There are many reasons people choose a career in construction. Here are some of the more common reasons that people choose to work in construction.

• You can see the results of your work. Your hard work pays off. You can see the finished project.
• You get to be outdoors. Your day is not spent in the office. Instead, you get to visit different construction sites and work on different projects.
• There are many different job opportunities, and you can choose different paths. You can train to do different jobs, so you can do various work duties. You may be a truck driver, a heavy equipment operator or you could be an expert carpenter or work in masonry.
• You have job stability. There is a shortage of construction workers, and workers are always in demand. You will not have trouble finding work.
• The construction industry will always be needed. There will always be a need for new construction projects, and there will always be a need for construction workers.

If you are serious about choosing a career that will give you job satisfaction, construction should be on your shortlist. To learn more about construction opportunities, talk with an educational facility that specializes in training programs for construction workers.

ATS offers specialized training and has payment options available. Call to speak with a representative about the options available.

The Average Crane Operator Wages?

There is a high demand for crane operators in the construction industry. Crane operators must undergo extensive training to safely operate these large pieces of machinery. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2014, there were 44,540 people employed as crane and tower operators in the United States. The average hourly crane operator wages are $25.75 per hour, which comes out to $53,500 annually. According to the study, other construction equipment operators average $48,020 per year, or $23.09 an hour. To fill any of these positions, you will need to undergo specialized training. In some states, crane operators must have OSHA certification as well.

The Sky is the Limit

When it comes to operating cranes, the sky is the limit and that is in more than one way. While cranes are towering over buildings, many crane operators have salaries that tower over the salaries of their fellow construction workers. An article in the Wall Street Journal reported that crane operators in New York sometimes make $500,000 annually when pay, benefits, and overtime are figured in. That is a half million dollars every year for working in the construction industry and operating equipment. The Real Estate Board of New York, which represents the construction industry, reported that those employees earning the highest salaries are union members, and some of them are relief crane operators, which are required by the union contract for specific projects.

What Future Do Crane Operator Wages Hold?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are several states that require more crane operators. Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Maine, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, and Oregon have the highest concentration of jobs for crane and tower operators. Arizona has the lowest need for these workers. Crane operators are paid the most in New York, New Hampshire, Alaska, Hawaii, and New Jersey. When it comes to future job openings, the demand for crane operators will stay steady. With an increase in construction projects, the need for crane operators will climb. The retirement rate for crane operators is expected to be higher than average over the next few years, so the high number of retiring workers will contribute to the number of job openings that are available. Therefore, the number of job openings will be greater than the number of those seeking jobs in the field.

Get the Proper Training

To become a crane operator, training is needed. ATS offers mobile crane training. ATS offers a variety of programs to train crane operators, including programs to prepare for NCCCO Mobile Crane Certification. Some of the different crane programs include:

• Large Telescopic Boom Cranes
• Small Telescopic Boom Cranes
• Lattice Boom Cranes
• Articulated Cranes
• Tower Cranes
• Digger Derricks

To learn more, call (800) 383-7364 today.

On February 7, 2014, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a proposed rule to extend the compliance date for crane operator certification requirements. This would give three more years to both the certification and phase-in requirements that ensure crane operators are qualified to operate the equipment. It is a good thing, but it’s better to just go ahead and get your crane operator certification now.

Associated Training Services offers training for the CCO certification exams and we endorse the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) national certification program. The NCCCO program is designed to provide a complete assessment of knowledge and skills for those who work in, with, and around cranes. It shows you are a recognized professional crane operator.

We think you should get your NCCCO Certification if you are going to operate a crane, pure and simple. It shows you know what you are doing, it keeps everyone safer on the job, and employers are more likely to choose you over other job applicants. Even though the OSHA deadlines are extended, you know they are coming so why wait?

Crane operators are in high demand and those who are well-trained make very good money. We are one of the biggest crane operator schools in the country and our Certified Crane Operator Program will give you the experience and training you need to get that higher wage. Our training includes experience with fixed cab and swingcab mobile hydraulic cranes and a whole lot more. You learn how to operate a crane professionally, and you get your NCCCO Certification by the time you complete your training. You will be ahead of the pack scrambling to meet the new OSHA deadline and in a good position to be hired.

If you are considering a career as a new crane operator, then you will be surprised at how many different types of cranes there are, and how many different types of jobs they do. When you look around many workplaces, there are cranes of some description in use. Some of these cranes include:

• Railroad Cranes that sit on a rail flatbed carriages
• Telescopic Cranes that have a boom that can telescope out.
• Tower Cranes that stand quite tall. These cranes are disassembled and put together on higher floors as a building is being constructed.
• Truck Mounted Cranes are cranes that are mounted on truck flatbeds
• Rough Terrain Cranes have four rubber tires that are designed for off-road and “rough terrain” applications
• Crawler Cranes are mounted on tracks to added stability and mobility
• Loader Cranes are hydraulically-powered cranes that are fitted to a trailer
• Gantry Cranes are used in container ports and rail freight terminals
• Overhead Cranes are suspended from ceilings are very common in factories
• Floating Cranes are generally mounted on barges and used mainly in bridge building and port construction
• Mobile Cranes are trucks that have a separate crane mounted behind the truck driver. These cranes can move quickly from job to job.

Some of these cranes require operators who have had years of experience on smaller or less complicated cranes. There are still many options available to new crane operators who are entering the workforce. One of the easiest introductions to crane operation is through mobile cranes. We can provide the training and certification required to get a start in this industry. You just need to decide on your career goals in crane operations.

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.

There is a lot to think about for those individuals who are interested in a career as a crane operator. There is of course your crane operator training and then finding that all-important first job. You should also give serious thought to the type of crane you wish to operate, however, don’t expect to undertake training then walk into a job operating one of those large high-rise building cranes – it just won’t happen. They require the skills of very experienced operators. Whilst training and employment are important, you will also need to consider how you intend funding your training, whether or not you can travel each day to attend training, and the impact your training may have on your family.

The easiest path is to find a training school such as ATS that delivers a complete crane operator training program. This includes assistance with finance to cover your training costs, assistance with housing while attending training, and assistance to find that first job after you have completed your training. You will also need to complete the requirements for certification as a crane operator – you will need this certification to be eligible for employment as a crane operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can also help you obtain this certification.

By having everything handled under the one training program, you remove any stress from yourself. This means you can concentrate on your training. It also helps to reduce the effect that training may have on your family. It only takes three weeks of training to gain the skills required to commence work as a crane operator, and with crane operators earning lucrative pay checks each month, you’ll very quickly recover the costs of your training.

Crane operator training programs commence every three weeks, and they often fill quickly due to limited class sizes. We believe in giving our students as much in-the-seat training as possible whilst also ensuring they receive classroom-based training in safety and theoretical areas. Looking for a career as a crane operator? Take away the hassles by looking for a complete crane operator training program.

Short and long term job prospects are looking good for heavy equipment operators. Construction as an industry is growing, and with spring and summer just around the corner you can expect to see a surge in job opportunities in the short term. Being an industry that has an older employment base, many of whom fit into the ‘baby boomer’ category, long term prospects for new operators is almost assured – those ‘baby boomers’ are about to retire, and that will create a huge vacuum in experienced heavy equipment operators. If you’re looking for a career that has a bright future, then heavy equipment operations is certainly well worth some thought. Job vacancies this month have included:

• Excavator, dozer, scraper and motor grader operators required in Howells, NE
• Bulldozer operators required in Mowbridge, SD
• Heavy equipment operators required for spring hire in Mobridge, SD.
• Heavy Equipment Operators required for work in several states including LA, KS and TX.
• Heavy equipment operators for jobs in IA and MN.

Truck drivers are also always in demand with this month’s job vacancies including:

• Drivers required for concrete pumper trucks in Houston, TX. This business has locations in 16 states.
• CDL-A drivers, Tanker and Hazmat, required. Want to be home at night? Start pay in WI .51, MN .43, and NY .49
• Local delivery drivers required for building products in Madison, WI. Local driving means you’re home each night.
• Employer is hiring CDL-A drivers for work in WI, MN, IA and IN with mileage pay in the .40’s

Visit our jobs website for the latest job listings – it’s free to access for anyone looking for work as heavy equipment operators, truck drivers or crane operators. If you’re interested in a career in any of those fields, then visit ATS. There you’ll find more information on how to build a successful career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver and/or crane operator.

Are there jobs in the trucking and construction industry? There certainly are. We are constantly receiving job vacancies from employers (you can view them all on our job site), and often the vacancies are for multiple positions. It’s important to read each job vacancy and to keep a positive attitude. We often hear the comment like, “Sure there’s a job available right where I want to work, however, I am new to the industry so they won’t select me.” That’s the wrong attitude. They may well select you if you are suited to their needs, and if they are recruiting for several vacancies, then you’ll have an even better chance of success. It’s like the old lottery issue – you won’t have a chance of winning if you don’t buy a ticket – in this case, you certainly won’t get the job if you don’t submit an application. The jobs that have recently come into our offices include:

Truck Driver Job Vacancies

Detroit, MI

Eagan, MN

Fort Worth, TX

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Nashville, TN

San Antonio, TX

Crane Operator Job Vacancies

Anchorage, AK

Hamilton, TX

New Mexico

San Jose, CA

San Marcos, TX

Tulsa, OK

Heavy Equipment Operator Job Vacancies

Fargo, ND

If you’re interested in a career as a crane operator, truck driver, or heavy equipment operator, then talk to us to find out how easy it is to get a start in these careers. It can take as little as three weeks of heavy equipment operator training to be ready to operate heavy equipment in the workplace – that’s a small investment in time for a lifelong rewarding career.

You can spend weeks, months, or even years training in a particular field. That doesn’t mean you’ll ever find employment in that field. It doesn’t matter the type of career – employment relies on a lot more than just training or skills. So what does it take to find a job in the heavy equipment field?

If we assume that skills are not the issue, then finding employment comes down to two things: knowing where the jobs are and knowing how to best apply for those jobs. You cannot isolate those issues either. You may know where the jobs are, however, if you don’t know how to best approach potential employers, you’ll most likely not make the interview stage. It goes without saying that it’s pointless knowing how apply for a job vacancy if you don’t know where those vacancies are.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools have solved those problems by including a free lifetime access to a career services department with your training. When you start one of our training programs (and that includes crane operations and truck driver training), one of our career services personnel will work with you to help develop your career. This assistance includes soft skills training in areas such as resume creation and interview techniques. Our career services personnel will also work with you to identify potential employers related to the location and type of work you want to undertake.

Graduates also have access to our employer database and a dedicated jobs website. Employers frequently list jobs on this website (and we publish many of these jobs on this blog every Saturday) and review resumes left by graduates. How do you successfully start a heavy equipment operator career? You get the right training, then you make the most use of any career assistance offered by your training school. If your training school doesn’t offer career services, then you may find it difficult to gain that all important first job in the industry.

Crane operators have an interesting career. At first glance, you may think that a crane operator’s role is fairly repetitive. However, that thought really doesn’t take into account how complex a crane operator’s role can be. Take a fixed construction crane. Sure, they spend all day lifting (or lowering) building materials, however, every lift is different with environmental factors like wind playing a big role.

A mobile crane operator’s working life is very different to that of a fixed crane operator. As the name suggests, a mobile crane is frequently on the move, going from one job to another, and it’s rare for any two jobs to be the same. A mobile crane operator may find themselves on a construction site today, in someone’s backyard tomorrow as they help install an in-ground swimming pool, and out on the highway the following day helping to retrieve a car or truck that has run off the road.

Each and every job is different, and a mobile crane operator’s skills are put to the test whilst still in the truck driver’s cab – they have to pick the best position to locate their crane (taking in all environmental factors). They then need to stabilize their crane off the wheels – you don’t want to be rolling whilst in the middle of a lift. Finally, they need to do the actual work. The irony often is that setting up can take longer than the actual lift, and once completed, the whole set-up process needs to be reversed.

Crane operators do lead an interesting life, especially if they are in control of a mobile crane. Mobile crane operators are paid well, and there is always demand for crane operators somewhere. If you’re considering a career change, consider a career as a crane operator – it only takes a few weeks of crane operator training and you’re ready to start work.