There is more to finding a job than just looking in a newspaper. If you are undertaking any career training, then the search for employment can be that little bit harder since you have no prior experience in the industry. More importantly, you have no prior experience at looking for work in that industry. A personal career counselor can often make a real difference in helping you gain that first start – if you have one available, that is.

Career counselors are our cornerstone at Associated Training Schools. They provide that vital link between the school, the student, and employers. More importantly, because they have experience working with industry, they know exactly how a graduate should approach employers. Having access to a personal career counselor can help you develop an approach – either by mail, telephone, or in person – that employers find acceptable.

Our career services department has links to thousands of potential employers across the nation. As a student or graduate, you have access to this information through our employer database. You also have access to our jobs website where employers can leave job vacancies, and where graduates can leave copies of their resume for potential employers to read.

The one area that no one can place a value on is that of experience. Our career services personnel have a wealth of experience when it comes to helping graduates from our heavy equipment training, crane operator training, and truck driver training programs find employment. Our reputation as a quality training provider in these areas has been built on the success of our graduates in finding and building great careers in their chosen work area.

If you’re considering a career in heavy equipment, crane operations, or as a truck driver, you can rest assured in the knowledge that our career services personnel will work with you to find that first job. If they aren’t helping you, it’s probably because you did your training through someone else.

There are times when standard training is not specific enough to cover certain tasks in a workplace. While heavy equipment operators can normally acquire the skills required to succeed through a broad-based heavy equipment training program, there are some industries that have very specialized roles for their heavy equipment. Normally, the only way to acquire these specialized skills is through a specialized or custom-designed training program.

Customized training starts with a customized training program. Most training organizations use training programs that have been designed off site so their training staff have little, if any, experience in designing a customized training program. To design a program that is specific to a particular workplace, a training program designer will need to inspect the workplace, define the skills required to perform the work, and to then design a training program that delivers those skills.

While that may sound easy, in practice it isn’t. Designing a custom training program also needs to take into account factors such as:

• Time – How long will the training take?
• Prerequisites – What skills should a trainee already possess?
• Equipment – The equipment required to learn these skills.
• Location – The best place to learn – at the workplace or at the trainer’s campus?
• Cost – When developing a custom training program, the end cost must cover the training school’s cost whilst remaining affordable for the employer.

That is a tightly woven set of requirements that must be considered while designing the training itself. Associated Training Services has a long history in delivering specialized training including training for:

• NCCCO Crane Operator Training, Testing and Certification
• OSHA Compliant Rigging; Signal Person Training, Testing and Qualification
• NCCER Heavy Equipment Training, Testing and Qualification
• Class-A CDL Commercial Driver Training, Testing and Licensing

If you require specialized training for your work crew, contact ATS for an expert assessment of your training options.

When it comes to heavy equipment operations, our law makers have generally left the industry alone. At least until the last decade when legislators started to take a little interest in the field. The only reason they have taken any interest is because of the number of accidents resulting in serious injury and death.

Legislators have slowly increased the rules surrounding heavy equipment operators, crane operators and construction sites in general. It is now mandatory for employers to ensure that their employees have some for of safety training before commencing work in any of those areas. Crane operators now require certification; riggers require proof of their training; and general workers must be able to point to some form of safety training.

Safety training can be delivered by suitably qualified trainers on-site, by a training organization either on-site or at their campus, or as part of a broader training program. It is now common for training programs such as a heavy equipment training program to include safety in its syllabus.

What legislators are hoping to achieve is a reduction in the number of accidents that occur in workplaces. The emphasis now is on employers employing personnel that are adequately trained in safety – in fact it’s the employers who face prosecution if they fail to satisfy this requirement.

When seeking training in areas such as heavy equipment operations, crane operations or any other aspect of construction, it is important now to ensure the training you receive does have safety components that meet these minimum standards. Failing to have this training will now result in one outcome – no one will employ you! At least, not until you undertake that training.

At ATS, we include comprehensive safety training in all our heavy equipment training programs. Our safety training component generally exceeds the minimum requirements as set out by legislation and this helps to make our graduates well sought after by industry.

Crane operators are now required to obtain certification in most states before being allowed onto a jobsite to operate a crane. Certification is a process that verifies an operator’s ability to operate a crane, and their knowledge of safety issues surrounding the setup and operation of a crane. Crane operator certification has been introduced to try and reduce the number of accidents that occur each year, some resulting in the loss of life.

ATS Crane Operator Training Schools has a variety of training and certification programs available for new operators, existing operators, and most importantly, operators looking to return to the profession after a sojourn in other fields. Those operators looking to return should be looking for training programs that can refresh their existing knowledge while bringing them up to date with the latest in technology and safety aspects. These operators will most likely not have undertaken any certification process in the past, and for those who have, they will need to consider re-certification prior to seeking employment.

In most states, employers will not even consider employment for operators who are not currently certified. ATS offers certification through the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), one of the most highly respected certifications in the industry. NCCCO certification meets all federal and state safety requirements and is achieved through a specific assessment process.

If you are considering returning to work as a crane operator, or have been working as a crane operator, then ATS can help you achieve your certification as a crane operator. If you require more information on crane operator certification, then check out our web pages on the subject.

The new OSHA Crane Mandate makes it compulsory for employers to ensure that all riggers meet the minimum standards set down for this position. This means that all riggers must be either qualified or certified as riggers – employing riggers that don’t meet these standards could lead to significant fines. ATS Crane Operator Schools are now conducting training programs that can help employers bring their riggers up to these new standards.

For employers looking to qualify their employees, ATS offers training that:

• Meets OSHA qualification standard for rigging,
• Includes written and practical training and testing,
• Can be completed in 8 to 12 hours depending on number of candidates, and
• Qualifies employees – compliance cards are issued by Associated Training Services upon successful completion.

If you are looking to provide your employees with a certification training program then we offer training that:

• Exceeds OSHA qualification standard for rigging,
• Includes written and practical training and testing,
• Is completed in 32 to 36 hours (4 days) depending on number of candidates,
• Certifies employees – certification issued by National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO), and
• Provides NCCCO Rigging Level One Certifications.

Safety is the primary aim of this new standard and it has been introduced because of the number of accidents that have occurred in recent years. The aim is to reduce the number of accidents, in particular the number of deaths and serious injury that occurs in construction each year.

To assist employers to quickly update their employees’ skills, ATS can arrange to deliver rigger training and testing at your workplace if required. This can make training much easier for your employees as they are on familiar soil and around equipment they see and use on a daily basis. This new mandate is not an option – it’s compulsory. If you require help to ensure your employees comply, contact us now – we’re ready to help.

How important is workplace safety to you? For many people, safety in the workplace is not something they really think about. For other people, workplace safety is something that is constantly on their mind. This is the situation with heavy equipment operators, their vehicles are large and powerful and one slip could cause a lot of havoc. For this reason, heavy equipment safety is one of the key components of any training program.

Over the years, legislators have slowly increased the requirements for operators, particularly where it comes to safety. Crane operators now require certification and it won’t be long and this will be extended to all heavy equipment operators. Why introduce certification? The certification process doesn’t just assess a person’s ability to operate heavy equipment. It also assesses their knowledge of safety when it comes to the operations and transport of their machinery.

The end result is that most construction sites are becoming safer. Certification is becoming the norm for most skilled areas on construction sites. If an individual is in charge of any aspect of a site that could prove to be dangerous, a recent example being those involved with rigging, then certification is becoming a requirement.

No one likes to see more and more legislation regulating our working lives. However, if accidents continue, then the cost to the community grows, not to mention the devastating effects these accidents can have on families. When it comes to heavy equipment training, you owe it to yourself, and more importantly, you owe it to your family and the families of those who will be working around you to ensure the safety training meets the minimum requirements for employment in your state. There is an easy way to check this. Ask the training company of they know what the safety requirements are, either locally or federally. If they don’t, look for another training provider. If you are looking for a career in heavy equipment, then you can help to build a safer workplace by undertaking training that includes heavy equipment safety.

We have come a long way as a nation. We arrived on this land with very little and over the years we have developed large cities, highways, and a lot of infrastructure. Much of this was done with unskilled or lightly skilled labor – it also came at heavy cost in terms of lives lost. Over the years our workforce has become more sophisticated with workers better skilled and work conditions far better than years ago.

Although our workforce was better skilled, loss of life and serious injuries still plagued the workplace. In an effort to reduce this, governments at state and federal level have introduced laws making it mandatory for certain workers to undertake training in specific areas. Safety is one area and in most states employees must complete safety training before commencing work on a construction site. Part of this push to improve safety included heavy equipment operators and crane operators.

Crane operators must now be certified to operate a crane before they can be employed. Certification in theory verifies that the holder of the certificate has met a minimum set of skills and knowledge of safety as it applies to crane operations. You can undertake crane operator training through any training body, however, certification can only be achieved through accredited organizations. With this in mind, it makes sense to undertake training through an organization that is also accredited to assess graduates for certification.

ATS Crane Operator Schools have a long and proud history of taking unskilled individuals and training them to not only perform well as crane operators, but to also have long and successful careers in the industry. Naturally, to be employed as a crane operator, ATS graduates can also undertake assessment for accreditation. This provides employers with proof that you meet the minimum requirements to be a successful crane operator.

Obtaining finance for heavy equipment training has never really been difficult for those who have reasonable credit histories. For people who are out of work or disadvantaged in other ways, there have been government-funded programs to pay for training. There are even training benefits available for the service personnel and their families. As with every society, there are probably individuals who have fallen between the cracks, not eligible for government-funded programs, and not having a sound credit history.

Credit is becoming a little easier and financial institutions are again realizing the worth of career loans, especially those that lead to viable employment relatively quickly. That is one of the benefits of training in areas like truck driving, heavy equipment, and crane operations – the training can be completed in as little as three weeks and graduates ready for entry level employment almost immediately. For lenders, the sooner the lender is in the workplace earning, the sooner the loan is repaid.

If you may be worried that your credit history could make a loan difficult, you have a number of options. The first is to request a copy of your credit history – with that in hand you can verify its accuracy and perhaps determine whether or not there are negative reports. Your second option is to fill in our application for credit – we will have an answer back to you within 48 hours (perhaps a little longer over the holiday period).

Financing heavy equipment training is not that difficult. We at ATS endeavor to do as much as possible to make your funding options easier so talk to us if you have any concerns.

Truck driving careers offer a lot for employees who enjoy working in an environment where they are almost totally in control. The only outside influence on your career is the where, what and when – where you need to load and unload, what you are loading and unloading, and when the items need picking up and dropping off. It sounds like a lot, but you’re in control of the how and that is really is the major component of the job, especially when it comes to interstate truck driving.

Having a commercial drivers license opens the door to a wide range of truck driving jobs. When we say flexibility, we really mean it. You could be driving dump trucks, perhaps local delivery trucks, or flatbeds transporting heavy equipment, and that’s just for starters. Take a moment at some time and just watch the main roads. In most areas, you will see trucks of many different shapes and sizes delivering everything from water through petroleum and gas products; fresh food from farms through to manufactured foods; in fact, any item you can buy has a truck’s involvement somewhere. You can even see homes, or parts of homes, being trucked across the country.

It takes all of three weeks to train to become a truck driver. Gaining your commercial drivers license will depend on how quickly you can pass the local requirements for that license. When it comes to employment, like most industries, the hardest part is getting your foot through the door. If you are a competent driver then you find that the industry is fairly stable – even in poor economic climates (we still eat and drink and we still drive).

ATS Truck Driving Schools have a number of locations across the country. We have almost 50 years of continuous service teaching students in fields such as truck driving, crane operations and heavy equipment operations. With that experience, and strong reputation amongst employers for graduating quality drivers, the only thing holding you back from a truck driving career is you yourself.

Certification is slowly becoming an issue for many operators in the heavy equipment industry. This is particularly so of crane operators as more and more states adopt the concept of employers being only permitted to employ certified crane operators. From July this year, new standards will start to come in effect on a national level that will make it compulsory for all crane operators to be certified.

ATS Crane Operator Schools have been supporters of crane operator certification for several years now. We have been accredited to deliver both the training and the certification assessments, a situation which makes life far easier for those looking at a crane operator career. The process is fairly straightforward as well.

As a new student, you will spend three weeks of in-class and in-cab training. This is designed to give you the actual skills required to work effectively in the industry. At the same time, you will be given training in areas such as maintenance and the all-important safety aspects of crane operations. Crane safety is one of the driving forces behind the requirement for crane operators to become certified. In theory, if all operators are certified they should all have the same set of basic operational skills along with the same safety training knowledge. The end results should be a far safer workplace.

If you are looking at a career as a crane operator, check with your crane operator trainer regarding certification. If they don’t train to a national standard then they will not be preparing you for the inevitable certification process – this will see you spending a lot of money on training that could be useless. Select a training provider that not only provides training that is accredited, select a training provider that can prove both the crane operator training and the crane operator certification assessments. Your money will be well spent and you will have a qualification that will be accepted throughout the country – that’s invaluable.