a time saver. The operator can dig and load without having to switch from one piece of equipment to another. Heavy equipment training provides the skills required to operate a backhoe loader.

If you fancy yourself as a backhoe loader operator then consider ATS Heavy Equipment Training School for the best in heavy equipment training.

There are time when you may look at a training program and say ‘I wish’. Sometimes it may look daunting, you may feel you don’t have the skills or for some, they feel they don’t have the high school or college education required to get accepted into a heavy equipment training program.

The truth is, it is not what you know now, or what you have learned in the past, it is what you are capable of learning and what you are capable of doing that is important. Heavy equipment training isn’t a walk in the park. It can be fairly heavy going at times. However, if you have a little dedication and a little determination you can succeed.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools are not so much interested in your past. The future is what counts so we will work with you to help you achieve your goals. Applying for training is straightforward. Our heavy equipment training online application form is a standard contact form. Once we receive your application we will review it and one of our admissions representatives will call you back to discuss the options.

Heavy equipment operators are in heavy demand right now so now is the best time to start your training for a new and lucrative career.

Move over guys, there is a new breed of heavy equipment operators and they are just as good as you. One of the strongest growth areas for women in traditionally male careers is in the the heavy equipment industry.

Women have had success as truck drivers for many decades and some women have taken on the role of bulldozer and excavator operators. However these have been few and far between. In fact the construction industry may have held an intimidating atmosphere for many women. Not today.

The opposite is probably now true. Many males feel threatened by the surge of women into this arena. Years ago heavy equipment operation was tough going. It often required brute strength to handle the controls. Now everything is designed to make life easier for the operators.

Controls are now much easier to operate. Power assistance in steering means you can steer single handed – some power steering mechanisms are so sensitive they can be operated with one finger.

If you are a woman looking for an outdoor career and the thought of operating a bulldozer, excavator or motor grader appeals to you then consider your training options at ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.