One of the benefits of driving dump trucks is that you’re always busy. You’re not just busy, you are doing a variety of jobs. Dump truck drivers don’t just drive from A to B all day. They are in and out of their trucks on a regular basis, especially when setting the hopper and dumping a load. Dump truck drivers are always home for dinner as well, and you don’t have to spend any time sleeping in your cab.

Dump trucks are a vital part of any construction team. When it comes to road building, a road simply wouldn’t be built if it wasn’t for the dump trucks bringing in the necessary materials, in particular the materials used to form a road base. At the same time, dump trucks are necessary in the removal of excess dirt and debris that is being cleared to make way for a road. Dump trucks are also necessary when it comes to general construction, particularly in the removal of unwanted material.

There are two main requirements to becoming a dump truck driver. The first is the training required to drive a dump truck, and the second is to acquire a commercial drivers license without which you cannot drive on an open road. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can help you achieve both. In fact, you can be ready to work as a dump truck driver within weeks of commencing your training, and that includes completing the requirements for a commercial drivers license.

If you’re looking for an interesting and varied career, then dump truck driving could be for you. You’ll be home each night for dinner, and you’ll always be busy – the one thing you won’t be is bored.

Excavators – you would be surprised at how small they can be, and equally surprised at how large they can be. Small excavators can be loaded onto a small trailer and towed by a family car. Large excavators are the biggest machinery in use – they crawl along at a top speed of 5mph, have buckets the size of a house, and can excavate several tons of earth with one scoop of that large bucket.

No matter the size, operators still start with the same basic excavator training. That means hands on training to get a real feel for the equipment, safety training (for obvious reasons), and training in areas such as soil knowledge and understanding site plans. Operators, including those that operate the monsters of mining, also need to learn basic maintenance skills, particularly those involving problem identification – it’s better to identify a problem whilst it’s small, before it becomes a major problem that disables their equipment for any lengthy period of time.

You can find excavators working in a wide range of work places. Digging trenches is just one, however, they can also be involved with demolition work, whilst much larger excavators slave away in mines. Excavator operators are amongst the highest paid heavy equipment operators, and there is always demand for operators.

If you’re looking for a career in heavy equipment, you should give the excavator plenty of consideration. If you like variety, if you like the challenge, then excavators provide those and more. You can commence a career as an excavator operator after as little as three weeks training – that training will have the basics covered, and you’ll be prepared for entry level work.

Under OSHA regulations, all riggers must now have, as a minimum, a qualification compliance card. Whilst this is the minimum standard, many workplaces are now preferring riggers that have rigger certification, which is the next level up. Qualification compliance cards are issued once a rigger has demonstrated the skills, knowledge and safety consciousness required to work as a rigger.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools deliver training and assessment of both riggers and signal persons. The training and assessment program meets the OSHA qualification standard for rigging and signalpersons. The program takes between 8 and 12 hours depending on number of candidates and includes written and practical training and testing. A qualification compliance card is then issued to verify the successful completion of the training program.

For those looking to gain a certification, the ATS training program more than meets the OSHA qualification standard for rigging and signalperson. The training program takes between 32 to 36 hours (depending on number of candidates) and includes both written and practical training and testing. On completion, participants are eligible to receive certification – this is issued by the National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Participants will be certified as either NCCCO Rigging Level One or NCCCO Signal Person Certifications.

Training is available for both individuals or for employer groups. Training can be undertaken in our training rooms, or in the workplace for employer groups. If your employees do not have the minimum qualification standard, then you could be liable for severe penalties under the OSHA regulations. Contact us for more information if your employees require training and/or assessment to meet the minimum requirements.

Much has been said and written about heavy equipment safety, however, it not a new subject. Safety has always been at the core of any heavy equipment training – there’s just hasn’t been the focus that we now see. In the past, it was considered a part of your training, not as a separate subject.

As an example, an excavator operator has always been taught to check their environs before operating their equipment. Looking up, looking around, and even looking down is not new – it’s always been there. The difference now is that operators are assessed on their specific knowledge of heavy equipment safety and because of that, it has become a separate subject area.

When you compare accidents and serious injury/death rates between now and twenty years ago, there’s no argument that specialized safety training has helped to decrease these numbers. Employers have been given the responsibility (some would say burden) of ensuring that all workers are trained to a minimum OSHA standard. When looking for heavy equipment training, it makes sense to check that OSHA training is included in your training program. Without this training, your employment prospects may be limited – you will need to find an employer who is willing to take your through an equivalent safety training program.

Safety in the workplace is an important issue nationwide, not just in the heavy equipment field. Pen pushers in their glass towers are required to have some form of safety training, even if it only involves fire drills. When it comes to heavy equipment operations, it’s important to remember that your equipment is large, it’s heavy, and it’s deadly if not used safely – deadly to both those around the equipment, and in many cases, to those operating the equipment.

Heavy equipment safety has always been an important component of training – today, safety issues are clearly documented and you are expected to have a sound knowledge of these issues.

One of the busiest machines on a construction site is often the backhoe. Being so versatile, they can perform any number of jobs, and that makes them valuable to any business. The more experience a backhoe operator has on a variety of jobs, the more valued that operator becomes.

Backhoes are unique in the heavy equipment field. They can perform a lot of the work that an excavator does, and they can perform a lot of the work that a loader does. With the right attachments, a backhoe can even perform light bulldozing work. To add to their value, backhoes can be quite nimble, working in smaller areas than their larger counterparts.

To work as a backhoe operator, you need the skills that encompass both an excavator and a loader. When looking at training options, the ideal training program will give a student access to all three pieces of equipment along with some time on alternates like a bulldozer and grader. This gives the operator a broad exposure to heavy equipment whilst allowing them to concentrate on the skills requires to operate a backhoe.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools deliver training across a range of machinery including:

Backhoes
Wheel Loaders
Scrapers
Excavators
Bulldozers
Road Graders

If you’re interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, then contact us for more information on available training programs. You’ll find more information on our training programs including how to apply on our main website. Training programs start on a regular basis with students graduation ready for employment in as little as three weeks. Our career services department is there to help graduates find their first job in the heavy equipment industry – that’s everything a person requires to launch themselves into a new career in this industry. If the backhoe isn’t quite what you’re looking for, then you can try your hand at bulldozers, graders or anyone of a dozen other pieces of heavy equipment.

When applying for any job vacancy, the main aim of your application is to get to the interview stage. This is generally a face-to-face interview, however, interstate job applications may go through a telephone interview initially. So why do so many heavy equipment job applications fail? In most cases, it’s because the applicant got the basics wrong. So how should you apply for a heavy equipment job vacancy?

It all starts with the employer’s job ad – read it thoroughly since most job ads tell you exactly what an employer is looking for. Pay particular attention to the following:

Method of application – employers are busy. They are managing a business, equipment and employees so they can only devote so much time to vetting potential recruits. An employer will list their preferred method of application because it suits their busy schedule. If the job ad requests written applications through snail mail, then use that method. If it’s an online application, or email application, then use that method. Don’t just rock up to a workplace because you know they have a vacancy, chances are you’ll be turned away.

Experience – if a job ad asks for five years experience and you are new to heavy equipment operations, your application won’t make it through the first read. Most job ads don’t ask for experience – target them first.

Equipment type – if an employer asks for a grader operator and you prefer bulldozers, if your experience is in bulldozers, you may find your application is rejected fairly quickly. Apply for job vacancies that suit your experience.

Your job application needs to prove to a potential employer that you are a good fit for the job. This will lead to an interview where that perception can be proven. Don’t lie on your application, don’t pretend to be what you’re not – the interview process will soon demonstrate that, and you’ll look the fool. If your application is impressive, and you interview well, you may not land that particular job, however, your name may well stick in their mind for the next vacancy.

If you really want a particular job, then read that job ad carefully, then submit an application that answers the employer’s requirements. Get that right and you’ll get the chance to prove yourself in an interview. Get those basics wrong and your application will end up in the waste bin and you’ll become more disheartened and frustrated. These tips hold true for any job vacancy including heavy equipment operations, truck driving, and crane operations.

Looking for work as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver or crane operator? Check our dedicated job site. Job vacancies are posted on a regular basis.

The bulldozer is still one of the most popular machines when it comes to heavy equipment careers. For many, the dream of operating a bulldozer starts with one of their first toys as a child. That sense of power – being able to push around a lot of dirt in one machine appeals, and whilst it is a popular career choice, there is still strong demand for bulldozer operators.

When it comes to construction, bulldozers are used everywhere. Whether it’s a new road, a new factory, or a housing development, bulldozers are the machine of choice to do all the preparation work. That means removing vegetation, large rocks, tree roots and excess soil, and there’s no doubt that a bulldozer is the machinery best equipped for that job.

Whilst it may look easy, operating a bulldozer is not just about pushing levers and pedals. Bulldozer operators need to learn a lot about dirt – at least, the different types of dirt. They need to learn how to clear an area of vegetation; how to handle rocks, or more particularly, large boulders; and how to deal with surfaces such as clay compared to sand or volcanic soil – they all react differently when being worked by a large blade.

Bulldozer operators become masters at assessing a plot of land and how best to clear and level that plot ready for the next stage of a development. A correct assessment means the operator can quickly clear the plot without causing any lasting damage to the plot, or his equipment.

It’s not difficult learning how to operate a bulldozer. When it comes to soil, the lessons never end – a bulldozer operator will always come across a plot of land that reacts a little differently because of its make up. You can train to operate a bulldozer. We can even teach you about the different soils and environments an operator is likely to face. However, it’s not until you get into the workplace that you’ll really understand that soils are not the same.

If you’re looking for work that delivers big on the pay front, then heavy equipment operations, truck driving and crane operations can certainly deliver. The downside – you have to accept working conditions that are not exactly normal. What sort of work and working conditions? Consider these career paths:

Oil rigs – oil rigs are generally located well offshore. Workers fly in and work for up to 20 days (sometimes more) straight before flying back to shore for a week. On the upside, workers are very well paid, and there’s little to spend your money on out on an oil rig. Oil rig workers include riggers, signal persons and crane operators.

Mining – there are many mines that are located close to main centers, however, there are just as many that are located in fairly remote areas. Like oil rigs, workers may fly in, work for three or four weeks straight before flying home for a week. Some mines work shifts where your only ‘home’ time is once every six months. The pay is very good, the conditions not as harsh and tough as they were fifty years ago (you almost live and work in luxury now). Mines employ riggers, signal persons, truck drivers, crane operators, and a range of heavy equipment operators.

Forestry – most forestry plantations are now located close to main centers. However, there are still areas where ‘old’ timber is harvested, and these areas tend to be a long way from major service centers. Like the mining industry, the forestry industry requires workers from all areas of heavy equipment, truck driving and crane operations.

Military – if you’re looking for a lifestyle as well as a career, then the military could be worth investigating. The military employs truck drivers and heavy equipment operators (particularly bulldozer operators). You will need to go through regular recruiting processing including basic training. However, you not only receive a good wage, you receive all the benefits that go with being in the military. You will most likely spend some time overseas, possibly in areas like Afghanistan, depending on the requirements of the military at any given time.

When considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver or crane operator, you don’t have to focus on the more traditional work places; there are other well paid options. No matter where you decide to work, you will still need to develop the basic skills that are required to gain entry level employment. That means accessing the right training for the area in which you wish to work.

Are there jobs in the trucking and construction industry? There certainly are. We are constantly receiving job vacancies from employers (you can view them all on our job site), and often the vacancies are for multiple positions. It’s important to read each job vacancy and to keep a positive attitude. We often hear the comment like, “Sure there’s a job available right where I want to work, however, I am new to the industry so they won’t select me.” That’s the wrong attitude. They may well select you if you are suited to their needs, and if they are recruiting for several vacancies, then you’ll have an even better chance of success. It’s like the old lottery issue – you won’t have a chance of winning if you don’t buy a ticket – in this case, you certainly won’t get the job if you don’t submit an application. The jobs that have recently come into our offices include:

Truck Driver Job Vacancies

Detroit, MI

Eagan, MN

Fort Worth, TX

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Nashville, TN

San Antonio, TX

Crane Operator Job Vacancies

Anchorage, AK

Hamilton, TX

New Mexico

San Jose, CA

San Marcos, TX

Tulsa, OK

Heavy Equipment Operator Job Vacancies

Fargo, ND

If you’re interested in a career as a crane operator, truck driver, or heavy equipment operator, then talk to us to find out how easy it is to get a start in these careers. It can take as little as three weeks of heavy equipment operator training to be ready to operate heavy equipment in the workplace – that’s a small investment in time for a lifelong rewarding career.

Long distance truck driving can be tough. You’re away from home for days, sometimes weeks at a time. This is changing as employers recognize the need for family life, more so since government regulations have limited the number of hours a truck driver can be behind the wheel each week. Whilst truck driving can be a tough life, it can certainly be an interesting and rewarding life.

Smart truck drivers plan their career. They work the long distance routes when they are young, earning the big dollars wherever possible, in order to buy their first home and to set themselves up for family life. Many of these drivers then seek regular local work that has them home each night to enjoy their family life. I say “many” since quite a few drivers find themselves really enjoying life as a long distance trucker.

What does it take to be a long distance truck driver? That’s a tough question since every person is different, and it’s hard to quantify the traits required. Truck driving is truck driving – long distance truck drivers spend hours on the road, in a cab, on their own. But then, so too do local drivers, it’s just the hours aren’t quite as long. Long distance and local truck drivers both require CDL’s, road sense, and an ability to work to a tight schedule.

Home time is the big difference. Can you survive in a job that takes you away from home for long periods? Truck driving is not the only career that has this requirement. The military, mining, oil platforms and the sea all have similar effects on home life. If you’re young, carefree (or just carefree), then life as a long distance truck driver could be perfect for you.