Often looked down upon when it comes to heavy equipment, skid steer loaders have their place in society, and there is always demand for more operators. Rather than concentrating on just skid steer loaders, new operators should be looking at a broad range of heavy equipment. Skid steer loaders, whilst quite small, can be quite challenging to operate. They rely very much on an operator’s coordination between hands and feet, and their ability to move all four limbs very quickly.

Skid steer loaders have found a home in areas such as landscape gardening, and in cleaning up construction sites once work has been complete. They are also frequently used to clean up demolition sites once the major work has been completed. If there were no skid steer loaders, this work would have to be done by hand, and this can be labor intensive. A skid steer loader can do the work of a dozen manual workers, especially in skilled hands.

Ideally, a skid steer loader operator will also have experience in larger loaders, and perhaps backhoes and bulldozers as well. The ideal training program is one which covers these and other heavy equipment whilst also covering the required safety aspects of heavy equipment operations.

Over the years, skid steer loaders have proven to be the ideal equipment for those who wish to become owner operators. The equipment is easily transported on a trailer pulled by a car. Skid steers can get into small areas that larger equipment would find impossible to manage.

If you’re looking for a career in some of the smaller units of heavy equipment, then a career as a skid steer operator is well worth considering. We include skid steer loaders as part of our heavy equipment training program as good operators are always in demand since they perform the finishing touches to many construction projects.

There is certainly no shortage of jobs on offer this week with truck drivers, heavy equipment operators and crane operators all in demand. If you need more information on any of these jobs including who to apply to, visit our dedicated job site. This weeks job’s include:

Truck Drivers
Marshfield, WI.
Farmway is hiring drivers, 48 state carrier.

Truck Drivers
Louisville, KY
Employer also requires heavy equipment operators

Local Truck Drivers
Beaver Dam, WI.
Ptaschinski Construction is taking applications for local drivers

Truck Drivers
Fargo, ND.
Employer requires truck drivers

Short Haul Truck Drivers
Madison, WI
hiring short haul drivers

Flatbed Truck Drivers
Green Bay, WI.
needs driver with some experience for flatbed work

Truck Drivers
Cheyenne, WY.
also requires Heavy Equipment Operators and Crane operators

Heavy Equipment Operators
Louisville, KY
is hiring Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy Equipment Operators
Fargo, ND.
employer also requires Truck drivers.

Skidsteer Operator
Shorewood, NC.
A.C.T. needs skidsteer operator for asphalt Baseing

Heavy Equipment Operators
Cheyenne, WY.
also requires Truck Drivers and Crane operators

Heavy Equipment Operators
Nationwide.
Heavy Equipment Operator openings

Boom Truck Operators
Madison, WI
home builders hiring boom truck operators.

Crane Operators
Cheyenne, WY.
is also hiring Heavy Equipment Operators and Truck Drivers

Boom Truck Drivers
Toledo, IA.
Homes builders hiring boom truck drivers.

If you are considering a career as either a truck driver, heavy equipment operator or crane operator, then, as you can see, there are job vacancies. Your first step is to undertake the relevant training, and that’s where we can certainly help. Call us or visit our heavy equipment training site for more details on current training programs.

What do you think a dump truck driver’s job entails? Most people consider dump truck driving to be a simple fill up at A and dump at B type job. In other words, fairly boring! There are times when this view is fairly accurate, however, dump truck drivers are often called on to do fairly complex tasks.

Dumping in itself can be fairly easy, if you are only going to dump a load in the one spot. When it comes to road building, for example, dump truck drivers are often required to dump their load, not in the one spot, but spread evenly along the new road’s surface. This takes some skill in both the operation of the dumping mechanism, the operation of the hopper door, and the speed of the dump truck itself. When all three come together well, an experienced dump truck driver can quickly empty his load evenly over 100-200 yards.

This skill takes quite a bit of practice, however, once mastered, becomes a valuable tool in any dump truck driver’s skill base. Dumping in the one place can also take a good deal of skill as well. Dump truck drivers don’t just dump a load on a flat or level surface. Dump truck drivers may be required to dump their loads into pits, large holes, or even over the edges of cliff-like areas. This takes skilled driving, especially in reverse, to place their vehicle in the right place to enable a safe discharge of their load. There are many stories of dump truck drivers who misjudged the edge, and either ended up in the pit, or dumping the load on the edge of the pit rather than in it.

Dump truck driving takes a lot of skill and patience. Learning to drive a dump truck is not the challenge, learning the fine skills is the real challenge, and that comes on the job with a lot of practice. We can deliver your dump truck driver training, and we can help you find your first job. From there, it’s a matter of getting as much experience as possible.

If you think that heavy equipment careers are one dimensional, think again. Operators are not equal, and with some equipment, only the best operators need apply. A finishing standard grader operator is one example. These are operators who have developed the fine skills required to grade to very exacting measurements.

Airport runways are a good example (with roads a close second). When runways are being built, they are done to very precise measurements. They need to be when you consider their use. Large very heavy jets thundering in at high speeds, wheels thumping into the tarmac, then hard breaking towards the end of the runway. A runway that isn’t too smooth has the potential to kick a jet back into the air causing a very bumpy (and perhaps damaging) landing – one that pilots, passengers and airline companies don’t want to see.

A finishing grader operator does just that, they put the finishing touch on a surface prior to concreting or asphalting. Their work needs to be precise; after all, once the top layer goes on, there’s no going back to make any corrections. Finishing grader operators are those that have worked hard to develop their skills. In particular, how to set their blades and control their equipment. They also know how to accurately read site plans, and how to work closely with other people on a project.

To become a finishing grader operator, you need to start at the bottom. This means undertaking quality heavy equipment training, then gaining employment where you can develop your skills. When you first start, you won’t be in the same league as a finishing grader operator, however, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can develop those skills. A career as a heavy equipment operator is definitely not one dimensional, there are always new skill levels that an operator can aspire to reach.

Are you interested in a career as a crane operator? You will need to decide on the type of crane you want to operate since they come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and configurations. The two most common basic crane types are the mobile cranes and the fixed cranes. Some fixed cranes require assembly and dis-assembly before and after use. Mobile cranes can be driven to a work site and be readied for action quite quickly.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools, we offer training in several different types of crane including:

• Fixed and Swing Cab Mobile Hydraulic Cranes,
• Lattice Boom (Crawler or Truck) Cranes, and
• Articulated Boom (Knuckleboom) Cranes

For an individual interested in becoming a crane operator, the training is only half of the story. You will also need to become certified before an employer can place you into a cab. This makes the training an important half (of the story) since you will need to pass tests to become certified. It also helps if your training provider is also accredited to undertake the assessments required to gain certification.

ATS is one of the oldest and biggest crane operator training organizations in the country. We have developed training programs that are accepted nationally and we are accredited to deliver practical and theory assessments for certification by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).

Employers recognize the quality of our training and the validity of our certification process, often coming to us when looking for new operators. If you are interested in a well paid career as a crane operator, then seek out the best training possible – it will set you up for a long and very successful career.

Wanted, out of work heavy equipment operators, truck drivers and crane operators for work in a range of positions around the nation. We have a steady flow of job vacancies being listed on our job site, just waiting for the right operators/drivers. If you’re looking for work in any of these areas, check the following to see if there’s something best suited to your needs.

Crane Operator
Apex, NC
A driver/crane operator required by company in Apex, NC.

Drivers
Odessa, TX
Schneider is always looking for experienced drivers, particulalry those able to operate sand tanks. Excellent pay of $65,000+.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Boca Raton, FL
Qualified Heavy Equipment Operators that have experience with site development and underground utility installation work. We are currently seeking operators that have experience with the following equipment:- Tracked Excavator- Finish Dozer Operator- Motor Grader- Rubber Tire Loader- Installation of water, sewer and drainage line.

Equipment Operator – Heavy Equipment Operation
Curtis, NE
This position will include driving, maneuvering, and controlling heavy machinery such as a loaders, bulldozers, graders, or excavators.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Lubbock, TX
Operate motor graders, scrapers, front-end loaders, dump trucks and other construction equipment of comparable size and complexity; maintain and service equipment and trucks; operate mechanical attachments and equipment on vehicles and operate pickups and other light equipment when assigned.

Are you looking at changing careers? Heavy equipment operators enjoy great work conditions and pay rates. You will need to undertake the necessary heavy equipment training, first, and we can help. You can learn to operate a range of heavy equipment through our training programs and we ensure you are work ready before leaving our training programs.

There are two basic types of heavy equipment operator – those who specialize in one type of equipment and those who multi-skill and operate a range of equipment. There is still room in the industry for both, however, employers are showing a preference for multi-skilled operators. The rationale is simple; employers can place multi-skilled operators where the need is most. This is much more preferable to having an operator idle because there is no work for them at that time.

Fortunately, there is a lot of common ground when it comes to different heavy equipment. Dirt is dirt and it doesn’t matter what sort of equipment you are using, dirt will act the same. The same can be said for any other material being used. Students can concentrate on learning the actual mechanical actions required to operate a range of equipment, then practice, practice and practice for as many hours as possible.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools, we deliver training on a range of heavy equipment including:

• Bulldozers,
• Graders,
• Backhoes,
• Loaders, and
• Excavators.

Those are the most common machines in use and the skills learned can be transferred to other types of heavy equipment. Safety training is common to all machinery types as are skills such as site plan reading and learning about the different types of dirt.

If you can graduate from a heavy equipment training program with skills in a range of equipment, you will find you are more attractive to many employers than those that have only the one skill. Being a one trick pony is fine and you will get by, however, being multi-skilled opens more doors, and give you options on the direction you want to take in the future.

If you are looking for a career in heavy equipment that offers real variety, then a backhoe could be the perfect choice. Backhoes don’t just offer variety, they depend on operators that are multi-skilled in many different types of work. Whilst the most common operations will be working as a loader or ‘excavator’, backhoes are frequently called on to perform other activities using a variety of different attachments.

To begin with, backhoe operators need to be competent using their equipment to dig trenches and similar excavations. They will also need to be competent using a backhoe to move material around a work area and to load material onto trucks. Over time an operator will learn how to use various attachments for tasks such as breaking up dirt or concrete blocks, and perhaps even the demolition of buildings.

Backhoe operators are well served learning to operate three different machines; a loader, an excavator, and the backhoe itself. The backhoe brings together the best of both a loader and excavator, however, being a combined unit, the backhoe can be a little trickier. At ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, we provide students with hands on training on a variety of machinery including loaders, excavators and backhoes. Upon completion of their training, heavy equipment operator graduates are well prepared for entry level employment operating their chosen piece of machinery.

Heavy equipment careers are lucrative and the expectation in years to come is for a shortage of skilled operators. This is due to a workforce that is aging and retiring, and the annual retirement rate is greater than the number of new recruits coming into the industry. Act now and you’ll be in high demand in years to come as you gain valuable experience. Backhoe operators will certainly be in high demand, more so because of their versatility.

Major transport companies have, in recent years, started to push into areas that were once the domain of small owner operators. The oil fields and associated mining were once happy hunting grounds for these small owner operators because of the specialized nature of their work. Sand tankers are a good example – a few owner operators were able to service the needs of most areas and make a good living.

Today, those small operators are being overrun by big transport companies, and it’s all related to economies of scale. Large transport companies can buy in 100 or 200 trucks, gaining huge discounts because of the size of the order. Those trucks can then be distributed to wherever the need is greatest, then re-distributed when required. Of course, with 100/200 trucks in operation, that suddenly increases demand for drivers, and flow-on effect can be felt in the industry across the nation.

The end result is a general shortage of truck drivers, and in some areas, a chronic shortage of specialized truck drivers. On the weekend we saw a job vacancy listing from Schneider. They are looking for experienced sand tanker drivers in Odessa, TX, and drivers are looking at pay rates of $65,000+. Schneider are not alone when it comes to specialized drivers – a closer look will demonstrate a shortage of drivers everywhere.

You can’t expect to start life as a truck driver in a $65,000+ specialized job. However, it doesn’t take a lot of experience to be snapped up by large companies, especially if you work hard at establishing a reputation for being a good driver who always arrives on time without incident. It all starts with a commitment from you, and good quality truck driver training. We can deliver the training, are you committed to completing your training and building a solid reputation as a truck driver? If so, contact us, the industry needs you!

If you’re looking for work as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver or crane operator, then you’ve certainly arrived on the right page. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools don’t just offer the best value in training, we also provide a job site where employers can post job vacancies. Some of the vacancies available this week include:

Sand Tank Drivers
Odessa, TX
Schneider is looking for experienced drivers to operate sand tanks. Very good pay, $65,000+. More for exp drivers.

Equipment Operators
Sawyer, ND.
Clean Harbors hiring Equipment operators. Also need drivers in USA and Canada.

Dragline Operator
Miami, FL
Operates dragline to excavate raw aggregate material from quarry pits. Maintains mechanical condition of dragline by inspecting and reporting items needing service or repair to maintenance personnel. May service and perform repairs to dragline with maintenance personnel as needed.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Boca Raton, FL
looking for qualified Heavy Equipment Operators that have experience with site development and underground utility installation work. We are currently seeking operators that have experience with the following equipment:- Tracked Excavator- Finish Dozer Operator- Motor Grader- Rubber Tire Loader- Installation of water, sewer and drainage line.

Equipment Operator – Heavy Equipment Operation
Curtis, NE
This position will include drive, maneuver, and control heavy machinery such as a loader, dozer, motor grader, or excavator. The Equipment Operator will operate heavy machinery for highway construction, site work, feedlot, ag work, and subgrade preparation.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Lubbock, TX
Operate motor graders, scrapers, front-end loaders, dump trucks and other construction equipment of comparable size and complexity; Maintain and service equipment and trucks; operate mechanical attachments and equipment on vehicles and Operate pickups and other light equipment when assigned.

If you’re considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver or crane operator, then there’s certainly plenty of work available. You will need to undertake the relevant training first, so give us a call or visit our heavy equipment training website for more information.