The fact you’re on this website indicates you may be interested in heavy equipment operations. If that is the case, then I’m sure you have a number of questions that you answered before making a final career decision. You could make life easier on yourself, pick up the telephone and talk to one of our advisers, however, if you’re not quite ready for that step, then these quick and easy facts should answer some of your questions.

Are the jobs for new operators?

We are reaching a point in society where there will be many industries suffering from a skills shortage crisis, and heavy equipment operations is one of those. The reason is quite simple – the baby boomers. It is estimated that construction alone could lose up to 25% of its workforce over the next five-ten years simply through the retirement of baby boomers. Are there jobs for new operators? There certainly are, and demand is going to increase quickly in the coming years, especially for skilled operators with several years experience. Train now and you’ll be experienced and in high demand before you know it.

Are heavy equipment operators well paid?

Heavy equipment operators earn a good wage, and with skilled shortages on the horizon, skilled operators will see those wages increase. Entry-level operators start on a good wage, and these will include all of the benefits that come with most jobs, including health and insurance cover.

Is heavy equipment complex and difficult to operate?

Modern heavy equipment is almost as easy as operating a car. You can learn to operate a range of heavy equipment in just three weeks. During those three weeks you’ll learn all the safety requirements, receive in-the-seat operator training, and general skills required to work in construction areas. A good heavy equipment operator training program should have you ready for entry level employment after three weeks training. Complex? No – if you have a little common sense, then you’ll pick up the required skills quite quickly.

Is heavy equipment operations a boring job?

One of the great benefits to being a heavy equipment operator is variety. You’re not doing the same thing every day, and if you are, it will be on a different site and/or with a different area of dirt. In short, most heavy equipment operators find the work interesting, at times challenging, and always very rewarding. How many jobs can you work on where you can point to a finished project like a road, bridge or building, and say to your kids – ‘I helped build that’?

Heavy equipment operations is a career option that is well paid, interesting, and full of potential. If you still have questions, then you really do need to talk to us – so call us on (800) 383-7364. It could well be your first big step into a new and rewarding career as a heavy equipment operator.

In an era gone by, heavy equipment operator training was done on an ad hoc basis. There was little if any formal training required. In most cases, new operators were trained by friends or family on a ‘sink or swim’ approach. Times have changed, and today’s heavy equipment is far more technical than it was in the early days. Having said that, today’s equipment is probably easier to operate, however, the job itself has become more complex.

There’s no denying the importance of in-the-seat hands-on training. That teaches a student how to operate the heavy equipment. What it doesn’t do is prepare a student to work as a heavy equipment operator. Whilst it may be a play on words, there is a big difference between the terms ‘heavy equipment operator’ and ‘someone who can operate heavy equipment’. I am sure that many of us can remember our early days driving cars – sure, we could drive a car, but were we drivers? That is, someone who could drive safely and competently? That then is the difference between heavy equipment operator and one who can operate heavy equipment.

Classroom training fills in the important gaps that prepares a student for employment as a heavy equipment operator. Safety training, training in new technology, even training in how to read site plans – an important requirement now when you need to work as part of a team to complete a project, these are handled in both the classroom and in and around the heavy equipment. Workers today need to be trained to a minimum level in safety aspects, and this is a classroom-based area of learning.

Heavy equipment operator training now needs to address both the practical and the theoretical side. If you are being trained in a purely hands-on environment, for example, by a friend or relative, there is a good chance that employers won’t take a risk and employ you – more importantly, when it comes to comparing the merits of several candidates for a vacancy, ask yourself whether or not an employer would take on someone who needs further training, or take on someone who has already completed their training. It is now compulsory for employees to complete safety training before working on construction sites. Classroom training may not be as exciting as in-the-seat training, however, it is now a necessary part of life.

When starting a new career, no amount of training is worth the effort if you cannot find employment. One of the primary goals at ATS is to get people into work as soon as possible after completing training. If you spend too long looking for work, some of those new skills are going to fade a little. You’ll regain them once you start work, however, it could take a little time. Our career services personnel do everything possible to help graduates quickly find that first job. One of our services is a dedicated jobs website where employers list any related job vacancies. We also publish some of the more recent job vacancies on this site every Saturday. Recent jobs include:

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

Mobile Crane Operators
Texas
NCCCO Mobile Truck Crane Operators Needed ASAP!

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.

If you’re interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, then talk to us at ATS. Our training programs commence on a regular basis, and unlike many other training schools, we work hard to help you find that first job.

Heavy equipment operators work in a wide range of activities, the hardest being the clean up after storms. As we head into the summer months, there are many operators preparing themselves for the associated storms. A lot of attention is paid to those who lose homes and businesses because of storms, however, little attention is paid to those who do the cleaning up, and it can be a heart-wrenching job. People’s homes, often still full of personal items that have been destroyed, need to be cleaned away – sure, insurance can pay for a new home, but to see those memories being trashed is never easy.

Bulldozer operators are particularly busy although loader operators and dump truck drivers run a close second. Excavator operators and backhoe operators are also kept busy during these periods. It’s not just homes and businesses either. The environment receives a fair hit as well with sand washed away from beaches and replaced by debris that wind and the waves throw up. Rivers often flood, and they leave behind a big mess as well – mud and debris, sometimes cars and parts of houses.

It requires a lot of experience to work in these areas, experience that is built up over several years following an operator’s initial training. That initial training has become very important in today’s workplace – employers don’t have the time (or money) to train operators from scratch, so they rely on new operators being at least competent enough to do many of the basic tasks that heavy equipment operators do every day. If heavy equipment operators have those entry level skills, they can build upon them in the workplace, taking on harder and more complicated tasks as they develop those skills.

At Associated Training Services, we pride ourselves on the skill levels that heavy equipment operators have when they graduate from our training programs. Our programs are designed to meet the needs of industry – we don’t just train students in the basics and leave them to fend for themselves. If you want a career as a heavy equipment operator, then be sure you receive the best training available. That will set you up for a long and successful career, and that includes working to clean up after storms have ravaged the landscape.

There is a lot to think about when operating heavy equipment. You have the task at hand that needs to be completed, and in many situations accuracy is of utmost importance. Motor graders are a good example – their fine grading skills are important when they are undertaking the final grade for a new road. Excavator operators also need to be accurate, especially when digging in areas where existing services are located – you don’t want to be breaking open gas pipes, or worse, sewage pipes. To make life a little more difficult, heavy equipment operators must also take into account other workers on the site, structures, and other vehicles – overhead power lines are also a concern in some work areas.

Where a heavy equipment operator is really tested is when working on a project where the general public are in close proximity. One of the hardest jobs is working on road works, either road repairs or road widening projects. Traffic is generally diverted around your work area, however, that can still bring them very close to your equipment. In situations where half a road or a lane is closed, you will always get the rogue driver who thinks they own the road – they’ll ignore road signage and barge through. There have been countless incidents where workers have been injured because of these drivers, yet if your equipment makes contact with their car, they will be the first to place all the blame on your operating skills.

Operating heavy equipment in areas away from others can lead an operator into a false sense of security. They don’t have to be as careful. After all, there’s no one around to harm. This can lead to bad habits, which, if taken to a busier work site, can create a lot of problems. No matter where you are working, heavy equipment operators need to maintain safe work practices, both for their own safety and for the safety of others. If an operator is working safely, and a rogue driver encroaches into the work area, then they will ultimately be held responsible for any incidents.

Heavy equipment safety training is an important part of any training for new recruits to the industry. You will find that many employers follow this training up with their own safety training, especially if they have safety aspects that need to be concentrated on. Are you preparing yourself for a safe work place? Be sure your heavy equipment operator training includes a safety component – employers will not employ you if you don’t have these basics covered.

The field of heavy equipment operations, truck driving and crane operations can be strange, especially when it comes to employment opportunities. If you look back through previous Saturday job posts, you’ll notice a trend – each week there seems to be a stronger demand for one group of workers over another. This week it’s crane operators who are in big demand, particularly mobile crane operators, and there are several employers who are looking for more than one operator. This week’s jobs and some from last week that may still have openings include:

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

Mobile Crane Operators
Texas
NCCCO Mobile Truck Crane Operators Needed ASAP!

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.

For more information on these jobs and any new jobs, visit our dedicated jobs website. For more information on exciting and well paid careers in heavy equipment, truck driving and crane operations, visit our dedicated training website.

Deciding on a career can be a very difficult process to go through. It can be even harder if you are considering a career change. It is interesting to note that research is showing that most people change their career three to four times over a lifetime, so if you are considering a change, you’re definitely not alone. Becoming a heavy equipment operator is not difficult – it only takes three weeks of training to gain the skills that will open the door to entry level positions. The question for many then is whether or not this is the right career choice.

When trying to decide on a career, you need to get as much information as possible. You will also need to discuss any career change options with your family since your final choice may have an impact on your family. As a heavy equipment operator, you may well be leaving home for work as your children are getting up for breakfast. The upside is that you’ll often be arriving home from work as they arrive home from school. This is where your information gathering becomes important – with all the facts in hand, you can make an educated decision on your future. So where do you get this information? We suggest the following as a start:

• Talk to current operators – telephone a local contractor and ask if there is a suitable time when you can come and talk to one or more of their operators. Most operators will spare a few minutes to answer any questions.
• Look online – look at websites dedicated to heavy equipment operations. You’re already here, so browse through some of our older posts for more information on the various aspects of heavy equipment operations (this link will give you plenty to get started with).
• Training schools – contact a training school to see if they can provide information on heavy equipment careers. We are only too happy to answer any questions related to heavy equipment operator careers. We can also send you a brochure – just fill in the online request form and we’ll send one out to you.
• YouTube – if you want to see heavy equipment in action, and to perhaps get a preview of training, go to YouTube and search for heavy equipment – you can sit back in your home and watch some incredible footage if you’re prepared to sift through the thousands of videos available. It’s well worth the effort. We have a handful of heavy equipment training videos that have been taken over the years, so feel free to browse through them as well.

If you need more information, come and visit our heavy equipment training school – look over the equipment, talk to our training staff and perhaps some of our students. If you’re lucky, you may even get to sit behind the wheel of one of our machines just to get a feel for the job. Do your research – then, if you do decide on a career as a heavy equipment operator, you’ll be well prepared for a well paid and often interesting career.

Whilst heavy equipment operators are well paid, their rewards don’t stop there. Like all jobs, there are benefit packages that are offered when you first start with an employer. The size and scope of these benefits packages are generally determined by the size of your employer, your experience, and your reputation.

So what benefits can a heavy equipment operator expect?

• Health care that may include medical, dental, vision, and prescription medication coverage. These healthcare programs may include family members as well.
• Life insurance plans that include disability coverage.
• Retirement plans.
• Cash bonuses – these are generally tied to contracts, if a contract is completed early or on time, then a cash bonus may be payable. Some employers also offer bonuses for safety records and long service.
• Paid vacations.
• Paid training – some employers may even reimburse heavy equipment operators the costs associated with additional training such as truck driver training and crane operator training.

That is only a short list of common benefits offered by employers, however, the total value of a paycheck together with those benefits can be quite sizable. Heavy equipment operators who are highly skilled and who have a good reputation as operators can also look forward to job security, even when times are tough. Employers will hang on to their most valued employees for as long as possible – you certainly wouldn’t be the first to let go when times are tough.

If you want a well-paid career that comes with a lot of side benefits, then heavy equipment operations should be on your list. It only takes three weeks of heavy equipment operator training to prepare you for the workplace – from there, your future is in your hands, and it could be a lucrative and enjoyable working future at that.

Truck drivers and heavy equipment operators are in demand this week, so much so that some employers are dropping in to see us in person, looking for recent graduates. If you require more information on these or any other jobs related to truck driving, heavy equipment operations and crane operations, visit our jobs website.

Truck Drivers
Windsor, WI.
Coca Cola hiring local route drivers and you’re home every night.

Truck Drivers
Cheyenne, WY.
Driver IV- CDL DRIVER – PTI Group

Truck Driver
Casper, WY
Driver IV- CDL DRIVER – PTI Group

Heavy Equipment Operators
Cromwell, CT
Heavy equipment operators needed.

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.

Truck Drivers/Heavy Equipment Operators
Wausau, WI.
3M stopped in at ATS and said hiring drivers/operators at Wausau quarry.

Heavy Equipment Operator/CDL Driver & Laborers
Fort Campbell, KY
Construction Company seeking Heavy Equipment Operator experience with Demolition required, a CDL Licensed Driver class B or A is required. Laborers for Demolition job experienced only.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Exeter, NH
Equipment includes loaders, backhoes, dump trucks, excavator, and street sweeper, trucks equipped with snow plows, other snow and ice control activities. Pick and shovel work, jack hammering, asphalt cutting, maintain drainage systems, clean out storm drains, culverts, and ditches, lays brick and block for drainage structures, dig trenches, some masonry, and other duties as required

WA, Tacoma. Check out this HEOP job

TRUCK DRIVER – CDL A: medical card * Boom Truck Driver must have current CDL Class A.

As you can see there is work available for operators and truck drivers. All that you require is the training and, in the case of truck driving, a commercial drivers license which we can help you attain. Check out the latest training programs and training dates by visiting our training school website.

Technology in general has been one of the fastest changing areas in mankind’s history. I can remember a college professor once comparing modern technology to early cars – his comparison theorized that, if cars had improved at the same pace that technology is now speeding, then a current car would travel across the country on a thimble of fuel and that highways would be such that a car could travel comfortably at 200 mph with few if any accidents. Heavy equipment has not been immune to technology changes, and in many cases it has been borrowed from other areas.

Love it or hate it, motor sports have created a lot of the changes we see in modern cars. Power steering, ABS, fuel economy – they all owe their origins to motor sports. You can now find power steering and fuel economy technology in modern heavy equipment – and that’s just to name a few of the improvements that have come out of motor racing. Security has seen the installation of video cameras and recording in cars, and this technology has also crept into heavy equipment, particularly in the area of reversing cameras.

GPS has been a real boon for businesses that own a lot of heavy equipment. Stolen equipment can now be found in hours simply by tracking its GPS signals. GPS is also being used to help operators accurately complete jobs, especially in equipment like road graders and bulldozers. Laser leveling is also used widely in road graders to accurately produce cambers and level road surfaces.

Heavy equipment operator training now goes beyond just pushing levers and pedals to complete a job. Modern heavy equipment operators need to be proficient in the use of GPS and other technologies if they are going to have long and successful careers. This makes it important to receive training through a heavy equipment training school that has a range of equipment that includes both old and new technologies – you just never know what sort of technology your next employer is going to be using.