We all know education is important when it comes to our careers, but while some think that a 4-year college degree is the only answer, is that really true? With ever-increasing costs and uncertainty of future employment reflecting that investment, there are alternatives to look at when it’s time to build a foundation for your career like a vocational school.

Your Career Can Benefit From Vocational School

Instead of spending four years racking up a lot of bills and probably debt, a short-term vocational class can give you the skills to start earning quickly and building a successful career with it. As we see many graduates earning less, the right career from a vocational course can match and exceed graduate earnings as well, without the huge costs to get you there.

With a career as a truck driver or heavy machine operator, you don’t have to wait four years, with a short term vocational school course measured in weeks rather than years that give you in-demand skills, you can be earning money sooner rather than later, and with great earning potential as well. The other advantage of the cheaper vocational school option is that there is much less stress. After a 4-year degree, there is an immediate stress of knowing the amount of debt that needs repaying, or just how much that education cost and that kind of stress really is the last thing you need as you take your first footsteps into a new career.

Taking a short-term vocational school course doesn’t just benefit you financially either, for many of us, it can simply be a better learning environment. Classes are smaller, not only meaning more attention from tutors but can simply be a less intimidating environment that helps people flourish and achieve their potential. Not everyone suits the college environment. Of course, a vocational course also mixes classroom study with hands-on training, and this again can be a better fit for many people, who find they learn more, much easier, in this kind of approach.

The other thing such hands-on training does is better prepare you for the work environment, and this is an area where a vocational school has a tangible advantage over colleges. For those taking their first steps in a new career, having practical experience in that working environment can be incredibly valuable, not just to you as a worker, but to the employer too. The transition from student to employee is not straightforward, and having practical experience from a vocational school can make it a much easier process.

Today, a 4-year college course is not the only route to a successful career. Whether it is financial reasons, or that as a student vocational learning simply suits you better, or even that you want to get your career started sooner rather than later, a high-quality vocational school course can provide a route into a successful, prosperous career, so think about what is best for you, today.

Fatal accidents within the heavy equipment and crane industry

Here is some important and scary information you should know and take into consideration when looking into the heavy equipment industry or the crane industry. No one expects to go to work and be unsafe, but within the heavy equipment and crane industries there will always be a certain amount of risk, due to the nature of the job.

Construction sites, mining facilities, and so on can never be completely controlled, and sometimes accidents do happen. In fact, fatal accidents are very rare, with the most recent government figures showing just 12% of fatal construction accidents being heavy machinery or crane-related. However, even with that level, it is important to understand how these accidents occur, so we can all avoid them in the future. Studies have constantly shown that one of the main contributors is operator error.

With operator error such a large contributor to the frequency of such accidents, it is an area that needs addressing by the industry. That is why training is so important today, and getting the right, hands-on training as close to a work environment as possible, really is essential for every heavy machinery or crane operator today.

At ATS we take safety seriously and work hard with our students, both in the classroom and out in the field to offer comprehensive training that not only prepares students for the job itself but the unpredictability of a construction site. With our unmatched industry expertise and unique training programs, we help our students master the work environment, spotting danger before it becomes a problem. They learn to operate under pressure while maintaining the highest levels of equipment and operational safety.

A good safety record can always be improved, and that is why we ensure our students are the best equipped to operate machinery and cranes as safely as possible. Get in touch today and see the difference that our safety-focused, mixed theory, and practical courses give to your confidence and ability on-site.

It’s probably crossed your mind already, just what is it like to be a crane operator? If there is one job that everyone sees being done that makes us think, it is the crane operator. But what is the job actually like for those that take on the training and go out and do it?

The first task of the day, no matter what kind of crane is being operated, is safety. Whether a mobile crane or a tower crane, giving things a check over is important. For mobile cranes, this means a once-over before setting off to the site, for a tower crane, operators check the crane at each stage as they climb to the cab. Responsibility, as shown by the safety checks, is a big part of being a crane operator, and that is why it can be so appealing. You are responsible for your crane, yourself, and the loads you move.

For mobile cranes, finding today’s site is the next challenge, moving large cranes around is itself a skill, but with each new site is a new work environment, and those ever-changing surroundings mean that life for a crane operator is never routine, never dull.

Operating the crane itself is, of course, the main part of the day, and is an exercise in precision and teamwork. Crane operators take responsibility, but they also need a team to guide them as loads are moved. Hand signals, radios, and even flags are all tools that allow the team to work seamlessly and safely to get the job done. Many people think a crane operator’s day is a lonely one, but the truth is that it takes a team to make it work. Operators may be alone in a cab, but they are never on their own on a site.

It can be long days, sometimes 12 hours on big projects, but that combination of responsibility, skill, and teamwork makes crane operators something unique. It also makes the work day for crane operators unique as well, which is why we see those cranes and wonder what it would be like. If you like the idea of something different every day, working as a team and taking on responsibility for yourself and others, it’s time to think about that crane operator training for yourself.

When you see a mobile crane operator doing amazing things like precisely placing a steel beam, you actually see teamwork. Without riggers, spotters, and signalers that crane operator would be working blind. The team that a mobile crane operator is a part of is a group of highly trained specialists. That’s why ATS offers a variety of specialties in our Mobile Crane Operator Certification Training:

• NCCCO Certification including preparation & testing
• Fixed and Swing Cab Mobile Hydraulic Cranes
• Lattice Boom Cranes
• Articulated Boom (knuckleboom) Cranes
• Rigging / Signalperson Training and Certification

It isn’t just classroom lectures, either, because in order to know what to do on this team you have to get in-the-seat training. Set-up, load dynamics, lift planning, rigging, and signaling are explained and then they are done. Doing it gives every team member the experience that helps them remember the lessons on the job.

The NCCCO certification is nationally recognized as a mark of excellence. A team made up of this level of professionalism is a team that earns top wages for a job well done. Each member of the team knows what to do, from the rigger who safely attaches the load to the crane and guides it to the spotter who watches for hazards like power lines.

The crane operator keeps an eye on both to get up-to-the-second information about the process. These extra eyes keep everyone safe in a dangerous work environment. Signals are used to communicate clearly despite the noise of the machinery.

Associated Training Services provides the training that each team member needs to do the job well. The Mobile Crane Operator Certification Training you get at ATS equips you with a career in this lucrative field.

One of the heavy equipment jobs that almost always is on the top of the pay scale is the crane operations. There’s a lot that only a crane can do, so this position is in high demand, too. But the reason crane operators get sought out and get paid well is that they do a dangerous job that takes a lot of skill. Crane operators need to be certified by the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) because that ensures the operator meets high standards of knowledge and skill.

Crane Operator Certification

Crane operators get their NCCCO certifications by passing both written and practical exams, just like you got your driver’s license by passing both a written test and a driving test. The reason both kinds of testing is required is that operating a crane is every bit as potentially dangerous as driving can be.

When you go through the Certified Crane Operator Programs at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School there will be a lot of both types of learning; knowledge and practical. You become familiar with a lot of things depending on the program:

Mobile Crane Operations – 1

• Beginner Level Curriculum
• 3 Weeks, Monday through Friday
• Fixed Cab (small hydraulic or boom truck) Mobile Cranes
• Swing Cab (large hydraulic or rough terrain – RT) Mobile Cranes
• NCCCO Preparation, Testing & Certification

Mobile Crane Operations – 2

A student must have successfully completed Program -1 to enroll in this program.

• 3 Weeks, Monday through Friday
• Lattice Boom Cranes
• Articulated Boom (Knuckleboom) Cranes
• NCCCO Preparation, Testing & Certification

In addition to these programs, there are custom training options, rigger/signalperson certification programs, and more. Each one will give you the preparation you need to go on to the next step in your career as a skilled craftsman who is in demand.

The crane operator does spectacular things, hoisting heavy loads and accomplishing tasks like placing critical beams where the job requires it. But the crane operator doesn’t work alone because riggers and spotters are part of a team, making the whole unit successful. Without each member of that team, something bad could happen on the work site.

Riggers make sure the load is safely attached to the crane. The rigger’s job should be guiding the load, and keeping that load their priority.

Spotters make sure the crane is not going to hit any power lines or other hazards. They can’t guide the load, too, because they need to keep watch on the hazards. People have died when both rigging and spotting are done at once; all it takes is hitting a power line with the boom.

Crane operators need to be able to see both the rigger and the spotters at all times. Signals have to be clearly understood since the noise of the equipment messes up communicating by shouting. The operator uses the rigger and spotters as extra eyes to see what is going on and do the job safely.

All three positions on the team have to be filled by qualified people who were trained in all the safety procedures. Anything less than that is an accident waiting to happen. Associated Training Services provides that training and makes sure the certifications are earned. An ATS graduate has the knowledge and the training to be a part of the crane operation team and do it well. We schedule the NCCCO Certification regularly all through the year, so there’s no reason you can’t become part of this team of qualified professionals.

A lot of times you might hear someone say they just don’t have the time to go through a long training process because they have bills to pay. But you really shouldn’t say things like that without knowing how long certification can actually take. For instance, Mobile Crane Operations – 1 is the ATS beginner level program, and it just takes three weeks. You go from Monday to Friday three times and get NCCCO prep, testing, and certification in both fixed cab mobile cranes (small hydraulic or boom truck) and swing cab mobile cranes (large hydraulic or rough terrain — RT).

Once you successfully complete program 1, if you have the time and want to go further and train for lattice boom (crawler or truck) cranes and articulated (knuckleboom) cranes; it takes another three weeks of Monday through Friday commitment, and by the end, you get another NCCCO certification. That is pretty good for six weeks of class/training time!

Experienced operators who are being paid by a business can take a single week of Monday through Friday NCCCO mobile crane operator prep/test on any two combinations of these mobile crane types. One week to get the certification that verifies your experience and the benefits that come with it. The NCCCO Rigger/Signalperson certification and training takes one week, Monday through Friday, too.

Associated Training Services Heavy Equipment Operator Training School isn’t just a push-you-through and leave-you-hanging operation, either. We provide the best professional crane operator training in the industry and have the graduates to prove it. For more information, call (800) 678-8149 and ask about our crane operator training school, class dates, curriculum, or certifications. In a couple of weeks you could be getting a whole different paycheck.

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.

Crane operators are some of the most important employees on a construction site. If you are a certified crane operator, you can expect to get some of the best and most sought-after assignments, even ones that are high-paid even by construction industry standards.

Here is a simple three-step process for becoming a paid crane operator in today’s heavy equipment industry:

1. Enroll in a heavy equipment or crane operator course – The first step to becoming a well-paid crane operator is to get trained. Enrolling in a certified crane operator’s school is the best and most sure way to get trained for operating the latest types of cranes used on the work site today.
2. Get your certification – After training, you’ll have to pass the certification exam. Associated Training Services prepares you for the exam, and students take the crane certification exam before they graduate.
3. Start interviewing – After getting trained and certified in crane operation, you can confidently start looking for your first job. Associated Training Services has a job placement department whose mission it is to assist graduating students with getting their first job assignment.

You can start your journey toward becoming a certified crane operator right now. Enroll in crane training and you can be employed as a crane operator in just a few short weeks.

Crane certifications make the heavy equipment industry safer and more professional. By ensuring that workers who step foot onto the work site are trained, qualified, and certified, all of us can know with certainty that the heavy equipment industry is better for it. So who certifies crane operators?

But who is responsible for those certifications?

The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) is the organization that certifies qualified crane operators to ensure that workplace safety is a top priority all over the country.

Associated Training Services (ATS) fully endorses the NCCCO standards, and we hire only instructors who are certified by the NCCCO. When you are trained by a training school that recognizes and adheres to the national standards set forth by the industry itself, you can be sure that you will get the best training by the best instructors.

ATS instructors are not just certified. They are experienced professionals. In many cases, they have years of experience as crane operators themselves and many have served as safety officers and managers.

If you are ready to start your career as a certified crane operator, sign up for the ATS crane operator training. Check our class schedule to see when our next training class begins. You will be trained by the best in the business to be the best in the business.