Workplace safety is a big issue across the nation and there has been a lot of attention given to the construction industry in general. Building sites are dangerous places for those who are not fully aware of what is going on around them – it’s certainly not a place that encourages daydreaming. Heavy equipment safety has come in for a lot of criticism over the years due to the number of avoidable accidents that have taken place. Today, an employer will not hire an operator unless they have had some form of heavy equipment safety training – at least sufficient to meet the national minimum standards.

No matter how much training an individual has, their ability to work safely all comes down to one key ingredient – common sense – and you would be surprised how many times an operator has ignored this and created a real problem. Safety rules are put in place for a reason. Not to make life harder for operators, but to make life safer for themselves and for those working around them. And common sense is at the center of most safety rules – as it is in most areas of our lives.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have fully endorsed the safety rules and working safely is an issue we deal with from day one in training. When students are operating heavy equipment, safety is at the forefront with students encouraged to consider these issues before making any maneuvers. In order to complete their training, students must not only demonstrate an ability to operate heavy equipment, they must also demonstrate their knowledge of the safety issues involved with operating their equipment.

A safer workplace means there are fewer injuries (and loss of life), less downtime (accidents often need to be investigated for causes), and less damage to property and equipment. It estimated that construction companies could save over a billion dollars each year, just by cutting out avoidable accidents. Do you have common sense? If you do, you have the core ingredient for a safer workplace – and we can help you learn the skills to capitalize on that common sense to become an effective and safe heavy equipment operator.

A career as a heavy equipment operator can be very rewarding. For some, learning to operate basic equipment such as bulldozers, graders, and excavators is just the start of a journey that takes them through some of the more complex heavy equipment that is rarely discussed in heavy equipment forums.

One of the problems with setting your sites on more specialized equipment is the scarcity of opportunities. Because this equipment is specialized, there isn’t a big call for operators and, in most cases, employers recruit from within their own ranks, training suitable operators to handle this equipment. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t aim to operate this equipment. the opportunities do occur, and if you show a real desire to learn, an employer may well give you that opportunity.

You will often see these machines being used and wonder how an operator worked their way into that role. In most cases, it all started with basic heavy equipment and proving how proficient they are in operating that equipment. Some of the specialized equipment you may see includes:

• Paver, asphalt finisher, paving machine – This machine may have several different names, but they all do the same job. They lay the asphalt for new roads and highways.
• Roller, roller-compactor, compactor – This too has many names, and if you’re old enough, you may have heard them referred to as ‘steam rollers’. They do the same job. They compact and smooth out material that has been put down. Rollers are used after asphalt has been put down to give roads that hard and smooth finish.
• Wheel tractor-scraper – Scrapers are used to ‘plane’ the surface ready for construction or road building. Dirt is scraped from the surface and held in a hopper. Large scrapers may have two engines, one to drive the front and one to drive the rear.
• Trencher, wheel trencher – This is a specialist piece of equipment normally used to dig trenches for pipe laying. They are also sometimes used on roads to score the asphalt prior to relaying new asphalt.
• Pile driver – As the name suggests, this machinery is used to drive piles into the ground. Often found where bridges are being constructed, and for some general construction roles.

If you have a desire to one day work on specialist heavy equipment like those listed above, your first step is to undertake heavy equipment training on standard every day equipment. Once you are proficient in their use, you can then look to advance your career operating some of that equipment. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can give you a head start as we include scrapers as part of our heavy equipment training program.

Transitioning from a heavy equipment training school to a full time job as a heavy equipment operator can seem daunting. It’s true of every new career unless you have had some experience in that particular industry. Jobs are advertised in a wide variety of locations so knowing where to look is often not the problem – the real problem is that most people new to an industry don’t know how to apply for any vacancies.

The construction industry can be particularly hard. Some employers rarely advertise vacancies, they rely on word-of-mouth to bring in applicants. Others will talk to people who simply walk in off the street. The latter is rare these days, but it does still happen. As a graduate from a heavy equipment training school, what is ideal is to have a friend who has the inside knowledge of industry – someone who knows the employers and who knows what these employers are looking from job applicants. Here’s the good news, you do have a friend and they do have all the knowledge you need to help you find that first job.

Associated Training Schools has a highly regarded career services department and their function is to do everything possible to help you find employment. From the beginning of your training, someone from Career Services will interview you in an effort to find out exactly what you want from your training and a new career. They will then put together a resource package that will help you find suitable employers based on where you want to work, and the type of employment you are looking for.

Career Services will also deliver ‘soft skills’ training – these are designed to help you with application letters, resumes, and interview skills – all designed to help you prove your worth to a potential employer. Our career services department can never promise to find you a perfect job – that perfect job may not even exist – however, they can help you to locate vacancies and with your job application – after that, it will all depend on how well you influence the employer. Looking for heavy equipment training that offers that little extra? Don’t underestimate the value of our Career Services department.

I am, perhaps, exaggerating a little when I compare modern heavy equipment technology with an Xbox – but only a little. The technology that is found in modern heavy equipment is certainly of Xbox quality with computer microchips controlling many of the operations. It has also been said that those who regularly play computer games are already half way to becoming heavy equipment operators since they have excellent hand-eye coordination.

Motor vehicle technology has moved to heavy equipment with similar computer technology that controls a motor vehicle’s performance being used to ensure heavy equipment engine runs smoothly. Heavy equipment machinery like motor graders are starting to use computer technology to accurate set the positions of their blades – and using GPS and laser technology to continually fine tune those settings to deliver precise gradings. Computer technology is also being introduced to other machinery such as excavators to enable them to dig to precise measurements.

There are some training organizations that are incorporating computer controlled heavy equipment simulators in their training. While these simulators are helpful, they still don’t beat being outside in a real machine, working on real dirt. While technology is starting to playing a much bigger role in heavy equipment operations, the basics still remain the same. Bulldozers push dirt around, excavators dig holes, loaders still load dump trucks – the technology that is being incorporated is designed to get a job done using the smallest amount of fuel possible while in most cases producing very precise results. More importantly, new technology is making it easier for operators to complete tasks quickly while not affecting the quality of their work – and time is often a construction company’s biggest enemy.

For new operators coming into the work force, the difficulty is knowing what sort of training to undertake. Simulators, for example, usually train operators on heavy equipment that has all of the latest technology. In reality, the workplace is using a wide range of equipment, some of it is still 20-30 years old. The most effective training involves getting into the cab of a range of equipment, some new and some old. This gives students a feel for both the old and new technologies and delivers a better all around training experience. When considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, look for a training organization that is going to deliver training across a broad range of equipment.

If you’re looking for a career that has plenty of variety, doesn’t keep you stuck in the one place all the time, and pays well, then a career as a mobile crane operator could be just the answer. As the name implies, a mobile crane operator is mobile. They are constantly on the move doing tasks as and where required. You could spend a week on a construct site moving heavy construction material, and the next week out on a pipe line helping to put pipes into place.

Mobile crane operators can also spend their days hopping from task to task. You could be helping to lift a roof air conditioner into place in the morning and helping to pull a car out of a river in the afternoon. If you can think of a task where a crane could make the job easier, then a mobile crane will most likely be involved.

Like most heavy equipment, mobile cranes come in a range of sizes. There are the small babies that are often used around construction sites and where pipe laying requires their services, and there are huge mobile cranes that are large enough to lift an overturned tanker back onto its wheels. Mobile crane operators are required to hold a commercial drivers license and to be certified as a crane operator.

Crane operator training can be completed in as little as three weeks. During that three week training period, students will learn how to safely set up their crane, operate their crane, and to prepare their crane for travel. Safety is a key component for any crane operator training and is one of the driving forces behind the requirement for certification. A career as a mobile crane operator is varied and well paid, and the demand is there for new drivers.

If you’re under 30 and dreamed of one day operating a bulldozer, excavator or any other heavy equipment, then listen up – your country is calling. At least, employers are. We have a rapidly aging heavy equipment operator work force, many of whom will be retiring in the next five years. The average age of operators is now well into the mid-40s and the number of younger operators coming through is dropping each year.

Heavy equipment operations is best suited to mature and steady minds. However, that doesn’t mean that younger minds cannot succeed. In fact, by starting young, by the time you get to your mid-40s, you will be an expert at your trade, if not running your own heavy equipment business. While unemployment may be high, there is still plenty of demand for heavy equipment operators and this trend is expected to continue for at least the next ten years – unless of course we can recruit a lot of younger people to the industry.

If you’re interested in a heavy equipment career, then acting now will have you perfectly placed to take advantage of this demand. You can undertake heavy equipment training that will have you work ready in as little as three weeks – and this is across a range of equipment. You can also receive assistance to help you find your first job as a heavy equipment operator.

Being a heavy equipment operator may not be as flashy as some jobs sound, however, as a career it’s rewarding. You are not repeating the same job over and over again, and there’s plenty of room for growth.

Are you ready to step into the shoes of those about to retire? If so, find out more about your heavy equipment training options. Don’t dream the job – experience it.

There are many professions that rely on a range of senses. Cooks are the most obvious – they rely on eyes, ears, their noses, a sense of touch and, ultimately, their sense of taste. Heavy equipment operators also rely on a range of senses and it can be a difficult area to train novices in. When it comes to road grader operators, the best way to learn to use these senses is through hands-on-training, and by ongoing experience. So which senses play a major role in operating a road grader?

• Eyes – Eyes are an obvious area and while spectacles are not really a problem, keeping them up-to-date with your eyesight is. Road grader operators need to be able to precisely follow a range of signs or signals to ensure they are grading at the right angle and height.
• Touch – If you are an experienced car driver, then you’ll know what I mean when I say you can ‘feel’ so much through your vehicle’s controls. The same is true for a road grader operator. That sense of touch can tell when a grader is cutting too deeply, or meeting more resistance than expected.
• Ears – Like the sense of touch, your ears can tell you what is happening with the motor. You experience the same with a manual shift car, changing gears when you hear the motor reaching the right revs. With a road grader, a change in revs can mean the grader is starting to struggle, or is operating smoothly.
• Nose – While not as important as the other senses, the nose will warn you of any problems related to your road grader. A sudden smell of smoke, oil, or fuel can be an early warning to a major problem.

While computers are starting to play an important role in the operation of a road grader, there’s no denying that those senses becomes an operators best friend. Learn to develop those senses while operating a road grader and you’ll quickly rise to become a fine grader, these are the finishing operators that work to very fine measurements – and the operators that draw the best pay checks. It all starts by learning to operate a road grader – from there, you’ll quickly develop those senses to become an effective operator.

Have you stepped into the cab of a long distance truck lately? Known as a tractor in the business, modern cabs can be real eye openers. You can often get to see inside some of these rigs at truck driver training school open days, or through industry field days, or through regional trade shows. If you get the chance, I suggest you take a closer look.

When you do have a closer look, check out what’s behind the drivers seat. You’ll find a comfortable bunk bed, perhaps a microwave oven and even a television set. I have even seen rigs with a toilet and shower cubicle. These trucks are designed to look after the comfort of a driver when they are forced to take time away from the wheel. For drivers, these rigs are their home away from home – in fact, for some drivers, they are their home.

Long distance truck driving is a career like no other. You spend hours each day on the highway, sometimes traveling from one side of the country to the other – perhaps even across international borders. Truck drivers soon learn the best places to stop and eat, stop and sleep, and even to stop and socialize – and they are a tight-knit community, always ready to help each other.

Does that sound like a career that would interest you? The trucking industry is always in need of new drivers and one of the greatest needs is in long distance driving. Your first step to a successful career as a long distance truck driver is to undertake training that is well respected by the trucking community – and that’s where ATS can help you. Contact us for details on your truck driver training options.

There are a lot of workplaces that require operators of heavy equipment and cranes to have specific skills to that industry, or to a specific job. The same can be said for those employing truck drivers, riggers or signal persons. For some businesses, they are moving into areas that are relatively new, having secured contracts they have tended for.

Being able to train your employees to do specific tasks with heavy equipment can be time consuming, and not very cost effective if you do it yourself. Associated Training Services (ATS) have been delivering customized training in areas such as heavy equipment operations, crane operations, truck driving (including CDL training) and rigger/signal person for almost half a century.

We are able to walk into a workplace, assess the training needs of that workplace, then deliver cost-effective training based on those needs. Where appropriate, ATS can undertake assessments of those individuals to ensure they receive the right documentation – for example, certification of crane operators.

ATS work with employers to ensure the training outcomes meet all the demands that operating their equipment may deliver, including safety aspects of their equipment. Training can be delivered at the workplace or in one of our facilities. Workplace training is often effective because the operators are learning using the equipment they are going to be operating.

Is it cost effective? In the majority of cases, most definitely. By engaging a professional training organization like ATS, your employees receive quality training that is focused on the employer’s needs. Skilled trainers are able to identify weaknesses quickly and to work those showing a weakness to ensure maximum productivity with lower down time due to accident or poor performance.

If you’re an employer with specific training needs when it comes to heavy equipment – cranes, truck driving or rigging/signal persons – then contact ATS for a no-obligation discussion on how we can assist you to obtain the best out of your employees.

If you visit a number of construction sites, there is one thing they may have in common – they all use a different language when it comes to hand signals. This often occurs when a team has worked together for a long period of time. Informal hands signals start to creep in, often because they are thought to be easier than the industry standard signals.

Industry standards are important. To begin with, they are portable so a worker can work on any site and they will be using the same language as everyone else. In fact, your English skills may be barely adequate, but your hand signals will be clearly understood by everyone. Industry standards are also important as they are generally deemed to be the clearest and easiest to learn by all.

If you employ riggers and signal persons, do they use the industry standard hand signals? It is now compulsory for workers in these areas to hold an OSHA qualification for their positions. This qualification is a way of recognizing the skills that each employee has in their field, and that they meet national minimal standards. Hand signals are an important component of a rigger’s and signal person’s working life.

For employers who have workers in either one (or both) of these fields, you need to ensure they all hold an OSHA qualification for riggers or signal persons. If they don’t, you may be subject to legal action resulting in quite large fines. Associated Training Services has a number of programs designed to qualify riggers and signal persons. These programs can be delivered either at your workplace or in our training schools. Upon completion of the programs, your employees will be eligible for compliance cards, thus meeting the new labor law requirements.