It’s probably crossed your mind already, just what is it like to be a crane operator? If there is one job that everyone sees being done that makes us think, it is the crane operator. But what is the job actually like for those that take on the training and go out and do it?

The first task of the day, no matter what kind of crane is being operated, is safety. Whether a mobile crane or a tower crane, giving things a check over is important. For mobile cranes, this means a once-over before setting off to the site, for a tower crane, operators check the crane at each stage as they climb to the cab. Responsibility, as shown by the safety checks, is a big part of being a crane operator, and that is why it can be so appealing. You are responsible for your crane, yourself, and the loads you move.

For mobile cranes, finding today’s site is the next challenge, moving large cranes around is itself a skill, but with each new site is a new work environment, and those ever-changing surroundings mean that life for a crane operator is never routine, never dull.

Operating the crane itself is, of course, the main part of the day, and is an exercise in precision and teamwork. Crane operators take responsibility, but they also need a team to guide them as loads are moved. Hand signals, radios, and even flags are all tools that allow the team to work seamlessly and safely to get the job done. Many people think a crane operator’s day is a lonely one, but the truth is that it takes a team to make it work. Operators may be alone in a cab, but they are never on their own on a site.

It can be long days, sometimes 12 hours on big projects, but that combination of responsibility, skill, and teamwork makes crane operators something unique. It also makes the work day for crane operators unique as well, which is why we see those cranes and wonder what it would be like. If you like the idea of something different every day, working as a team and taking on responsibility for yourself and others, it’s time to think about that crane operator training for yourself.

When you spend most of your day operating heavy equipment, your office is the cab, it’s where you are in control, and you know what is happening. However, without good communication lines, it can be a very isolating place as well. Operators need the ability to concentrate of course, but isolation is not an answer, ensuring in-cab communications are as good as they can be has become very important, for a number of reasons. Here are some things that can be problematic if communications are not maintained correctly.

• Safety – We all hope it never happens to us, but accidents do occur, and no matter how minor they are an investigation will always examine communications leading up to the incident. Good communication systems that are working correctly will always improve safety on site, both for heavy equipment operators and other workers on the site.
• Work Schedules – One of the costliest parts of any project is completion delays, missing deadlines, and failing to meet work schedules. Heavy equipment operators really benefit here from better communications, as it can help individuals and teams work more efficiently. On large projects, even small improvements can add up to big-time savings and can be the difference between meeting and missing a deadline.
• Teamwork – Smooth running of any site relies on teamwork, that operators are where they are supposed to be at the right time. However, given the nature of the industry, few people get to work in the same team often enough to build that relationship, so making sure the team functions properly each time is all about communication. Being able to adapt to a new environment and understanding how each group works is important for operators, and at the core of that is improved communication.
• Reliance on visual signals – Think of all the signals a heavy equipment operator has to take note of during any site operation to ensure the safety of themselves and others on site, there are hand signals, flashing lights, and flags used as guides or alarms, and this can lead to a problem known as alarm fatigue. This is where operators become overwhelmed by too many visual alarms and are unable to process them all. In-cab communications should not replace visual signals, but they complement visual alarms very well and can reduce the chance of an alarm being missed due to alarm fatigue.
• Stress – Operators isolated from the rest of the project in a cab without good communication can become stressed. Two-way communications allow questions to be asked and answered and operators to understand the project better and feel a part of the team instead of separate, helping reduce the stressfulness of the work.

There are many very good reasons to ensure cab communications are working well on any project, heavy equipment operators should always be in communication throughout any project.

It is no surprise the growth in construction and telecommunications throughout America has led to an increased need for directional drills to bury fiber optics, electrical lines, water pipes, sewer lines, etc. Further, the use of backhoes or excavators isn’t always practical, feasible, or economical, due to existing hazards or terrain. That leaves Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) as the most efficient option and the fastest-growing type of equipment for utilities, municipalities, contractors, and the communications industry. Associated Training Services has the knowledge, curricula, and instructional staff to deliver your organization the highest quality training for your directional drill operators.

Primary Objective:

Through a combination of classroom and field training sessions, participants will acquire the knowledge and skills required for operating a directional drill efficiently and safely.

Training Subjects:

Standard training subjects are as follows:

• HDD Safety
• General Maintenance of Equipment
• Pre-Planning
• Field Operation
• Tracking Electronics
• Drilling Fluids
• Maintenance
• Locator Equipment / Operations
• Downhole Tools

It was 1977. Fresh out of high school, with not a clue of what to do in life. A friend calls; they’re building a highway down south and they are hiring!

Another boiling hot South Texas summer; day after day of 100+ temperatures.   But thanks to youth and being in the best shape of my life, a job outdoors was exciting!

Besides, the pay was a whole lot better than anywhere else.  It was twice the minimum wage back then.

TALK ABOUT EXCITING!

My friend and I show up on the job site; an interstate highway through several South Texas counties. We both got hired; both driving scrapers.  The foreman said, “only the best of the best could handle the scraper.”

And I believed him: 15’ tall and over 30’ long; mountains of steel on giant rubber tires.  A scraper looks a lot like a big truck and trailer, with a cab out front that turns independently of the trailer.  But that is where the comparison ends!

Behind the cab is a huge steel trailer, with an open box like a dump truck in the center.  Below the open box is a side-to-side blade, that the operator raises up and down. And scrape it does…when the operator drops the blade, it scrapes long strips of dirt from the earth and into the open box. From there, the operator drives the scraper to another part of the project, lines the scraper up, and opens the door on the bottom of the box to lay out a line of dirt as he drives along.

I spent 3 days riding shotgun with a trainer, on the roughest seat I had ever felt (he had air-ride)! Then I was on my own…on top of the world!

SOUTH TEXAS DIRT

Because the dirt was so dry and hard, the scrapers of that time, even though they were massive machines, could not pull the blades through the dirt without some help.  That help was the “push cat”.  The push cat was a bulldozer with no blade; it had a huge metal bumper on the front, and it did what the name suggests…it pushed.  The scraper driver pulled into line, dropped the blade, and waited. First, you heard that big Allison V-12 bulldozer engine wind up, and then you would feel the push cat meet the back of the big metal bumper on the scraper.  It was hold-on time; that big dozer would push you along, and the scraper operator had to watch for the box to fill up with dirt. Then, the round trip began all over again.

It was hot and it was dusty, but it was one of the greatest times of my life!

Today’s scrapers are more powerful, with enclosed cabs and air conditioning on some. Even so, for a kid just out of high school (or anyone looking for a satisfying job), it is an adventure that should not be missed.

Today, there are heavy equipment schools, where you can learn how to operate any kind of heavy equipment.  There were not any schools back in the ’70s.  Check it out…put some adventure into your life!

Some of us don’t think much about it until we start to build a new building near our home or work.  Then, we usually just complain about how the construction affects traffic and slows everything down.

But stop to think about it: what would life be without construction; without heavy equipment? Before heavy equipment, everything was done by hand. Picks and shovels; wheelbarrows; and long hours of hard work.

Heavy Equipment Development

Through the early 1900s, the horse-driven and steam-powered heavy equipment revolutionized the construction industry, increasing productivity and shortening the length of time construction projects took to complete. With the invention of the internal combustion engine, the industry began to change even more.

The Interstate Highway System construction during the 1960s was the boom time for the construction and heavy equipment industries.  This type of work called for high-horsepower equipment and new types of equipment.

The high horsepower scrapers were developed to move the massive amounts of materials produced by the highway system construction.  There were hundreds of scrapers at work on these projects.

The 1960s was also the “monster machine” decade.  Machines grew in size and horsepower; the surface mining industry called for machines that are still the largest, even today, including the 360-ton haul truck, which has grown to a 400-ton haul truck, becoming more productive and efficient, but not much bigger.

The 1970s faced the Arab oil embargo.  This produced an increased need for coal, which increased the demand for heavy equipment.  The demand was so great, that ordering a large machine found a 2 to 3-year waiting list.

In the 1980s, a recession transformed the industry, with a lot of companies failing.  The recession also changed the future of the four major heavy equipment manufacturers: International Harvester,  Euclid, Caterpillar, and Allis Chalmers.

By the 1990s, only Caterpillar remained with its original name.  In the mid-’90s, a wave of environmental laws forced manufacturers to begin making cleaner and more efficient diesel engines.

The most recent recession in 2008 caused the focus to change from ownership to leasing of heavy equipment. Currently, over 40% of all equipment is bought by rental companies.  The pressure on manufacturers continues, to produce more energy-efficient heavy equipment.  Continued development of electrification of major engine components and more energy-efficient alternatives to conventional powertrain systems are the expected future of heavy equipment.

Even with all of the changes, the global heavy equipment market is estimated to be around 192 billion U.S. dollars in 2017. During 2017, it is expected that around 809,000 construction machines will be sold worldwide, with approximately 186,000 delivered to customers in North America.

No matter what you think about construction and heavy equipment: no roads, no buildings, no houses; nothing in our lives could be constructed without heavy equipment and the construction industry, and the people who run the heavy equipment.  Together with the trucking industry, everything in our lives, from our homes to where we shop, depends on the construction, heavy equipment, and trucking industries.

Have you ever considered a career in the construction industry? Becoming a CDL truck driver, heavy equipment operator or mobile crane operator can open up exciting new job opportunities. Here are some companies that have recently hired our graduates:

• Amherst, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Murray, KY hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Houston, TX hiring heavy equipment operators.
• Oconto, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Malone, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Flint, MI hiring mobile crane operators and riggers.
• Greenville, NC hiring mobile crane operators.
• Green Bay, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Neenah, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Houston TX hiring heavy equipment operators.
• La Porte, TX hiring mobile crane operators.
• Thorton, CO hiring mobile crane operators.
• Wautoma, WI hiring heavy equipment operators with Class-A CDL.
• Piqua, OH hiring heavy equipment operators with Class-A CDL.
• Merrimac, WI hiring heavy equipment operators with Class-A CDL.
• Sun Prairie, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Whitewater, WI hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• Wyandanch, NY hiring mobile crane operators.

These are just a few of the job opportunities for truck drivers, mobile crane operators, and heavy equipment operators. Companies in these industries are always looking for new and experienced operators.

If you are thinking about a job in truck driving or becoming a heavy equipment operator, ATS heavy equipment school is a great place to start. We offer instructive classes as well as in-the-seat training for various machinery. You can also find more information about jobs in your area or across the U.S. through the Total Resources Network job board which is accessible to all students and graduates of Associated Training Services and Diesel Driving School. Please contact us for more information and begin your exciting new career as a heavy equipment operator, mobile crane operator, or commercial truck driver today!

The rigger is a very important part of any heavy equipment team. More than just a driver, a rigger performs six different but essential heavy equipment tasks every day. Here are those six tasks.

1. Lifting – A rigger uses hoists and pulleys to lift heavy items such as equipment, loads, and cargo. To accomplish this task, they may provide the mechanical, electrical, and other tools to accomplish the lifting on the job site.
2. Moving – A rigger is responsible for moving heavy loads from one end of a work site to another. This may entail using a crane to lift and move large boxes, vehicles, or other heavy cargo on a dock, in a warehouse, or across a construction site.
3. Transporting – Riggers are also responsible for transporting heavy equipment, machinery, and cargo. This could involve the use of flatbed trucks, cargo ships, and other heavy industrial equipment.
4. Positioning – Sometimes, loads shift. A rigger is responsible for ensuring heavy loads do not shift during transport or, in the event that a shift has occurred, re-positioning loads for further transport.
5. Pulling – Riggers are responsible for pulling loads and heavy equipment or cargo. That may entail the use of wenches, pullies, dollies, jacks, and other useful mechanical equipment.
6. Security – Equipment security is very important. A rigger must ensure a load is safe and secure before, during, and after transport. This may involve securing a load with straps, bands, weights, and other equipment designed to keep cargo from shifting during transport or to ensure cargo isn’t burglarized or vandalized.

Heavy equipment riggers are a very important part of the heavy equipment team.

Are you an experienced truck driver? Are you looking for job leads? Are you interested in or have you ever considered a career as a truck driver? Becoming a truck driver or heavy equipment operator can open up exciting new job opportunities that span across the country. In fact, the following companies are looking for new and experienced truck drivers and crane operators who currently hold a Class A CDL license:

• FENNIMORE, WI Hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• MADISON, WI Hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.
• SPARTANBURG, SC Hiring mobile crane operators.
• GAITHERSBURG, MD Hiring Class-A CDL truck drivers.

There are more job opportunities than the ones listed above. Truck driving and heavy equipment job opportunities are all over the country. Companies in the transportation industry are always looking for new and experienced drivers to transport goods both on a local level and over the road/long distance. You can join a local fleet or even check into working for the federal government.

If you are thinking about a job in truck driving or becoming a heavy equipment operator, the ATS Heavy Equipment School is a great place to start. We offer instructive classes as well as in-the-seat training for various machinery. You can also find more information about jobs in your area or across the U.S. through the Total Resources Network job board—which is accessible to all students and graduates of the ATS Heavy Equipment School.

ATS Heavy Equipment School is nationally recognized by companies that specialize in earth moving, construction, and excavation. Please contact ATS Heavy Equipment School for more information and begin your exciting new career today!

While driving down a highway or interstate, have you ever wondered how telephone poles or large electrical poles get there? How about when passing road work and seeing a large truck drilling in the ground? The truck is known as a Digger Derrick. A Digger Derrick is a large, crane-like truck with an attachment called an auger. The auger looks like a giant corkscrew and is used for drilling in the ground. The Digger Derrick is an essential piece of equipment in the utility trucking world. In fact, here are five ways a digger derrick is used:

1. Telephone Pole Installation – A digger derrick can dig a hole up to 18 inches round and 10 feet deep. It can dig the hole for the telephone pole as well as lift and place the pole in the ground.
2. Electrical Pole Installation – Much like the telephone pole installation, digger derricks are also used to install electrical poles and wiring.
3. Electrical Work – Digger derricks can be used to fix electrical wires that have been damaged due to storms or other natural disasters.
4. Trimming Tree branches – Because of the ability to reach heights, digger derricks can be used to transport workers to trim tree branches so they won’t get in the way of the electrical wires and cause unnecessary power outages or wire damage.
5. Road work – Digger derricks can be used to take personnel below ground to make underground repairs to things as well as fixing potholes in the road.

The digger derrick is an extremely useful truck in the utility world. If you are interested in more information or interested in becoming a digger derrick operator, sign up for more information on digger derrick training classes.

Are you an experienced truck driver or interested in truck driving? Employers in the following cities and locations are looking for drivers with a Class-A CDL driver’s license:

• HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• SHEBOYGAN, WI – HIRING HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS WITH CLASS-A CDL.
• MORGAN, MN – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• ROCKLAND, ME – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• FALMOUTH, ME – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• BARRON, WI – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• EL PASO, TX – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• OMAHA, NE – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• NORTH FREEDOM, WI – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• FENTON, MO – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• GREENVILLE, SC – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.
• COUNTRYSIDE, IL – HIRING CLASS-A CDL TRUCK DRIVERS.

There are plenty more job leads where these came from. Truck driving jobs exist all over the country. Local truck driving jobs and over-the-road jobs are growing by the dozen. Join a private fleet of truck drivers or work for a municipality. Even the federal government hires truck drivers on a regular basis.

Total Resources Network is a job board that is accessible to all students and graduates of the ATS Heavy Equipment School. For more information and where truck driving jobs are in your area, look at the Total Resources Network job board.