This week’s jobs include two that reinforce our belief that heavy equipment operators should have a commercial drivers license. There are two employers who are looking for truck drivers and heavy equipment operators – if you can fulfill both rolls, it makes it much easier to find employment. This week’s jobs on our jobs website include:

Truck Drivers
Bainville, MT
DUAL TRUCKING is hiring drivers (they are also looking for operators)

Heavy Equipment Operators
Bainville, MT
DUAL TRUCKING is hiring heavy equipment operators (they are also looking for truck drivers)

Truck Drivers
Mobridge, SD
Employer now taking applications for spring hire of truck drivers with CDL-A

Heavy Equipment Operators
Mobridge, SD
Employer now taking applications for spring hire of heavy equipment operators

Heavy Equipment Operators
Evergreen, CO.
Employer hiring HEAVY Equipment Operators

Last week’s focus was on truck drivers, and the trend continues. Truck driving jobs from last week include vacancies in:

• Lynchburg, VA
• San Antonio, TX
• Williston, ND
• Claremore, OK
• Southern, WI.
• Madison, WI.

If you’re looking for a new career, then heavy equipment operations and truck driving are two that are in constant demand. We can have you ready for a career as a heavy equipment operator in as little as three weeks, a little longer for truck drivers that undertake the full truck driver training program.

The world of construction is constantly changing, especially when it comes to legislative requirements. It seems that every year there is a new set of requirements and, in recent years, these changes have had significant effects on crane operators and riggers/signal persons. Crane operators now need to be certified whilst riggers/signal persons need to have formal acknowledgement of their skills and knowledge.

For riggers and signal persons, this is by undertaking either a qualification or certification program. The certification program is of a higher level and does take a little longer to complete. After completing this program you will be certified at Rigging Level One. If you complete the qualification program you will receive a qualification compliance card, the minimum standard for riggers and signal persons.

Employers have been encouraged to have their work crews trained and either qualified or certified in groups. At ATS, we deliver training to work groups, either in our training school or at an employer’s work place – whichever is best suited to individual employers. We can also design our rigger/signalpersons training to include workplace-specific skills whilst still covering the standards set by the relevant authorities.

If you are not either certified or qualified, then you shouldn’t now be working as either a rigger or signalperson. The onus is on employers to ensure that their workers meet all the requirements set down by OSHA – failure to do so can lead to huge fines. If you don’t meet these requirements, or you’re an employer who has workers who don’t meet these requirements, contact us to discuss the best training options available.

Heavy equipment operators who can operate a range of equipment are always in high demand. If you have commercial drivers license (CDL) and some experience transporting heavy equipment on flat bed tractor trailers, then you’ll be in even higher demand. Commercial construction companies are always looking for ways to cut costs, and being able to employ one person who is able to do a range of tasks is always going to be cost effective.

The downside for operators is that you can expect to be moved from equipment to equipment as the demand arises. This movement is seen as a big plus to many heavy equipment operators as it adds variety to their working life. Having a CDL often means there is no waiting around as well. Once you complete one job, you load your equipment onto the trailer and move on to the next task.

When you think about it, completing the required training to become a heavy equipment operator and completing the requirements for a CDL makes a lot of sense. There’s three weeks training to become a heavy equipment operator and as little as two weeks training to gain a CDL (if you work on the theory side of your training at home). If you want the complete CDL course, then you’re looking at an extra three weeks – however, that’s eight weeks in total and you have all the skills that employers are looking for.

If you are already a trained heavy equipment operator, then adding a commercial drivers license to your repertoire could be the boost your career needs. Finding work will be easier and you may even find your wage rates are a little higher. You’ll certainly find your work more diverse and far more interesting.

The jobs market is as fickle as ever this week with almost every job listed on our dedicated jobs website being for truck drivers. It does make for a change since we have seen a domination of heavy equipment operators during the last month. If you are interested in any of these jobs, or want more information, then visit our jobs website. Keep a close watch as new job opportunities are coming in all the time. The latest jobs include:

Truck Drivers
Lynchburg, VA
Dedicated Truck Driver with a Class A CDL is required by Schneider National, Inc

Truck Drivers
San Antonio, TX
Truck Driver CDL A or B with Boom. Full time work as a local truck driver/logisics.

Truck Drivers
Williston, ND
Truck Driver with CDL is required by Deer Valley Trucking in Williston, ND:

Truck Drivers
Claremore, OK
CDLA truck driver required in Catoosa/Claremore – wage rates from $14 per hour

Truck Drivers
Southern, WI.
Lycon is hiring local truck drivers – be home every night

Truck Drivers
Madison, WI.
Badger Coaches is hiring drivers for local work – be home every night

You can expect to see an increase in the number of truck driving jobs on offer in the coming years. We are losing drivers (through retirement) faster than we can recruit new trainees, so if you’re looking for an in-demand career, then consider truck driving. As you can see from today’s list, even local drivers are in demand. You only require five weeks of truck driver training to be in a position to gain your commercial drivers license, and from there, the roads are yours to conquer.

There is such a huge focus on heavy equipment safety these days that you could be excused for thinking it was the number one priority. For government agencies like the Department of Labor, it is. For employers, safety is obviously an issue, however, it is not necessarily their number one priority. For employers, it is more of a holistic approach.

What employers are looking for is an operator who can get a job done quickly, accurately, and safely. In fact, safety and skills are linked – if you are not operating your equipment safely, then there is a good chance you’ll have an accident, and this will lead to down time, possibly an investigation, and the job not being completed on time. In today’s construction industry, not completing a contract on time can lead to penalties, which reduce the income a construction company receives. On the flip side, if a contract is completed ahead of time, there could be bonus payments available, and since money rules the business world, you know what an employer’s preference is going to be.

When training to become a heavy equipment operator, it is important to focus on all aspects of your training. Skills are obviously important, however, safety should not be ignored or underestimated. As a student, there is not one priority learning area – in short, all of your training should be your priority.

A well-trained heavy equipment operator who can work safely whilst getting the job done on or ahead of time will always find themselves with work. These operators gain reputations that make them highly employable and sought after. Operators who have a tendency to take short cuts, have accidents, and be generally unreliable will soon find themselves unemployable – the grape vine is very strong in the field of heavy equipment and your reputation, good or bad, will quickly filter through the system. Start off on the right foot by being a competent and safe operator.

There has long been an argument surrounding the best form of heavy equipment operator training. There are those who believe that a long (as in 12 month) apprenticeship type of training is best, and then there are those who believe that informal training by a parent or friend is best. Sitting in between is a formal training program that can be completed in weeks rather than months and an on-the-job training regime that some employers offer. Which then is the best type of training? We believe the short formal training program that we offer delivers the best results for those looking to start a career as heavy equipment operators, however, other training programs do have their positives and negatives. Today we’ll look at the short formal training program and compare it the informal training that used to be the norm.

Formal Heavy Equipment Operator Training

Pros

• Training is completed in as little as three weeks,
• Students are trained to operate a range of heavy equipment,
• Students are provided with a wide range of skills, including modern technology,
• Employers are showing a preference for graduates from reputable heavy equipment training schools,
• Recognized training certificate issued once a student completes all the training requirements.

Cons

• Cost can be a problem for those on a tight budget,
• Time off work for those who currently have a job can also be a problem,
• Difficulty in accessing reputable training schools.

Informal Heavy Equipment Operator Training

Pros

• Cost – this training is often free,
• You generally know your trainer well,
• Very flexible training.

Cons

• Lack of employer support for informally trained heavy equipment operators,
• Incomplete training, particularly when it comes to new technology,
• Students are generally only trained on one type of heavy equipment,
• Training can take months if only done on an ad hoc basis.

There are several important points to note from this comparison. The most important is the employer’s preference. They are more likely to employ someone who is well trained through a recognized heavy equipment operator training school than someone who is employed informally – there’s no ‘checklist’ of skills trained in with informal training. When it comes to the cons of formal training, these can often be overcome if students are prepared to work with their training provider. We can help students access loans to cover training costs, we can offer accommodation to ease the difficulty of access, and we even offer alternatives to full-time training to help those in work. Short formal training does stand out as the better option, and being a short training program, it means you are able to transition into a new career very quickly.

On Thursday we mentioned how positive the jobs outlook for heavy equipment operators is as we head towards 2020. The number of jobs to come into our jobs website over the last month certainly supports this positive outlook, and with summer almost upon us, job vacancies will only increase. Now is a great time to undertake heavy equipment training – you’ll be finished just in time for the late spring/summer hiring season. Some of the heavy equipment operator jobs listed over the last month include:

Heavy Equipment Operator
Tampa, FL
Primary Heavy Equipment Operator required.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Mobridge, SD.
Heavy Equipment operators required.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Stillwater, OK
Operates heavy equipment at a transfer station, recycle and/or landfill for the purpose of transferring, spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in a productive and safe manner.

Primary Heavy Equipment Operator II
Pompano Beach, FL
Primary Heavy Equipment Operator required for work in sunny Florida

Heavy Equipment Operators
Cleveland, OH.
North Coast Ferrous hiring backhoe operators for Iron recycling, Attachments Shears, Magnets

Heavy Equipment Operators
Florida
Lots of Heavy Equipment jobs available in Florida, many with immediate starts

Quarry Heavy Equipment Operator
La Coste, TX
Heavy Equipment Operator position available near Castroville, Texas. Please only apply if you already live in or around the San Antonio, Texas area, there is no relocation for this position and we are looking to hire someone immediately.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Ghent, KY
Position will be operating a front end loader, skidsteer loader, fork truck, track mobile, or excavator, providing services to a steel mill. Other duties as required by the Operations Supervisor or the Terminal Manager.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Murfreesboro, TN
Operates heavy equipment at a transfer station, recyclery and/or landfill for the purpose of transferring, spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in a productive and safe manner.

If you’re looking for a career change, then heavy equipment operations is worth a closer look. It only takes three weeks training and you’re ready for a career that’s well paid and in growing demand.

According to the latest Bureau of Labor statistics report, heavy equipment operations is the fastest growing employment sector in the US. Now, when we say the ‘latest’ statistics, they do refer to the period 2010-2020, however, the figures used in their report do appear to be holding up with heavy equipment operators being in high demand around the nation. We have often mentioned the fact that Baby Boomers are now approaching retirement age, and those numbers have not been factored into the Bureau of Labor Statistics report. So what are the expectations in 2010?

The report estimated a growth of 23% for general construction heavy equipment operators with the exception of pile-driver operations where growth was expected to be around 36% (you’ll need a crane operator’s certificate in many states for these positions). The average growth rate for all occupations is around 14%, so heavy equipment operations is certainly an area worth considering if you’re looking for long term job prospects.

What do these percentages mean? In 2010, there were over 400,000 heavy equipment operators in work, and by 2020, the expectation is that 500,000 heavy equipment operators will be required. That’s a growth of around 100,000 over 10 years, or 10,000 new jobs each year. If we take a conservative figure of 25% or those 400,000 being ‘Baby Boomers’ who will be retiring around 2020, then that’s another 100,000 operators that will be required – a total of 200,000 new operators by 2020. Those numbers don’t factor in natural attrition caused by those who move on to other careers.

Other interesting facts from the 2010 census include wages with a median of around $40,000 per year, or almost $19 per hour. Heavy equipment operations is not just a growing field of work, it is also a reasonably well paid field. Even more appealing is the fact that it only takes three weeks of full time training to become a heavy equipment operator – all in all, a good career option.

One of the big differences between a mobile crane operator and a fixed crane operator is the need for extra skills. Crane operators in general need to know how to stabilize their cranes, and they need to know how to operate their cranes according to local conditions and with a shifting load. Mobile crane operators in most cases also need to have truck driving skills backed up by a commercial drivers license.

As the name implies, mobile cranes are just that – mobile. The crane is a separate unit that has been fixed to the top of a truck. These trucks generally exceed the limit for a standard drivers license, so a commercial drivers license is needed before the crane operator can move their crane from job to job. Whilst an employer could employ two people to do the job – a crane operator and a truck driver – it makes economic sense to have one person who has the skills to do both.

Mobile crane operators may find themselves doing two or three or more different jobs each day, and these jobs will be in different locations. Being able to drive the crane from job to job is therefore a required skill, as is being able to quickly set up their crane so it can safely undertake the job. Setting up includes placing the truck in the best place, anchoring the crane using special lifts – this may lift the truck off its wheels to prevent any rolling and to ensure the crane is working from an even plane. The smallest tilt in the crane will be magnified at the end of the boom, making for a potentially dangerous situation.

When training to become a mobile crane operator, be sure the training includes the skills necessary to gain a commercial drivers license. Without that commercial drivers license, you could well be an unemployable mobile crane operator.

Truck drivers are back in demand this week, along with heavy equipment operators. Crane operators have been in demand in recent weeks, so there is plenty of work available for drivers and operators. If you require more information on these jobs or want to be amongst the first to see new jobs as they arrive, then we suggest making our dedicated jobs website one of the first you visit each day.

Truck Drivers
Rooscoe, IL.
Local drivers required for the Mixers; also require dump truck drivers.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Tampa, FL
Primary Heavy Equipment Operator required.

Truck Drivers
Mobridge, SD.
CDL-A drivers required.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Mobridge, SD.
Heavy Equipment operators required.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Stillwater, OK
Operates heavy equipment at a transfer station, recycle and/or landfill for the purpose of transferring, spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in a productive and safe manner.

Heavy Equipment Operators
United States
Heavy Equipment Operators required in a variety of locations around the nation

Primary Heavy Equipment Operator II
Pompano Beach, FL
Primary Heavy Equipment Operator required for work in sunny Florida

Heavy Equipment Operators
Cleveland, OH.
North Coast Ferrous hiring backhoe operators for Iron recycling, Attachments Shears, Magnets

CDL Driver/Boom Crane Operator
Liberty, NY.
Employer looking to hire a CDL Driver/Boom Crane operator

Crane Operators
Crane operators with Rough Terrain experience and NCCO certified required for immediate start – $27

Heavy equipment operations is a career choice that is full of interesting work options. Truck driving also offers a wide range of career options. If you’re looking for a change of careers, come and talk to us about truck driving, crane operations or heavy equipment operations – it only takes a few weeks to gain the skills required to commence work in fields that are well paid and rewarding.