You’ve seen that guy, or gal, in the reflective clothing with the flags and radios. Sometimes they are on the road, directing traffic. Most of the time, though, they are on the job site keeping everybody safe. Without a qualified rigger/signalperson, the load on the crane might be unstable and fall. The equipment could run into somebody and hurt them badly. The cost of not having a signalperson who knows their job is high, so everybody pays attention to what the signalperson says is going on.

Associated Training Services offers two levels of rigging/signalperson training:

1. The Rigging/Signalperson Qualification Program
2. The Rigging/Signalperson Certification Program

The Qualification program is the basic foundational training that has been mandated by OSHA and it will meet many of the job requirements on most sites. It takes 8-12 hours of instruction, written and practical training and testing, and you get a qualification compliance card at the end showing you meet all OSHA qualification standards.

The Certification program is more intense, with 32-36 hours of training (four days) and the same careful written/practical training and testing in more detail. By the end of this program, you will exceed the OSHA qualification standard for rigging/signalperson training and receive NCCCO Rigging Level One as well as NCCCO Signalperson Certifications.

Associated Training Services is fully qualified to administer the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) national certification program. We are experienced in preparing students for the CCO certification exams, which are offered regularly. Take a look at our NCCCO schedule and see what dates will work for your plans so that you will be the guy everyone pays attention to.

Hurricanes, tornadoes, fire, flood, and more, are all disasters that leave piles of wreckage in their wake. No matter what the disaster is, it usually takes a heavy equipment operator to clean it up successfully. But doing this important service is a dangerous task for those who go into the chaos to bring order and restore normal life. Disaster recovery workers are exposed to many hazards on this kind of job site.

OSHA has an excellent resource for disaster recovery workers who are operating heavy equipment in their Hurricane eMatrix guide. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what happens in cleanup because the rules can change drastically. All the normal work site procedures may no longer be in place because this kind of work site is unpredictable. As recovery workers slowly bring restoration safety measures are established, but the first guys into the scene have to be able to respond to whatever they find.

The more experienced a heavy equipment operator is, the better that operator can do the job in disaster recovery since the site is the only thing that’s unfamiliar. All kinds of machinery is used in cleanup, and the need for experienced operators is always there. If you think you are interested in helping after the next disaster, the best way to prepare is by getting good at your job and familiar with the OSHA guidelines. That way you are ready to go.

Training is the foundation for your experience in operating heavy equipment. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School provides that training with expert, professional standards that include time in the classroom and time in the seat of many kinds of heavy equipment. You get the certification and the training to start a career as a heavy equipment operator anywhere, even a disaster site.

Most heavy equipment operators are going to be working outside when they are working. For many, this is exactly why they love what they do because they love being outdoors. But it also means that there’s a good chance they will be exposed to any or all of the not so healthy outdoor surroundings that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns against:

• physical hazards like extreme hot or cold, lightning, sunburn & skin cancer, excessive noise and vibration damaging ears and body
• biological hazards like diseases from insect bites (ie. Lyme disease ), venomous bites and stings, poisonous plants
• other hazards like chemicals or job site contaminants

Hazards for heavy equipment operators are not a reason to quit. They are a reason to be wise. Every job has hazards, right? The thing is to be aware of the potential and be prepared for the reality.

Be aware of the potential hazards on your particular job site. If you know it’s going to be hot, bring enough appropriate drinks to stay hydrated and healthy. That means you can’t be chugging soft drinks all day, but having water and sports drinks in high heat scenarios would be smart. Wear sunscreen and reapply it on your break, and take the breaks in the shade. Your job site has hazards – it’s up to you to know what they are and what to do about it.

Be prepared for the reality of how your job affects your body. If you are sitting on top of a backhoe in the sun all day long, you will be sunburned and sore by the end of a sunny day. Wear eye and ear protection and adjust your seating so your body isn’t strained as you work. Look for ticks at the end of the day and report any bites. Pay attention to any safety regulations your employer asks you to follow.

Heavy equipment operators do best when they are trained and knowledgeable about the job they will be doing. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School is a good way to get ready for a career that will give you the chance to do your job outside, just where you want to be working.

Soft skills are things like writing resumes, filling out applications, interview skills, and stuff like that. Soft skills probably won’t be needed once you get hired to operate heavy equipment, although many jobs will require being able to navigate software or do paperwork. Soft skills might not seem too important until the lack of these skills keeps you from getting hired.

You see, many times, your resume and application are screened by a computer first, so a mistake can kick it right out of the running. Simple things like a typo can make a huge difference. So can having the right keywords in your resume, because the screener will be looking for words that match the job description. Therefore, application procedures are part of the training at ATS.

After that, in a large company you might be interviewed by someone in HR who works inside all day. Even if they got your name from your postings on Total Resources Network and trust your training at ATS, there will be some evaluation based on how you dress, speak, and act during the interview.

One of the words that comes up in a discussion of “soft skills” is networking. Networking is basically your people skills, and building relationships that are appropriate and professional with the idea that you will be running into these people repeatedly during your career. A network of people help each other. Some are just acquaintances, others are friends and coworkers. But when suggestions for job openings come up, they can give you a lead. Or you can help them by providing a reference about their reliability. Everyone you meet could potentially be part of your network.

For instance, your instructors at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School are good sources of information about how to find jobs, and the resources needed. They know because they’ve got experience as business owners, foremen, and superintendents on job sites. During your training they are great additions to your network.

Soft skills aren’t things that you use once and then ignore. All the soft skills you learn at ATS will help you in many ways your whole life long. Our Career Services have been designed from years of experience, and we have found that graduates who use the soft skills they developed at ATS go on to succeed in whatever they do.

Associated Training Services is a recognized training provider, approved for veterans and military educational assistance. There are many types of benefit packages, so it’s a good idea to contact our financial services department and ask if there’s something that fits your circumstance. Here’s a quick list of possibilities if you qualify:

• the GI Bill could provide monthly subsistence payments while you are in training
• the Montgomery GI Bill for pre-911 service members could help support your family
• the Post-911 GI Bill allows up to $17,500 for tuition assistance
• the Armed Forces Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is for active duty members of the military and could give up to $4,500
• National Guard and Reserve members might qualify for these or a state military benefits program
• injured service members or their descendants may qualify for Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation benefits

Military benefits are provided by state and federal government programs because as a member of the military you have earned them. As Memorial Day gets closer, there will be more folks saying “thank You for your service,” and we say that too. Thank you for the ways you have sacrificed to serve. We appreciate it.

Getting certified training as a heavy equipment operator, crane operator, CDL driver, or rigger/signalperson doesn’t just give you a piece of paper. ATS is committed to helping you get a job once you become a graduate, as long as it takes. From the time you send in your online application, we will help you figure out which benefits you qualify for and provide career counseling if you need it so that your career is on track.

Sometimes a person who has grown up with experience around heavy equipment or been able to learn how to operate heavy equipment on the job asks why they’d need to go to a place like ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School at all. The question is valid, and the answer is clear:

ATS Training School plus Experience is better than Experience with no Training Certifications.

Employers look for operators who have been certified in accredited programs by professional instructors. Not only does this give them the assurance that there’s no gaps in training, it also satisfies state and federal regulations. You can be an expert at operating a particular type of heavy equipment and lose the job to a recent graduate of a good training school who has the basics. That graduate will very quickly learn on the job, and the legal requirements are satisfied.

So what should you do if you know how to operate all the stuff but lack the credentials that get you hired? Get those credentials at ATS. Classes start every three weeks and run year-round so you can work it into your schedule easily. Your experience will help a great deal because you have a working frame of reference to put all the information into. The instructors can help you get ready for the tests, you ace the tests because you know the stuff, and you graduate with the ATS advantage.

The ATS Advantage is a combination of respected training practices, assurance that your knowledge is current, and career help that continues as long as you need it. Add your experience to ATS and it’s no contest.

Have you ever visited an antique tractor show? Some of them have exhibit barns full of big equipment from the past, and the future of safety come a long way. You’d think there’d still be blood and entrails on some of the early farm equipment. It is so dangerous! Nothing protecting the rider/operator from the moving parts — the driver’s seat is a little metal thing suspended in mid-air above gears, and the foot controls are a recipe for disaster. It’s obvious that every safety measure in the history of heavy equipment has been the result of a tragedy.

That’s the past. Today, the present safety measures almost seem like an overload to many operators, but it’s a good idea to be reminded of why they are there. Safety isn’t something that can be completely regulated because an accident happens in real-time and can’t be predicted with accuracy. That’s why ATS trains every student in classroom knowledge of safety regulations and seat time application while operating real equipment because someone who knows the possibilities can respond faster than somebody who panics at a new situation. Accidents on the job are not always operator error, but the operator who is alert and well-trained can keep the accidents from compounding.

The future of heavy equipment safety is hard to predict because technology will let manufacturers design and build machinery that makes today’s heavy equipment look as scary as those exhibit barns full of antique death traps. But one thing is sure, if you get your training at an accredited provider with National Certifications the safety training will keep up with the times. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School has the experience from our past, the National Certifications right now for your training needs, and the commitment to maintain our high standards of training operators who know how to do the job safely in the future.

There are times when a specific job has a lot of regulations to adhere to, and often part of the requirement is that your crew, or certain members, undergo specific specialized training in order to do the job. If you don’t have the people trained to the required standards, there will be consequences, and it isn’t worth the risk.

The problem is the logistics of providing that training. There’s a lot to juggle: legal stuff, industry, operating environments, and customer needs. This becomes the reason an employer needs ATS Specialized Training.

Associated Training Services has a team of instructors who are able to design the perfect training programs for your employees and then teach those employees what they need to know. Your workforce productivity and safety consciousness will be improved, you will fulfill regulatory and insurance requirements, and they can come to your work site to do it if that is what you need.

Whether you need to provide your employees specialized training in heavy equipment, mobile crane, or commercial vehicle training, ATS can do it:

• backhoes
• bulldozers
• wheel loaders
• excavators
• scrapers
• articulated dump trucks
• motor graders
• all-terrain fork lifts
• mobile hydraulic cranes
• lattice boom cranes
• articulated boom cranes
• commercial motor vehicles/CDL testing
• NCCCO Crane Operator Training, Testing and Certification
• OSHA Compliant Rigging & Signal Person Training, Testing and Qualification
• NCCER Heavy Equipment Training, Testing and Qualification
• Class-A CDL Commercial Driver Training, Testing and Licensing

That looks like a lot, but you know as an industry employer that any job involving heavy equipment needs to have high standards for the operators and your crew that lay their lives on the line to do their job every day. ATS Specialized Training may even be funded by the Incumbent Worker Training Program, which provides employer & employee training grants.

Every successful career as a heavy equipment operator, or a truck driver, or a crane operator started with getting trained. The quality of that training is the foundation you build your career upon, so it’s important to choose the best training school you can find and start training as soon as possible.

Of course, we think Associated Training Services offers the best training around, but you don’t have to take our word for it. Do your research, look at the accreditation and certifications a training school holds and see if that school qualifies as a training provider for state and federal funding programs. Check out all the licenses and paperwork so you know what we are talking about when we say that employers respect the level of training our graduates to attain and look for those graduates when it comes time to fill a position.

Then, when you are ready to start training, look at the Training Classes Schedule and choose the training you are interested in taking; heavy equipment, truck, or crane. The calendar will give you the dates of this year’s training sessions, and they start every three weeks so you can start when you want to. We do it this way so there’s no waiting list because once you know you need the training to get the job, you need to start that training as soon as you can.

It’s easy to apply online and get started. There are some personal questions to answer because we don’t want to waste your time if your health or driving record or other histories will keep you from being considered for employment once you graduate. If you have questions for us about the process, we will be glad to answer them. The only thing you have to do is decide to start.

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Associated Training Services (ATS) Heavy Equipment Operator Training School is one of the best places in the country to get trained for the job you want with heavy equipment. It’s also one of the best at helping you find the job that’s right for you, get through the application process successfully, and be prepared for an interview.

Find the job that’s right for you

As soon as you start your training at ATS, our Career Services personnel start working with you to provide personal career counseling. This can end up being a lifelong friendship because you get continued career help after graduation if you want it. The beginning of that career help is the entrance interview to establish career goals, industries you are interested in, and even the geographic location you’d like to be working in. You’ll get a job packet with a list of employers in that location and any other information that would be helpful in your chosen career.

Get through the application process successfully

One of the challenges of finding a job after you graduate is figuring out where the openings are. The ATS Job Leads Database is constantly being updated. You see a few every Saturday on this blog. But as a graduate, you have access to the whole thing and can search job leads by state, city, or zip code. Our ATS Career Services website lets you search by job descriptions too, and you can apply right from the site. You can post your resume (we teach you how to write a good one) and the employers can find YOU too.

Be prepared for an interview

It isn’t enough to know how to do the job if you flunk the job search process. So ATS trains students in the “soft skills” that a successful job search takes – like interview skills, networking, how to write resumes, application processes, and all the rest of it. Your ATS instructor has worked in their field and gone through the hoops to get a job out there, too. All our instructors are skilled and experienced and teach from that experience, including how they found their jobs and what that process was like.

Our Career Services are an important part of the package you get when you come to ATS.