It’s a bit of a cliche I know, but bulldozer operations is a real “down-to-earth job.” Let’s face it, what do bulldozers do best? They push earth around. You could probably use a more poetic description – bulldozer operators spend their days carving the earth. The end result is still the same. The have to push dirt around. That sounds fairly simplistic when the reality is that a large bulldozer can push an awful lot of dirt around – tons of it in a day’s work.

Bulldozers are one of the most important pieces of equipment on a construction site. Engineers, builders, and other plant operators all rely on the skill of a bulldozer operator to carve out that landscape according to the plans. If a building is going to be constructed, that firm and level base is what is going to help hold that building up. If a highway is to be constructed, then the road building crews are relying on the bulldozer operator to provide them with a level and accurate road base to start on.

Our farmers still rely on bulldozer operators. Farm roads are often bulldozed, especially after snow or heavy rains have made them impassable. Farmers also rely on bulldozer operators to help in the construction of small dams, vital for those periods during the year when rainfall is minimal. These jobs all require the skills of an experienced bulldozer operator.

When you and I look at a piece of land, we may see some vegetation and dirt. When a bulldozer operator looks at that same piece of land, they will be looking at the soil type (sand, clay etc), tree stumps, large rocks, and anything else that may make the job difficult. Once they have scanned the area, they are ready to go to work.

Training to become a bulldozer operator is fairly straightforward. Three weeks of classroom training and in-the-seat training and you’re ready for entry level employment. Experience comes with time, but you would be surprised at how quickly a new operator learns their craft.

It really doesn’t matter where you live these days, bulldozers and experienced bulldozer operators are needed everywhere. A bulldozer really is an all-purpose vehicle when it comes to dealing with the effects of mother nature. Every time there is a major event, bulldozers and their operators are called in to clean up the mess. They also generally employed to try and avert future problems. Consider some of these situations:

Snow and blizzards – Clearing snow from roads is a primary concern for almost every city, whether it’s here in the States or in Europe. Snow plows, graders, loaders, and yes, bulldozers are all called in to help clear the way.

Hurricanes, tornadoes and fierce storms – All three of these events create havoc. Beaches are heavily eroded and need bulldozing back into some semblance of a decent beach. Homes are destroyed and require bulldozing in order for a new home to be built.

Fire – Like storms, fire does immense damage, especially to property. In almost all serious house fires, the home needs to be bulldozed to make way for a new home. Bulldozers are also used to help create firebreaks and fire trails before the fire season starts.

Floods – Events like those in Australia (where an area the size of Texas is now underwater) bring home the danger and devastation of something as simple as rain. Bulldozers are working now to build levees and large embankments in an effort to prevent further flood damage. All over the world, bulldozers work to build dams and levees in the hope they can control mother nature.

Many of those activities occur after the event. Of course, bulldozers work on more mundane projects like building our highways, clearing land for farms and housing, and in general construction. It’s no wonder that bulldozers are one of the most popular vehicles in a heavy equipment fleet. There is one thing that all experienced operators have today – and that’s a heavy equipment training course that helped them get a start in the industry. Without that training, employers won’t even consider you now. Are you interested in a career that offers a lot of variety – bulldozer operations has it all – and it’s in demand worldwide.

Bulldozer training – you can actually find bulldozer training facilities all over the place. Some training schools are better than others, but then that’s true of every industry across the nation. If you are looking to enter the heavy equipment industry there are several things to beware of.

Mavericks – check the credentials of anyone who offers to provide training on heavy equipment like bulldozers. Because of the popularity of the industry at present, operators and former operators often sell themselves as heavy equipment trainers. They can be expensive, especially if you have to hire the equipment to undertake training. Good training operators have their own range of equipment and properly set up training schools – not some out of the way empty paddock.

Bad Habits – poorly trained individuals often pick up bad habits from their trainers. Employers will soon spot those bad habits and, if short cuts and safety become issues, soon show you the door. Your training should be setting good habits from day one.

False Paperwork – it’s nothing short of fraud, but by the time you find out they have gone (and so has your money). Again, it comes back to checking on the credentials of your training school.

The easy solution is to find a heavy equipment training provider that has been around for a long time. They are recognized within the industry, have a proven track record that can easily be verified (just talk to potential employers), and provide you with recognized paper work at the conclusion of your training. Heavy equipment training is not ‘cheap’ – if it is there is something wrong with the training. There is a strong demand for bulldozer operators at present – be sure your training is delivered by a training school that will help you into the workplace, not one that will teach you bad habits and keep you out of the industry.

Bulldozers are large lumbering machines. In fact, they look fairly awkward traveling on large tracks rather than wheels. Despite all that, they are amongst the most powerful of heavy equipment when it comes to sheer strength. They can also be one of the easiest pieces of heavy equipment to use – if you get the right training to begin with.

When it comes to complexity, bulldozers don’t know the meaning of the word. One of the hardest parts to learning to operate a bulldozer is often the steering, get that right and the rest gets easier. In some ways, it’s not the operation of a bulldozer that is difficult, it is the knowledge of the terrain your on, what sort of soil structure it is, how easy it is to move and whether or not its likely to have hidden objects like rocks and tree stumps.

Much of this knowledge can be picked up in a classroom, but much of it needs to be on the job experience. We can tell you about sticky clay surfaces, but its not until you actually experience it that you come to understand the effect it has on a machine like a bulldozer. Every soil type can react differently – learn that and you will become a master.

In the meantime, before looking to become a master bulldozer operator, start from the beginning with a bulldozer training program that provides a good solid foundation of knowledge. That is where ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can serve you well. As one of the nation’s top heavy equipment training companies, we know what employers want in new recruits and we know how to provide them with graduates that meet their needs. We also know what students want when it comes to training, and those needs are met as well. Become a master bulldozer operator by gaining the best possible basic training – you’ll never regret it.

Bulldozers are fairly straightforward units of heavy equipment and an operator can be effective with fairly basic skill levels. However, being a competent operator goes beyond knowing which levers to push or pull and when – there are many others factors that are required. If you undertake a heavy equipment training program through ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools, you can expect to learn how to operate:

• backhoes
• wheel loaders
• scrapers
• excavators
• bulldozers
• road graders
• rock trucks
• Skid Steers, and
• All-Terrain Forklifts

As you can see, bulldozers are included in the range of heavy equipment that you can learn to operate. This gives you more variety when it comes to employment opportunities in the future. Operating skills are only one part of what is needed to become an effective operator. Other skills required include:

• the ability to read and assess grades
• ability to use laser levels
• knowledge of different soils and soil structures
• understand and work to safety guidelines
• ability to read and understand site layouts
• knowledge and ability to carry out basic heavy equipment maintenance

These complementary skills are what separates average operators and good operators. This is particularly true of bulldozer operators who are often required to work on a construction site when it is still virgin bushland. Reading plans, understanding the soil, and working to a site plan are essential to achieving a finish ready for construction. Good operators will get the job done on time and leave a ‘clean’ building site. Cowboy operators will tear the area up but often leave it ‘dirty’ – by ‘dirty’ I mean an uneven finish with huge gouge marks and little piles of dirt everywhere.

If you want to be a bulldozer operator, or any type of heavy equipment operator, make sure you undertake your heavy equipment training through an accredited training body like ATS – you are then assured of quality training that prepares you for the workplace.

There is a misconception that construction grinds to a halt in the middle of winter and that jobs like bulldozer operations dry up. The contrary is the case. Sure, there are some areas where construction cannot continue. Heavy snow is one example. However, where there is heavy snow there is a need for snow plow operators and bulldozer operators are perfect candidates for those jobs.

Snow, of course, is not the only problem that winter brings. Heavy rain can also cause problems and slow construction down. These problems are not, however, nationwide. Whilst one area may slow down because of winter, other areas keep working. In fact, a job as a bulldozer operator means you can literally follow the sun. You can work as far north as Alaska in the summer then move south as winter approaches.

Whilst construction may slow in some areas, mining keeps operating almost year round. Farms still require the services of bulldozer operators when clearing land and many developers use the winter period to clear and subdivide land ready for construction in the spring. In some areas, bulldozer operators are more in demand in winter than in spring or summer.

Completing a heavy equipment training program now makes sense if you’re interested in becoming a bulldozer operator. There is work around, much of it fairly basic, which is exactly what a new graduate needs to begin with. By starting with basic bulldozer jobs, you can gain the experience, and hours behind the controls, that many construction companies like to see before hiring bulldozer operators for more challenging roles. Contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools now for more information and start the new year with a new career on the way.

Do you like adventure? If so a career as a bulldozer operator may be just the ticket. There is plenty of reliable and steady work available for bulldozer operators. There is also a lot of work available for those who like variety.

Bulldozers are versatile machines. You could be working for a couple days out in the back blocks somewhere clearing land for farming. Your next job could be in the middle of the city clearing rubble from a demolition site, or out on new stretch of highway that is being built.

As a bulldozer operator you get to see and participate in all sides of a construction saga – the construction, the demolition and the reconstruction. Life is never dull, life is never boring and if you like to do a little traveling then a bulldozer career can offer it.

If you are tired of the monotony of sitting behind a desk or walking a factory floor then getting out and about in the sun could be the change you are looking for. As a bulldozer operator I can promise you one thing, you will see plenty of sun, a little rain and perhaps even a little snow.

Bulldozer operators are well paid compared to many other workers and with a steady flow of work currently available there is little chance of being laid off through lack of work. Training to become a bulldozer operator can be completed in as little as three weeks. With the amount of work available at present you could be employed in a new career within a month of starting your training.

If you are sick of your current job, consider a career as a bulldozer operator. If you are looking for bulldozer training designed to get you started – look no further. We have exactly what you need. The only thing missing is you.

There are times when, as a bulldozer operator, you hope you don’t get work. The earthquakes that have hit the South East Asian region in recent weeks have been devastating. They are a reminder that anyone – almost anywhere – suffer earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and wild fires on a regular basis – often destroying homes, neighborhoods and even whole towns. Who gets called in to wipe it all away? The bulldozers.

Bulldozers do a good job of wiping away the signs of devastation. They do a good job of clearing the way for rebuilding as well. Whilst these are jobs that most bulldozer operators don’t wish for – someone has to do them when they do occur.

This type of work can be tricky at times as bulldozer operators may find themselves working alongside family members who are trying to recover as much of their personal lives as possible. Bulldozing a site is done carefully, pushing aside debris in a way that allows those family members access to what has been left behind.

It is hard to train someone for this type of work. Basic bulldozer training lays the platform – the rest comes with time and experience. Being sensitive to the needs of the family members is a skill that cannot be taught – either you have it or you don’t. Fortunately, most people do.

The life of a bulldozer operator can be difficult at times. However, at the end of the day you have helped people, communities or towns start the rebuilding process that gets their lives back on track again. Whilst the event that caused this devastation is sad, the act of clearing away and rebuilding isn’t -in fact it can often be met with celebration, a time of rebirth. It is a tough job, but it is a very satisfying job – are you up to it?

Bulldozer operators – where do they work? It would probably be easier to list where they don’t work. Typically they work on small housing projects, landscaping, new subdivisions, construction projects of all shapes and sizes, roadwork, and anywhere that requires land clearing, including farms. In winter, you may also see them working to move snow from land and roads.

The working day starts early for a bulldozer operator. They may start work at the site or in the yard before moving with their equipment to the work site. As with all heavy equipment, the job entails more than just operating their equipment. Safety is a big issue as is preventative maintenance so the first task of the day is a thorough walk around inspection of their machine. Bulldozers are generally fitted with caterpillar type tracks – these need to be inspected for damage and jammed debris. Fuel and fluid levels need to be checked along with hoses and hose fittings.

A normal work day often includes a get together with the rest of the construction crew where the day’s work is discussed and an order of work is laid out. The bulldozer is an integral part of the team on a lot of construction sites. Having said that, there are a lot of jobs, land clearing is one, where the bulldozer operator is out working by themselves. They need to walk around the area identifying hazards and mentally planning how they will attack the task.

Working a bulldozer can be hot and dusty work. Many bulldozers now come equipped with cabins that are sealed from the elements – dust, I am sorry to say, still has a way of finding its way in. The operator works to a plan; when clearing land, it’s a case of chewing away from the outside and working your way through to the other side of the job. The operator needs to be constantly alert for hidden tree stumps, large buried rocks and very soft mud.

At the end of the day, the bulldozer operator reverses their start up procedure. They may be required to report back to a supervisor on progress and will always need to do an end of day walk around to inspect for damage caused by the days work. Bulldozer operators, like all heavy equipment operators, build a relationship with their machine. A sixth sense often kicks in telling them when something is not quite right.

You can train to become a bulldozer operator in as little as three weeks. There are two things I do know about bulldozers and heavy equipment – you may receive training today – it is still going to be a lifetime of ongoing learning and discovery. The second thing – I have never seen an unhappy bulldozer operator!

That is the call I am seeing these days – not experienced bulldozer operators – no, they are asking for reliable bulldozer operators. One of the problems many construction crews are now finding is a general approach of apathy when it come to travel. With a lot of highway construction being undertaken now, there are times when operators need to travel 40-50 minutes to get to the construction site.

Because of this apathy to travel, employers are looking for operators that are reliable. If the job is forty miles down the highway and work starts at 6am, you’re there, on time, every day that you’re required. Are you reliable or do you fit into the ‘apathy’ class? If you’re reliable, there is work available and it’s increasing by the day.

Some argue that the cost of gas is making this sort of work uneconomical. However, smart crews are car pooling to share expenses. There are employers around that provide transport to and from these sites, it’s just a matter of being at the construction yard on time to take advantage of that transport.

If you fit into the reliable class but don’t have any bulldozer operator training, that’s easily fixed. Heavy equipment training programs can have you in the workplace operating a bulldozer within a month of starting the training program. Read that carefully, within a month of starting, not within a month of completing.

The opportunities are there. If you’re reliable, keen to learn and willing to undertake a few weeks of intense training, both in a classroom and behind the wheel, then you can take advantage of these opportunities. The work is there – will you be?