It appears to be full steam ahead for the Hudson Tunnel Project. There will be a new Hudson River rail tunnel constructed to serve the New York Penn Station and will involve rehabilitating the North River Tunnel.

The Hudson Tunnel Project is a total $16 billion investment to improve New Jersey Transit and Amtrak service between the two neighboring states. The project is funded by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law, which President Joe Biden signed in 2021.

A $292 million federal grant will get work underway on the Manhattan side of the new Hudson River rail tunnels linking Penn Station to New Jersey, according to Sen. Chuck Schumer.

The grant is almost half of the $600 million cost of building the concrete casing of a box tunnel that will carry trains beneath Hudson Yards in and out of Penn Station as part of the Gateway Program.

This is just one element of the project and will help the multi-year project get off the ground. The tunnels are part of the overall Gateway project, which is estimated to cost $30 billion.

The project also includes new bridges and tracks west of Secaucus. Construction is expected to be done in the 2030s. At the project’s end, there will be four tracks available for trains between Newark and New York.

This project alone will create 72,000 jobs, according to experts. These totals will add to the already existing shortage of qualified construction workers that are needed in the field.

The chief economist for Realtor.com has said that she expects home sales to hit a 16-year high this year. She said that she expects a record year for homebuyers, and trends show that competition is continuing to stay strong with demand outnumbering the available units.

According to Forbes, housing inventory is picking up at a record pace. For the third month in a row, listings increased with July listings up 30.7 percent. While buyers had more options when it came to buying, the competition remained in the sellers’ favor, according to experts.

While the U.S. housing market is growing toward a more level supply versus demand total, there is still a strong demand for more housing units. That means that the construction industry will remain in demand in the residential construction realm.

With a need for residential construction projects, there remains a strong need for skilled laborers and equipment operators in the construction industry. If you are looking for a new career with strong job opportunities, training as a heavy equipment operator or learning the different skill sets for a construction worker can be a real asset to your future.

Associated Training Services is a veteran-friendly school that is accredited and accepts GI bill funds to help you advance your career. Call us today at (800) 383-7364 to learn how we can help you take your career to the next level.

Everyone at Associated Training Services would like to thank you for a wonderful year and wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We look forward to another fantastic year.

ATS Offerings

Heavy Equipment Training

We offer two levels of heavy equipment operator training which include the operation of backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, wheel loaders, scrapers, all-terrain forklifts, motor graders, and articulated off-road dump trucks. These are the types of equipment most common in the industries which hire heavy equipment operators. These programs also include subject matter such as grade reading, grade stakes, laser levels, site plans, site layout, soils, and safety.

Crane Operator Training

We offer three levels of mobile crane operator training. These programs are designed to teach a person how to safely operate these cranes and to help the student get their certification through the Nation Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) ™.

LEVEL ONE

• Small Hydraulic Cranes
• Large Hydraulic Cranes
  

LEVEL TWO

• LEVEL TWO
• Lattice Boom Cranes
• Articulated Boom Cranes

LEVEL THREE

• Tower Cranes
• Digger Derricks

Truck Driver Training

A Class-A CDL helps ATS graduates secure employment as heavy equipment or crane operator. This license allows a person to haul their heavy equipment to a job site or drive a mobile crane on public roadways. These truck driving programs teach a person the basic skills and knowledge needed to drive a Class-A commercial vehicle and to get their Class-A CDL license. Students entering these programs must have their Class-A learners permit from their state of residence prior to attending.

Rigging/Signalperson Training

The ATS Rigging/Signalperson training is designed to give the student the skills and knowledge needed to pass the written and practical exams for certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) ™. This program is an excellent add-on to either the mobile crane or heavy equipment training programs.

Directional Drilling Program

We offer a two-week Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) program to introduce the student to the following. This program is designed to give an individual the fundamental skills and knowledge to operate a Horizontal Directional Drill and perform the other functions involved in HDD operations.

• Drill Operation
• Drill Head Tracking
• Utility Locating
• Mud Mixing
• Vacuum Excavating
• Downhole Tools

Still Training Heavy Equipment Operators

Construction is considered a necessity, and despite the shutdowns that took place because of the Covid-19 pandemic, construction has continued. While some states have specified which kinds of construction were essential, some states only allowed work on what was deemed necessary, such as housing, medical, and infrastructure projects.

With construction projects in high demand and new infrastructure plans, so is the need for qualified and well-trained heavy equipment operators and construction workers. Associated Training Services (ATS) offers a variety of training programs including:

• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Mobile Crane; NCCCO certifications
• Truck Driving
• Get Your CDL
• Rigging/Signalperson; NCCCO certifications
• Digger Derrick; NCCCO certifications
• Tower Crane; NCCCO certifications
• Directional Drilling
• Specialized Training; NCCCO certifications

We offer career service assistance, which provides students with some tools, resources, and assistance to help with career goals nationwide. Our career services department provides a job leads database, which contains the names and contact details of thousands of potential employers. New employers and job postings are constantly being added to the database.

ATS is open and training students. An appointment is required, and masks must be worn. We accept military benefits and financial assistance is available. Now is the time to get started in the construction industry or to start a career as a heavy equipment operator. Call (800) 383-7364 today to learn more about how we can help you take the next step.

Operators:

Industrial rigging, as well as dismantling operations, necessitate the use of at least one, if not many, pieces of heavy equipment, such as cranes, forklifts, aerial lifts, and other similar equipment. It’s not easy to operate heavy machinery. If your workers aren’t properly educated, it can cause a slew of issues for your task and company. This is why accredited safety training for heavy machinery operators is so critical before beginning the job.

Many heavy machinery operator schools provide training and skills that allow applicants to become certified by one or more nationally-recognized professional associations. Heavy machinery operators are not required to be licensed or accredited in all states. In addition, not all forms of equipment need licensing or certification to work in those areas that do. So, what is the significance of professional certification?

Some states do not mandate the licensing and/or certification of heavy equipment operators.

While not all states mandate heavy machinery operators to be licensed or certified, many do. Although precise criteria differ by jurisdiction, many states recognize technical association certification as either a prerequisite for licensing or as appropriate enough on its own to run some heavy machinery within their boundaries.

Training for Heavy Equipment

Heavy equipment operator courses provide instruction in a range of equipment styles, enabling participants to broaden their versatility and experience on the job, which is appealing to employers. The following are some examples of machinery that students can practice to operate:

• Backhoes
• Rough Terrain Forklifts
• Road Graders
• Excavators
• Inspection and maintenance of equipment
• Dump Truck
• Bulldozers

Pay and Benefits:

A high school degree or GED is usually all that is needed to be accepted into a heavy machinery operator training program. Graduate students of the program discover that their salary as a heavy machinery operator much exceeds their former regular paycheck life.

National averages and real earnings can differ depending on the job and position. Many operators with the complexity and range of experience and skills learned from a heavy machinery operator training program, on the other hand, would discover themselves attracting higher demand and earn higher salaries than their rivals.

Additionally, certain companies will reimburse their employees for heavy machinery schools’ job education and training programs. Aside from the decent pay and benefits, the job is demanding and provides the satisfaction of seeing the tangible effects of one’s labor.

Safety:

If an accident occurs on the construction site as a result of insufficient preparation, it may greatly increase the project’s total expense. Mishaps may cause machinery to break down, necessitating the procurement of repair parts or, in the worst-case scenario, a completely new piece of equipment. Operators who have received rigorous instruction know how to prevent these mishaps and properly find Used Heavy Equip for Sale. They also learn how to best maintain the machinery so that it can be kept up and running on a daily basis with minimal maintenance.

Associated Training Services is open and operating! Classes start every three weeks. We are taking all necessary precautions regarding your safety and health. We are excited about the opportunity to help you become a well paid heavy equipment operator, mobile crane operator, tower crane operator, rigger, CDL truck driver, or horizontal directional drill operator!

What Makes ATS Different?

• Large variety and volume of equipment – over 75 pieces
• Training that correlates to real-life experience
• Hands-on training
• Experienced, professional instructors
• Nationally recognized credentials
• Stability – in business for 60 years
• Easy tuition financial assistance programs
• Affordable school-owned housing
• VA approved
• Specialized training for your company
• High customer satisfaction

So if this is the right career path for you and you want to find out more about what ATS can offer, please visit our main website www.operator-school.com and request a free brochure.

The unemployment rate is at its lowest in 60 years, and what it means for your career

A low unemployment rate is not something we normally see, but it can and does have an impact on our students and their careers after qualifying, so it’s important to look at what the current record-setting lows actually mean.

Its 60 years since the unemployment rate has remained below 4% for a sustained period, so these current levels mark a very different job market to the one we have been used to for the last 30 years. As with anything, supply and demand shape markets, and the job market is no different, with so many employed, the job market is more competitive than it has been for a very long time, and for students graduating from our courses now and in the near future, that is a very good thing indeed.

With so many people at work and so few unemployed, employers face stiff competition for quality employees, and this is especially true of those with desirable skills, including accreditations that are required to perform some jobs. Skills shortages are a very real thing, as employers are struggling to find people with the right skills for the job positions they are desperate to fill, and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction industry.

Of course, what that means for those with the right skills and qualifications, is that they are in demand, and wages are rising as a result. For heavy machinery operators, crane operators, riggers, and other construction positions that require training and accreditation, this means a great time to be building a career. Not only are there plenty of jobs on offer, but the wages being offered are rising, and for the right people, this can be an incredible opportunity.

This is where our training approach pays off. By using both classroom-based study and on-site experience, we train you not just in the theory, but the practical aspects of operating machinery on-site, and when taking on that first job, that experience can prove invaluable. We give you the skills and knowledge to pass accreditation exams, but also the on-site experience that will better prepare you for the first day in your new job, giving you the confidence to take on any position and succeed.

We can’t remember a better time to be building your career as a heavy machinery operator, crane operator, or any other construction industry position. With high demand for the skills, rising wages, and a steady growth in construction all over the country, we help you gain the skills that employers are looking for. Your long-term career could be just a few weeks away with one of our comprehensive, accredited training courses, you can gain skills that will last you a lifetime.

Skid steers are small, upright, rigid-framed vehicles that are common on almost any construction site you visit. They get their name from the simple way they have maneuvered around, with the wheels on each side mechanically locked together. Usually having four wheels, to turn a skid steer, the operator changes the rotation speed of the wheels on one side or the other, causing the faster rotating side to skid around and turn the vehicle.

On sites short of space this maneuverability is incredibly useful, they can turn within their own length so are ideal for even the tightest of spaces. They are also popular because skid steers are so versatile, and for operators, that means that every day is a little different, making it a varied career that people enjoy. While the most common fitment for a skid steer is a front loader bucket. This can be used for loading as well as pushing or transporting material, but for operators, it’s a very different experience than with traditional front loaders. Skid steers are used not just on construction sites, but are found on farms as well, and are used in large numbers for landscape gardening applications too.

The agility itself makes this an interesting vehicle to operate, but the small size also means that the lift arms actually pivot behind the operator, and this itself is something an operator must get accustomed to. Loading buckets are not the only attachment in use though, and skid steers are often seen using augers for drilling, and trenchers and are even used with snow blower attachments for clearing roads of snow in winter. You will see skid steers being used to dig holes from the inside, using ramps to remove material from the excavation. This approach is often used when space is restricted, such as in projects that require excavation underneath a building, or areas where site space is significantly reduced for some reason.

A career as a skid steer operator has a lot of potential, with varied work to keep interest high and good pay and the best way to launch that career is through effective training. As with all heavy machinery, operating skid steers accurately and importantly, safely within a site environment takes skills and understanding.

Our professional training course teaches both in the classroom and on-site, providing a broad view of skid steer operation in a variety of conditions, with a particular focus on maintaining safety for the operator and other workers around the vehicle during its operation. That training when successfully completed opens the door to so many career options, and with the skid steer in so much demand across so many different industries and situations, it really is a career that can build for a lifetime.

There has been a lot of talk about the need for investment in infrastructures, and while the biggest projects are still at the early stages, Wisconsin is seeing a lot of construction activity focused on reinvigorating transport connections and providing the safe road solutions that we all need.

There is a drive for resurfacing that covers all areas of the state this summer, and this significant effort is accompanied by further works to backfill existing bridge structures and other substructures of the roadway.

A concerted effort covering various counties in Wisconsin, including Brown, Door, Fond Du Lac, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Marinette, Outagamie, Winnebago, and Shawano. Organized by the Department of Transportation, this represents a huge summer effort to restore Wisconsin highways to an acceptable condition and reinvigorate travel within the state.

While resurfacing is a common theme, projects around the state also take in other remedial works as well, including storm sewer reconstruction and renewal, railroad crossing construction, and other roadworks that can be carried out during the disruption. For heavy machinery operators, particularly graders and other road construction equipment, this is a fantastic opportunity, with skills in demand for a large number of simultaneous projects.

With various projects launching from May and continuing on to September and beyond, while this road initiative is widespread, collectively it is a huge undertaking for the state. However, that central organization does have its advantages, as Wisconsin is making use of social media to keep road users informed of any disruptions the ongoing works are causing. With a central Twitter account, they remind road users of lane restrictions and road closures each day, adding to the smooth running of these projects both for the teams working on-site and for Wisconsin road users looking to avoid any roadwork problems.

While we tend to think of infrastructure work as huge construction endeavors such as the California high-speed rail network, the reality is that these state-wide initiatives, which involve hundreds of works on dozens of sites, are where the most dramatic effect will be found for most people’s daily lives. A better, safer road surface to travel on every day as you go to work, school or the grocery run, this is where updated infrastructure leaves its mark on our lives most.

It is also where heavy machinery operators and other skilled construction workers will find long-term employment and create long-lasting, successful careers. By rebuilding infrastructure and providing safer, easier transport for Americans, this construction initiative is helping to deliver the platform that modern America needs for its workforce and industry.

For anyone looking to start a new career in construction, this really is a perfect time, and with our range of training courses offering both classroom and practical experience, we prepare you for a new career quickly and effectively. We are dedicated to teaching you the skills you need for a lifelong and successful career.

Veterans have protected this country, and now, along with so many others, they are part of a countrywide effort to rebuild it, providing the infrastructure that the future of America will be powered by, and we are honored to be able to play a small part in that.

As both state and federal governments are focusing on infrastructure, and the need to invest significantly into rebuilding and modernizing existing infrastructure and building the new construction that will support us into the future, a career in construction has perhaps never offered so much potential.

In fact, there is so much support for construction, it is no wonder that so many are looking to retrain to build new careers in the industry. One of the largest groups doing that is our veterans, who are taking advantage of the various programs such as the GI Bill that give them the opportunity to learn new skills and build new careers. With such demand for construction skills, it should be no surprise that veterans are frequently turning to the construction industry and the various skills training that is on offer. Transitioning from the military can be a challenge, and having a stable, reliable career can be an important part of that process, and the construction industry has a lot to offer in that regard.

Here at ATS, we are extremely proud of the fact that we have helped over 2000 veterans retrain and forge new, lucrative careers for themselves as they adapt to civilian life. Through various funding and other assistance, programs veterans have taken part in our courses that deliver classroom coaching and on-site experience, enabling them to gain the skills and confidence to build careers to be proud of. We actively promote the programs that provide the funding veterans need for those skills, and in addition, we offer qualified veterans an additional incentive, covering the cost of their accommodation during any courses they take with us, our way of saying thanks for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf.

We also think that it is fitting for veterans who have already given so much for their country, and are retraining to be part of projects that will literally rebuild it. Infrastructure projects across America are reshaping towns and cities, and they will be the platform on which the future of this country is built on. That so many veterans are involved with these projects, leaving their mark on this country in another way, is a testament to their courage and work ethic, and something they, and all of us, should be immensely proud of.