Workplace safety has had many different approaches over the years. In the beginning, it was virtually a system of look after yourself. Over time, governments, often at the behest of unions, brought in legislation requiring safety equipment such as hard hats, work boots and scaffolding requirements. The problem with most of these systems is that they were designed to protect people in the event of an accident. The easier route has to be to prevent accidents in the first place. With this in mind, safety training was introduced and it is now becoming mandatory across the country for workers to have this training. Heavy equipment safety training is no different.

Protective clothing can help to reduce injuries when it comes to minor incidents, however, major incidents still result in the loss of human life and expensive damage to property. Preventing these accidents is now the best approach and, believe it or not, it isn’t that difficult. Safety training has several core components, the main one being awareness. The more aware an operator is, the less risk there is to life and property.

Heavy equipment safety training also covers areas such as basic equipment maintenance, equipment stability, and securing equipment for transport. As an operator, the last thing you want is a hydraulic hose failing and causing your equipment to suddenly drop, or for your crane to topple over because it wasn’t set up properly on the ground. Perhaps the worst accident of all these days is heavy equipment coming into contact with high voltage over head power lines. I hear it’s a hair raising experience that’s well worth missing.

If you are looking to commence heavy equipment training, be sure to check on whether or not your training includes recognized safety training. If it doesn’t then look elsewhere for your training. Almost all workplaces now insist on only employing heavy equipment operators who have completed recognized heavy equipment safety training. It is therefore pointless undertaking training if you cannot use your new skills because you lack the safety training required.

Bulldozers are one of the most popular machines for new operators entering the heavy equipment field. For many, the dream of operating a bulldozer starts in childhood and only re-kindles after leaving school. If you’re considering entering the field as a bulldozer operator, you may be wondering where you could possibly find employment.

Heavy equipment is used throughout industry with loaders and bulldozers the most popular. They certainly appear in the most diverse areas of industry. Bulldozers started life in rural communities where they helped to clear land and build dams. There is still a strong demand for this type of work today. While ever we eat and have farmers supplying that food, we will need bulldozers.

Construction is the biggest employer of bulldozers and bulldozer operators. From clearing land for new buildings to clearing land for roads and highways, bulldozers are there, often in numbers. You will also find bulldozers in use in the mining industry, forestry and in the military. Snow plows are nothing more than specialist bulldozers and, in communities where snow is not a regular event, bulldozers are used as snow plows.

You will find bulldozers in use across a broad range of industries and over time, employment opportunities have been steady. The prediction is that opportunities will rise in the future as ‘baby boomers’ start to age and retire. This could leave a vacuum of experienced operators – a factor that is well worth considering when deciding on a career.

Bulldozer training is part of a more general heavy equipment training program. These programs can be completed and have you prepared for entry level employment in as little as three weeks. If you still have that childhood dream of operating heavy equipment, why not make it a reality – the work is there.

Excavators are a popular option when it comes to heavy equipment careers. They look more complex than they really are, a fact you can see for yourself if you attend one of our free workshops. These workshops have a range of heavy equipment on display – you can even climb into the cabs and check them out for yourself – and while you’re there, participate in one of our training modules, all at no cost.

Why attend a workshop? You can:

• see the campus, the classrooms and the general environment;
• meet some of our training instructors;
• talk to some of our current students;
• discuss training and payment options with our admissions counselors;
• experience real training firsthand;
• gain a head start on actual training by fully completing a training module;
• gain firsthand experience on the machinery;
• find out if this is something you really want to do – before spending any money.

They are important considerations, especially the last. Each of the previous points lead to that final conclusion. By walking around the campus, talking to other students, and getting a real feel for the environment, you will quickly come to understand whether or not you will ‘fit in’. By attending a training module you will gain an understanding of what is involved in learning to operate heavy equipment, excavators included.

Firsthand experience is invaluable, and when it’s offered for free, even more so. Heavy equipment is an exciting field to get into and with the amount of construction being undertaken at present, there is no shortage of work. Employment opportunities for the future are probably better than most other industries.

If you have been considering a career as an excavator operator, or in any other field of heavy equipment, check out our complete schedule of free heavy equipment workshops. While you’re at it, check out our free CDL workshops as well.

If there is one career that will continue on for decades it is that of the garbage truck driver. These drivers operate what is essentially a modern day version of a dump truck. The major differences being that it is a semi-sealed unit, can compact the contents, and has special arms to raise and lower trash bins. What they do have in common with a standard dump truck is the need for a commercial drivers license (CDL).

Now here’s a question. Do you know how long it takes to train to become a truck driver? To gain your commercial drivers license you need to pass both a theoretical and practical test. When it comes to the theoretical side, that is learning the road rules associated with truck driving. Do you have a good memory? The practical test is a piece of cake if you have had the right training. ATS Truck Driver Schools can have you trained, with road experience, and ready for your CDL test in as little as three weeks.

That means you could be working as a truck driver a month after starting your truck driver training course. That’s a good turn around, especially when compared to most other careers. Truck drivers are always in demand. Let’s face it, no matter how bad the economy is, we still need to eat and we still manage to dispose of a lot of trash. That means truck drivers are involved in both the supply and removal of our daily needs.

If you’re considering a career change and truck driving is one of your career options, contact ATS Truck Driver Training Schools for more information. We have several campuses around the nation with training programs commencing at regular intervals. You can also find more information on our website.

Getting a start in any career can be difficult unless you know someone in the business. Even then, employers are keen to employ the ‘right’ people for the job. If you’re considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, here are a few tips that may help you to reach your goal.

Heavy Equipment Training – research this area well. You need to choose a training business that will expose you to a range of heavy equipment, will train you to industry standards, and has a good reputation within industry. A training business that has been around for a long time generally suggests they are doing all the right things.

Select The Right Heavy Equipment – this is essential to your success. Heavy equipment ranges from small loaders through to backhoes, excavators, graders and bulldozers (and that’s only a brief list). Once you start your training, consider each vehicle carefully then select heavy equipment that you feel most comfortable with. You don’t have to settle on one type either, especially if you feel comfortable with related vehicles. For example, a backhoe, an excavator and a loader.

Seek Entry Level Work – be honest with employers and let them know you are seeking entry level work. This may reduce the number of options available to you, but employers appreciate honesty and there are positions available for entry level heavy equipment operators. Initially, don’t focus on money or the type of work offered – you are seeking experience and, hopefully, a good reference down the track. If you can achieve both, you will be well on your way to a successful career. A good training provider will help you to obtain employment so look for training providers that offer career services.

If you follow those three tips you will give yourself the best possible chance of gaining a start as a heavy equipment operator. The field can be competitive, but there are opportunities available for anyone who is prepared to work towards them. Training is at the core so select the very best heavy equipment training program available.

The perception amongst most people is that graders are difficult vehicles to drive. The truth is probably the opposite, driving them is a piece of cake. However, setting the controls, such as the angle and height of blade is a little different. That does take some skill, especially when setting them to fine degrees. However, it doesn’t really matter what type of heavy equipment you are operating, they all have their little idiosyncrasies that make them a challenge at times.

Whether it’s a grader, excavator or backhoe, being able to work to fine measurements is part of the job. Even bulldozer operators have a set of plans that they must work off and they too have to work to pre-ordained measurements. If a farmer wants a dam 6 feet deep then that is what he expects to see, not a dam that is ‘close enough’ 4 feet.

Being able to operate heavy equipment like a grader to produce finished results that perfectly match plans is a result of good training, and experience behind the controls. I am amazed when people tell me they learned how to operate heavy equipment simply by sitting in a classroom for a week or two then spending an hour or two behind the controls. That is more like familiarization than learning.

Students attending ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can expect to spend some time in the classroom – there is a lot to learn that is theoretical in nature. However, it is equally important to spend as much time behind the controls as possible. It is only by operating heavy equipment that you can get a feel for what is really happening – it is the only place where you can learn fine controls and how a machine reacts every time you touch a lever, pedal or button.

Graders are not the hardest heavy equipment to operate, they are all fairly equal. It is the standard of heavy equipment training that will determine how ‘easy’ any piece of heavy equipment is to control. Contact us at ATS if you want to try out a training program – we have open days running through to the end of the year where you can try out a free heavy equipment training program – and when we say free, we really do mean – no charge. Who knows, you may take to graders as a born natural, and find yourself starting a new career as a grader operator.

If you are looking for a heavy equipment career that is always busy, there’s no getting past loaders. They are often the busiest heavy equipment on a construction site due to their versatility. The term loader these days is a misnomer since they are capable of more than just loading material into dump trucks.

Loaders are generally carriers. Their main role is to load material onto a dump truck, however, they are also used to carry equipment and building materials around a construction site and they can often be seen helping to break up old concrete slabs. In fact, loaders are one piece of heavy equipment that is frequently found on both construction and demotion sites.

Training to become a loader operator is not as difficult as many seem to think. Heavy equipment training that provides operators with skills suitable for entry level employment can be completed in as little as three weeks. Like most skill-based occupations, you continue to learn while on the job – an experience that will last forever as there is always something new to learn.

One of the great aspects of loader operations (like all heavy equipment) is how open it is to everyone. It doesn’t matter your gender, age (over 18) or background – you can train and work as a heavy equipment operator, loader operators included. These days, you don’t have to be built like a weight lifter to operate heavy equipment either – with power steering and touch sensitive controls, a baby could virtually drive them.

If you’re interested in becoming a loader operator, or in learning information on a variety of heavy equipment options, contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. We have courses starting all the time in a variety of locations around the country.

The old saying “you have got to start at the bottom” is true for any career. For those that aspire to operating cranes atop new hi-rise constructions, you too will have to start at the bottom. At least, you will have to start at ground level. Getting your foot in the door is often the hardest part of any new career. When it comes to crane operator careers, one of the keys is your crane operator training.

Most states now have legislation in place that makes it mandatory for employers to only use certified crane operators in the work place. To gain certification, you need the appropriate training – training that prepares you for your certification assessment while also ensuring you have the skills required by employers. That, however, is just the first step.

Just because you are certified as a crane operator doesn’t mean employers are going to employ you. In most cases, employers want operators that are skilled and experienced – and that’s pretty tough on new graduates to the industry. There is one rider to that – employers are also looking for employees that will fit into their organization. ATS Crane Operator Schools has spent over 40 years training individuals for the work place. Over that time, we have also developed a good rapport with industry. We know what employers are looking for and we prepare our students ready to accept entry level employment.

Employers do look to training schools like ATS for entry level recruits. There are a lot of jobs that only require those base skills, so for employers, the rationale is quite simple – why pay extra for a skilled operator when a new recruit fresh from training school can do the job? That’s where the ATS Careers Services personnel enter the picture. They will try to match the requirements of employers with the skills and attributes of students graduating from one of our training schools. Our success rate is one that we are proud of.

If you are looking to start a career as a crane operator, we don’t just have the crane operator training and certification services available, we can help you get your foot in the door if you access our career services section. Interested? Contact ATS for more information on when and where our next training courses are scheduled.

Career changes can take a big investment. You have to sacrifice your time and, of course, your money. Time? It only takes three weeks to complete a heavy equipment training course. That leaves the money and there are several components to consider here. First, of course, is the cost of the training program. The second cost that must also be considered is the loss of the income while training. They both go hand in hand and should be considered together when deciding on a heavy equipment training course. The upside, as I have already mentioned, is that it’s only for three weeks.

Funding the training cost is the biggest hurdle for many prospective students. There are several options available ranging from career loans to government funded programs. If you are out of work then it could be well worth investigating some of the government funded programs available. Some of these programs include:

• Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
• Department of Workforce Development
• Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
• Displaced Workers
• Displaced Farmers
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Tribal Education (BIA)
• Veteran’s Benefits (VA)

If you are not eligible for any of the government funded programs then career loans are your next option. You can apply through one of your local financial institutions, or you can fill out an application through ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. One of the benefits of a career loan is that they can be used to pay for your training, accommodation while attending training, and your general day-to-day expenses.

Funding your way through a heavy equipment training course can be difficult. However, there are one or two points well worth considering. First, your training is only over a three week period so you don’t need to find funds to cover a long training program. The second point to consider relates to the first – since you are only at training for three weeks, this means you could potentially be in the workplace in four or five weeks, earning a living, and repaying a career loan before the ink has dried on the contract. Find the funding, a career in heavy equipment operations awaits!

If Barack Obama gets his way then heavy equipment careers are likely to see some stability over the next six years. In fact, there is a good chance that we will once again see a shortage of skilled operators in the industry. The President is a proposing a $50 billion program that will see 150,000 miles of roads, 4,000 miles of railways and 150 miles of airport runways affected by some form of construction or maintenance program. That’s a lot of dollars and a lot miles to work on – even if it is spread out over six years.

For heavy equipment operators, or those looking to enter the industry, the news is most welcome. Even if you’re not directly affected by these types of programs, you will feel the spin-off effects. Operators will come from all areas looking to participate in these programs. This will leave a shortage of operators in many areas, particularly regional areas. Operators not directly involved will then be in a position to fill local vacancies caused by these programs.

If you are looking at heavy equipment as a possible career option, I suggest you keep your eyes on what is happening in Washington. Better yet, act now and complete your training before any of these programs are set in concrete. If you wait too long, you will be trying to start a career at the same time as many others – having a head start could see you in the box seat once demand starts to increase.