The National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) and the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) are the credentialing organizations that gives Associated Training Services (ATS) advantage over other trade schools.

These credentialing standards are recognized and accepted by many industry employers. They are also accepted by government agencies and educational institutions so are eligible for financial assistance. Students who hold NCCER or NCCCO credentials are appreciated and sought after.

The National Center for Construction Education & Research

NCCER is affiliated with the University of Florida and has the mission of “fostering a productive, safe, and sustainable workforce.” This standardized curricula is what ATS uses to teach our students. All ATS instructors have completed the NCCER Instructor Certification Training Program and we employ two NCCER Master Trainers who have gone on to advanced levels.

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators

NCCCO was formed for the purpose of developing standards for crane operators in performance and safety procedures. These standards greatly increase the effectiveness of crane operation and reduce the risk of accidents. These standards include stimulating training, improving performance records, and recognizing professionals within the crane operation industry.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School Advantage

Because ATS utilizes these nationally recognized credentials, our graduates consistently are known as highly qualified entrants in their chosen field. Associated Training Services is proud to be a part of the legacy and promise that NCCCO and NCCER certifications bring to the skilled trade industries. A certification from either of these national credentialing organizations is an achievement to be proud of.

One of the questions that pops up from time to time is: “What makes a good heavy equipment operator?” And then it gets a little more specific and turns into “What makes a good mobile crane operator?”

There’s some overlap, but there are a few differences.

Things Heavy Equipment Operators Need

All big machinery, no matter what it is, needs an operator who knows what is happening around them and isn’t afraid to stop when things get dangerous. Good heavy equipment operators have these qualities:

• hand/eye coordination
• certifications from trusted schools
• respect for the safety rules
• a feel for their machine’s location and operation
• an eye on their surroundings
• knowledge of their machine’s operation
• rehearsed emergency procedures for instant response

Heavy equipment is hard to stop once it gets going, and everybody is safer when the operator is a professional. But the mobile crane operator has some added factors:

Things Mobile Crane Operators Need To Add

All of the above applies to a mobile crane operator, but the fact that there are additional NCCCO Certified Crane Operator Programs tells you that things get racheted up with the whole overhead-lifting thing. Loads to be hoisted have to be rigged correctly or they’ll fall, and it won’t be pretty. The momentum of a big machine is multiplied when that big machine is swinging a big load around.

Crane operators function as part of a team, and communication is really important. They need the strength to ignore pressure to hoist unsafe loads, even if the boss is giving them a hard time. They need to know what is safe and what is not safe, and it’s a good idea to know why so you can explain your refusal clearly.

Mobile crane operators are heavy equipment operators who have gone into a specialized field and done the training to earn specialized certifications in that field. They have great responsibility and are up to the task.

Sometimes a person who has grown up with experience around heavy equipment or been able to learn how to operate heavy equipment on the job asks why they’d need to go to a place like ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School at all. The question is valid, and the answer is clear:

ATS Training School plus Experience is better than Experience with no Training Certifications.

Employers look for operators who have been certified in accredited programs by professional instructors. Not only does this give them the assurance that there’s no gaps in training, it also satisfies state and federal regulations. You can be an expert at operating a particular type of heavy equipment and lose the job to a recent graduate of a good training school who has the basics. That graduate will very quickly learn on the job, and the legal requirements are satisfied.

So what should you do if you know how to operate all the stuff but lack the credentials that get you hired? Get those credentials at ATS. Classes start every three weeks and run year-round so you can work it into your schedule easily. Your experience will help a great deal because you have a working frame of reference to put all the information into. The instructors can help you get ready for the tests, you ace the tests because you know the stuff, and you graduate with the ATS advantage.

The ATS Advantage is a combination of respected training practices, assurance that your knowledge is current, and career help that continues as long as you need it. Add your experience to ATS and it’s no contest.

Associated Training Services would like to wish all truck drivers, their families, ATS students and their families, and all future truck drivers a Happy New Year. We’re getting started on the right foot. Are you?

We encourage you to check out our training schedule for the coming months and choose a time and place that is right for you.

This coming Monday (January 6, 2014), we will start a new truck driver training course in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Three weeks later, on January 27, 2014, we’ll start another one. You can get a free brochure for our upcoming training classes and be in the know so that you don’t miss any.

Now is the time to set your career goals for the year – and beyond. No matter what kind of equipment you want to train on, ATS can help you get trained and certified.

Our training programs include:

• Commercial truck driving
• Crane operator training
• OSHA-certified rigger/signalperson training
• Heavy equipment training

Whether you want to operate a bulldozer, a forklift, or a backhoe (or all of the above), Associated Training Services can help you get the training and the certification you need to get your first job in heavy equipment. Our job services department assists all graduates with landing their first jobs. Our graduates also go on to have the best careers.

So go ahead. Pick your training and join in.

The best way to get started in the heavy equipment industry is to attend a training school and get trained and certified. There are specific types of equipment that require specific types of certifications, such as the crane. And then there is specialized training like rigging/signalperson training. And you can get a commercial drivers license, which will put you at the forefront of the construction work site.

One thing is for sure: Heavy equipment operators who are trained and certified are much more valuable than those who aren’t.

If you’ve dreamed of operating a crane, a bulldozer, or a dump truck on the construction site, then now is your chance. Sign up for heavy equipment training and after the first of the year you’ll be set and ready to go. Four weeks of training is all you need to be ready to start your career.

So what types of heavy equipment can you train on? Here’s a short list:

• All types of cranes
• Dump trucks and other commercial trucks
• Bulldozers
• Backhoes
• Skid steer loaders
• Front end loaders
• Graders and scrapers
• Excavators
• Wheel loaders
• All-terrain forklifts
• And many more

Virtually any type of heavy equipment you’ll find on a construction site can be operated by new and veteran equipment operators. If there’s a need for it, you can be trained on it. Once fully trained and certified, you can start looking for a job.

Being qualified to perform a certain job and being certified to perform the tasks of that job are two different things. Specifically, we can talk about heavy equipment operations vs. crane operators.

National certification not only qualifies you to be a heavy equipment operator, but it ensures that you can go anywhere in the country and get a job. You can prove that you can handle the tasks of operating heavy equipment on the work site. Because you can prove your qualifications, your national certification contains a value that simple qualification does not.

What do I mean?

To be qualified as a heavy equipment operator, all you need to do is prove you know how to operate the equipment. You don’t need certification for that. Just jump into the driver’s seat and start operating. Certification, however, protects you and your employer from operator error or mishaps beyond your control.

We live in a highly litigant society. Any slight miscalculation can lead to an unfortunate event. If you don’t have the credentials that prove your qualification, then it could be a liability issue – for you and your employer.

That’s why ATS takes heavy equipment certification seriously. We want what is best for employers and employees. When we train you to operate heavy equipment, we certify you and make sure you are ready to start your career on the right foot. What more could you ask for?

More and more states are requiring that heavy equipment operators be certified before they can work on site. For that reason, it behooves the aspiring operator to seek the necessary training and receive the certification to get a job and stay employed.

Even if certification isn’t required in your state, they might be necessary, it’s a good idea to seek certification anyway.

You never know when your state will follow suit and require certification. You also never know when you might need to travel or move to seek employment. When you get to your new destination, the last thing you’ll want to do is take a break from your career to get certified. If you already have your certification, then all you’ll need to do is step into your new position.

Certification benefits you in other ways too. It shows potential employers that you are serious about your career. It also shows that you know the responsibilities of your occupation.

When you show potential employers your national certification and that you know how to handle heavy equipment operations, you’ll be more confident of yourself, and you’ll have a leg up on the competition. Your career will enjoy a lot more employment prospects if you have the credentials to prove your knowledge and expertise.

I’m not asking if you’re certifiable. That’s none of my business. I am asking if you have your certifications for working in the heavy equipment business. Are you certified?

There are different certifications you can test for. Every state has its own rules and regulations, of course, but you can get a national certification that will allow you to work anywhere. If you are a truck driver or heavy equipment operator, then I highly recommend one of those certifications.

There are two national certification agencies you should be familiar with:

• National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER)
• and National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO)

You can get credentialed from either of these certification agencies by taking a heavy equipment training course offered by ATS. These are nationally recognized training programs and nationally recognized certifications. They are accepted by government agencies, educational institutions, most industry employers, and professionals in the trucking and heavy equipment industries.

NCCER is a non-profit educational foundation associated with the University of Florida. All ATS instructors are required to have NCCER certification. Our students receive it as well when they graduate.

NCCCO was established to develop crane safety operation standards. It is recognized as the authority on crane safety in the U.S.

If you have an interest in the heavy equipment industry and are looking for a solid career, learn how you can get your certifications and join this growing profession.

Many states today now require crane operators to be certified. This should not be seen as a negative or an obstacle. Sure, it might be a little inconvenient, but think of the benefits.

First, crane operators are in high demand. If you are certified to operate a crane, then you’ll be more in demand as an employee and have a leg up in job interviews. Secondly, crane operators make a lot of money. In fact, they are some of the highest paid heavy equipment operators on the work site.

Crane operator certification through ATS includes training on fixed and swing cab mobile hydraulic cranes. The training will prepare you for the NCCCO certification exams, both the written and practical versions. You’ll receive the most rigorous training offered through the industry. In addition, you’ll be trained on special types of cranes, including:

• Rough terrain boom cranes
• Lattice boom cranes
• Articulated and knuckle boom cranes
• Swing cab boom cranes
• Fixed boom trucks
• Fixed cab cranes

ATS also provides OSHA-compliant rigging and signalperson training.

Crane certification training can take place at ATS facilities or on the employer’s job site. Having the training on your job site could be beneficial if you have several crane operators you want to be trained and certified. You can get more details on crane certification training through ATS.

If you are looking for a career as a crane operator, then your first step is to decide on what type of crane you want to operate. Crane operations is a large field and includes those monstrous cranes that climb a building as it’s being constructed all the way down to small cranes, which sit on trucks that are used to off-load the cargo. The most popular crane in use is the mobile crane, however, that too comes in a wide range of sizes and configurations.

Don’t even contemplate walking into a highrise fixed crane. You need years of experience to win a job in one of those cranes, and given how few highrise cranes there are, competition for vacancies is fairly intense. Mobile cranes are the better option for novices – they are relatively easy to learn and there are often a lot of job vacancies for these operators. When considering a career as a mobile crane operator, you can look at:

• swing cab boom cranes
• rough terrain boom cranes
• fixed cab cranes
• fixed boom trucks
• lattice boom cranes
• articulated cranes (aka knuckleboom cranes)

To operate a crane, an operator must be certified to gain certification. You need to pass crane operator competency tests. The best way to prepare yourself for these tests is through crane operator training undertaken through a training school that runs a recognized crane operator training program.

ATS is well known throughout the industry as one of the leaders in crane operator training and certification. We are one of the largest and oldest training schools in the nation and deliver training programs that not only prepare students for their certification tests but prepare them for work as well – and there is a big difference. If you’re interested in a career as a crane operator, contact us for details on our up-and-coming crane operator training programs.