If you have a desire to be a heavy equipment operator, you will need to understand that your role on a construction site goes beyond just operating your equipment. You will often see heavy equipment operator job vacancies that include descriptions such as “and general laboring when required.” Everyone pitches in on a construction site. You cannot just sit in your cab waiting for your next job – you will be expected to get out and help in other areas.

It doesn’t happen all the time, however, you can expect this situation to occur on a regular basis. There are some jobs where you will be working alone, however, in most instances, you will be a part of a team. Sometimes it’s a good idea to wander down to a construction site to watch everyone at work. You will often see heavy equipment operators getting out of their cabs, sometimes only for a few minutes, at other times for an hour or more.

One area that does irk many heavy equipment operators is the constant in-and-out nature of some jobs. This happens frequently on demolition sites where an operator is constantly helping to manually demolish some sections. As a heavy equipment operator, your main focus and time will be on operating your equipment. You will spend 80%-90% of your working time operating that equipment, however, that does mean you’ll spending 10%-20% of your time away from your heavy equipment doing other manual laboring jobs.

For those who have a variety of skills, for example, skills on a range of heavy equipment, truck driving skills, or crane operator skills, then you may find you’re moving between them and your heavy equipment. In most cases, doing a different job can come as a welcome change to what you have repeatedly been doing. You’re part of a team, and that means you pitch in and help out whenever required.

Scenes on the news of a crane that was damaged by the high winds in New York this week are a timely warning to all heavy equipment operators. Weather is an important factor when operating heavy equipment, cranes, and even when driving large trucks. Strong winds can be a problem, however, what really causes damage is when that strong wind gusts. You may feel that operating a vehicle in 30 mph winds is okay – and it may be, however, wind can often gust to twice it’s speed, so that 30 mph suddenly becomes 60 mph, or more. The real damage being caused because it is unexpected.

It’s not just wind, rain and snow can also cause real problems. It may be quite safe to drive a bulldozer into a paddock to clear away trees and debris, however, a sudden downpour of rain could make a bulldozer’s escape a little difficult, perhaps even impossible, until the water has dispersed.

When thinking about heavy equipment safety, it’s easy to forget about weather, more so if you have had months (or years) of reasonable weather. The storms currently crossing our east coast are once every ten or twenty year storms – the kind of storms that most operators rarely get to see. This week’s storm is so severe it’s plain commonsense not to operate your equipment unless it’s an emergency. It’s the smaller storms that are a worry, the kind of storm where a heavy equipment operator may be tempted to risk it. You really need to ask yourself – is the risk worth it?

As heavy equipment operators, you have a responsibility to operate your equipment in a safe manner. It is your responsibility to ensure that people and objects are safe, that your equipment is safe, and ultimately, that you yourself are safe. If there is a risk to any of those areas, you shouldn’t be operating your equipment. Heavy equipment training can cover a lot of safety issues, however, it’s your job to assess the environment at the time.

Safety is an important issue in any workplace. Construction brings many dangers, however, for some heavy equipment operators, safety becomes a bigger problem when they are working away from a construction site. There are dangers everywhere in life, yet as you go about your daily business, are you aware of the dangers both above and below you?

Excavator operators need to be more observant than most since those above and below dangers are ever-present. Looking up and staying alive is a common theme in heavy equipment training programs. Why look up? Overhead power lines are everywhere and they represent a major danger to heavy equipment operators. Bring down live power lines and you could create all sorts of problems. To begin with, your equipment could be become ‘live’. If you try to escape, you run the risk of being electrocuted. Stay, and there’s a risk of fire, more so if those live power cables are sparking.

That’s above. What about below? Hidden below your feet are all the service pipes carrying water, sewage, sometimes telephone or power, and gas. The latter is a major cause for concern since a minor break in a pipe could lead to a major explosion – and we have seen a few of these in recent years.

Running into problems with overhead power lines or underground services can cause problems for operators, particularly crane and excavator operators who frequently raise their equipment well above eye level. Those problems also create huge problems for residents and businesses. Loss of power is one thing, being evacuated because of a dangerous gas leak is ever more of a problem.

Most reputable heavy equipment training programs include study of these issues and how to prevent incidents from happening. Workplace safety is a big issue today, so you do need to ensure you receive the best training possible before entering the workplace. If you can remember to look up when using your heavy equipment, and to check on the location of underground services, you should be able to avoid problems. Plow in without any thought, and you’ll most likely cause problems for yourself and those around you.

Crane operators generally don’t work alone. In many instances, it’s impossible for a crane operator to work alone, they simply can’t get a clear vision of the load, any obstacles, or people moving around them. When it comes to lower a load into a precise position, it’s impossible to do it alone. Crane operators spend most of their working lives as a part of a team, and their best friend in that team is the signalperson.

These days, it’s not uncommon for a construction site to have several people who can work as signalpersons. They will have other duties such as heavy equipment operations that they will normally work at, only switching to a signalperson when required. A signalperson’s job is one of precision and clear communication. The crane operator relies on that signalperson to tell them when to raise and lower the load, and when it is safe to swing the load sideways – if the signalperson gets it all wrong, then there is the potential for a serious accident.

What is most important is that the crane operator and signalperson are both talking the same language. If the signalperson signals up slowly, the crane operator clearly understands and complies; likewise, when the signalperson signals a stop, the crane operator stops. This means the crane operator is keeping a very close eye on the signalperson whilst watching everything else.

Rigger and signalperson training and qualification is now a requirement for those working in these positions. Fortunately, the training and assessment is not too onerous. A construction company have the entire crew trained and qualified (with a compliance card issued for each worker) in eight to twelve hours. Certification can take up to 36 hours, however, it is a more comprehensive training program that leads to certification of riggers and signalpersons.

As Spring and Summer approach, construction work in many states starts to kick up a notch or two. Many companies are now assessing their labor requirements for this increase in activity, and that invariably means new opportunities for trained heavy equipment operators, truck drivers and crane operators. It’s an interesting phenomena in this industry – job vacancies come in waves. This week the focus is on crane operators and truck drivers. Who knows that we’ll see next week -you’ll need to come back and see what jobs are listed then. In the meantime, if you need to add more skills to your repertoire, check out the latest training programs for heavy equipment operators, truck drivers and crane operators.

Boom Truck Operator
Fitchburg, WI
Employer is looking for boom truck operators.

Crane Operators
Williston, ND
Hiring crane operators now, MUST have CDL-A.

Excavator Operators
Bloomingdale, OH
Job vacancies for suitably trained Excavator operators.

Truck Drivers
Sun Prarie, WI
SWIFT is hiring drivers at Diesel Driving School in Sun Prairie, WI.

Truck Drivers
Madison, WI
Hiring local drivers, home every night and good benefits.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Various locations
Spring hiring for heavy equipment operators in southern and western states.

Crop Dusters
Various locations
Spring hiring for crop dusters in southern and western states.

You can find more information on these and other job listings at our dedicated job site. There are no fees to pay, and you never know, your next great job could be there waiting for you.

There are not as many jobs on offer this week, however, they can come and go quite quickly. If you’re looking for work as a heavy equipment operator, crane operator, or truck driver, we suggest you regularly visit our job site – at least once a day since employers are regularly posting job opportunities.

If you’re interested in becoming a truck driver, Schneider National is giving a hiring drivers seminar on the 02/21/2012 at 4 PM at our Sun Prairie, WI training school. Please feel free to call us Toll free on (800) 383-7364 for more information.

Heavy Equipment Operators with a (CDL) Commercial Drivers
Pennsylvania
Petroleum Field Services team is currently looking for Heavy Equipment Operators with a (CDL) Commercial Drivers License! We will train qualified candidates in oil well cementing and acidizing services. We have several openings across the United States

Heavy Equipment Operator
Paris, KY
Looking for equipment operators who have a minimum of 8 years experience in operating a D6 or larger Dozer and or a PC300 or larger excavator.

Heavy Equipment Operator II
Jacksonville, AR
Heavy equipment operators are responsible for the safe operation of various heavy equipment vehicles that perform the spreading and compaction of construction and demolition, commercial and residential waste disposed of at the post collection facilities.

Heavy Equipment Operator II
Bidwell, OH
Heavy equipment operators are responsible for the safe operation of various heavy equipment vehicles that perform the spreading and compaction of construction and demolition, commercial and residential waste disposed of at the post collection facilities.

Tower Crane Operators
South East
As ever we have lots of temporary work available for tower crane operators in the South East.

For more information on training programs for truck drivers, crane operators and heavy equipment operators, visit ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools.

There are a lot of job opportunities listed on our job site this week. Below are short descriptions of each. If you’re interested in one of these positions, feel free to visit our job site for more information and how to apply. The first listing is a special listing for veterans and is well worth looking at if you’re a veteran looking for work as a truck driver or heavy equipment operator.

Truck Drivers and Heavy Equipment Operators – Sidney, ND
Veterans wanted in N. Dakota. Lloyd Wynn, Washington DC has secured housing in Sidney, ND for drivers and equipment operators. Please call 703-946-0986

Truck Driver with Hazmat – Milwaukee, WI
Local driver with Hazmat CDL required. Home every night. Med, Dental,

Heavy Equipment Operators, Laborers and a Plant Manager – Bloomer, WI

Boom Truck Operator – CDL Delivery Driver – Morgantown, WV
Pull, load, and deliver customer purchases in a friendly, timely, safe and efficient manner. Greet and acknowledge all customers in a friendly, professional manner and provide quick, responsive customer service. Responsible for all other duties as assigned. Must have valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Requires morning, afternoon and evening availability any day of the week.

Equipment Operator II – Miami County, KS
Responsibilities: This is a non-exempt position operating a variety of heavy equipment requiring a great degree of skill in performing a variety of job assignments. This employee performs tasks related to road and bridge maintenance and construction and works under general supervision with work reviewed for results achieved.

Construction Equipment Operator 2 – West Chester, PA
Participate in project completion through operation of medium duty heavy equipment e.g. loaders, backhoes, trackhoes, forklifts, etc. and assistance to the site Managers on lesser tasks. When not operating equipment, participate in general labor tasks. The individual’s degree of involvement is dependent on his/hers experience and capabilities. Perform related responsibilities as assigned.

Equipment Operator – North Carolina
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities; traffic laws, regulations, equipment operation, knowledge of the principles and practices of operating and servicing medium size equipment, working knowledge of the occupational hazards involved and the safety precautions necessary to operate large equipment in heavy traffic and in restricted airfield areas, and knowledge of FAA rules.

Equipment Operator – Carlin, NV
Semi-skilled employees who operate at least one piece of heavy equipment such as loaders, scrapers, excavators and rubber-tired dozers. Employees will work under minimal supervision in environments where the primary objective is safe production.

Crane Operator – Mexico, MO
Operates hydraulic, electric and friction cranes to unload and backload heavy loads (supplies, equipment and personnel to and from vessels). Moves drill pipe when necessary.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Greencastle, IN
Ability to safely and effectively operate the equipment while assessing the surroundings (trucks, people, type of waste, surface grade, etc.). Must be able to operate at least three of the following: crawler tractor, scraper, articulated dump truck, back hoe, motor grader and trash or dirt compactor. Understands proper operation for equipment, gauges and their proper operating ranges. Adequate dexterity and reflexes for pushing/pulling.

Support Equipment Operator II – Empire, CO
Operations include both primary and byproduct molybdenum mines, integrated global operations, and local customer care. We provide our worldwide partners with the most reliable supply and highest quality molybdenum and rhenium products.

Support Equipment Operator I – Mine Operations – Bagdad, AZ
Performs duties related to the operation of heavy equipment in support of production including de-watering, materials delivery, maintaining berms, and surface maintenance at a skilled level.

Heavy Equipment Operators – Carrollton, KY
ASAP opening for Heavy Equipment Operators with 2 to 5 years experience.

Engineering Equipment Operator (Fire Dozer Operator) – Elko, NV
Seeking a dynamic and energetic individual.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Apex, NC
An employee in this class performs a variety of skilled equipment operation tasks operating heavy equipment for construction, maintenance and repair of utility lines and related appendices. Works involves operating heavy equipment such as backhoes in situations requiring skill and care to dig around underground and overhead utility lines, near traffic and in other tight places. When not operating equipment, the employee assists other crew members in building, repairing and replacing.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Seguin, TX
A leading provider of services to steel companies throughout the United States and Canada, has an opening for a Heavy Equipment Operator at our job site.

Heavy Equipment Operator Crane – Minneapolis, MN

Driver – CDL – Crane/Boom – Zimmerman, MN
Under moderate supervision, drives delivery vehicle to transport materials to location or production site that requires the operation of a crane or boom in the loading and off loading of materials. Operates crane or boom on delivery truck, including rigging, planning and hoisting of a variety of heavy construction materials.

Equipment Operator/Off Road Truck Driver – Black Hawk, MS

Heavy Equipment Operator – Streets – Victoria, TX
Operates heavy maintenance and construction equipment and assists the work of a crew who constructs, maintains and repairs streets and storm drainage systems. Knowledge of proper equipment used in the repair and maintenance of streets and storm drainage systems.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Baltimore, MD
$15k relocation incentive available for qualified applicants. Operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers, skid steers, front-end loaders and excavators. Relocation allowance offered for qualified candidates.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Orlando, FL
Performs skilled work in the operation of complex construction maintenance equipment, Performs tasks of more than average difficulty involving the safe operation and routine maintenance of assigned equipment.

Some of these positions require multi-skilled operators. If you have an skill gaps, check out our heavy equipment training website. We can help you quickly fill those gaps ready for multi-skilled employment.

Construction sites rely on people working together in teams. Crane operators rely on those on the ground around them to provide directions, however, the only way a crane operator can understand those directions is if everyone is talking the same language. On a construction site, verbal communication can be difficult, so a special set of signals has been created that operators and those designed as signal persons learn. In today’s workplace, riggers and signal-persons need to trained and they must be able to prove they are competent before they can work in those areas. To be OSHA compliant, riggers and signal-persons need to be certified as competent, this may include training followed by an assessment of a person’s skills and knowledge.

Employers are responsible for ensuring their workers are all OSHA compliant. This includes arranging training and assessments of employees to achieve certification. ATS has developed OSHA Certified Crane Rigging training that is both affordable and accessible. Most importantly, it’s not taxing when it comes to time away from the workplace.

Our Rigger and Signal-Person Certification program:

• Exceeds OSHA qualification standard for rigging and signal persons.
• Includes written and practical training and testing.
• 32 to 36 hours (4 days) depending on number of candidates.
• Certification issued by National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).
• NCCCO Rigging Level One and NCCCO Signal Person Certifications.

If your employees are experienced, then they may only require assessment and certification, which makes the process even quicker. If you’re an employer who employs people in the positions of rigger and/or signal-person, and you need to have them certified, then contact one of our enrollment officers. They will be able to advise you on the best training options available, and provide you with a competitive quote.

If you have experience on a range of heavy equipment, then there are plenty of jobs on offer around the nation. We have one employer this week who is looking to fill up to 20 positions with operators who can work on multiple machinery. If any of these vacancies appeal, or if you want to see which other jobs are still available, then visit our job site – your next job could be just waiting for your application.

Multiple Construction Equipment Ops – Onawa, IA
16-20 positions. Successful candidates will participate in project completion through operation of medium duty heavy equipment e.g. loaders, backhoes, trackhoes, forklifts, etc. and assistance to the site managers on lesser tasks.

Construction Positions – Milford, CT
Now accepting applications/resumes for…Asbestos/Lead Supervisor
Must have own transportation. Heavy Equipment Operator
Demolition experience a plus.

Heavy Equipment Operator – Fairfax, VA
Multiple positions located in Lorton, Virginia. Under general supervision, operates a variety of heavy construction-type equipment to include rubber tire loader, track machines, backhoe, and road grader. Also drives a semi-tractor trailer truck. Performs pre-operational inspections, and preventive maintenance.

Crane Operators – IA, Forest City

Heavy Equipment Operators – Mass

If you don’t have training on a wide range of heavy equipment, then you need to review your training. All students in our heavy equipment training program get the opportunity to train on equipment such as loaders, bulldozers, graders and excavators, and that’s just a small list. Our graduates are ready to operate a wide range of machinery – perfectly suited to some of those positions advertised above.

When it comes to cranes, technology can make a lot of improvements to they way they work and the way an operator controls them, but technology will never replace the crane itself. At least, not until they invent some form of anti-gravity device. Cranes fulfill a unique role in the construction industry, a role that would see building taking ten times as long again to complete if we didn’t have cranes.

Why won’t cranes be replaced? Simplicity. The concept behind a crane is thousands of years old and it has never changed. A crane uses a boom to provide lifting leverage and a cable that is used to raise and lower loads. It is a simple concept, a concept that kids learn in the playground without even knowing a lot about cranes.

That simplicity is hard to replace no matter how good our technology. The shape, size, and configurations of cranes may change, but that basic lifting system will remain in place for a long time. While I may be simplifying the process of how a crane works, that doesn’t mean that operating a crane is getting any easier. The opposite is perhaps true with cranes becoming more complex in the cab.

Computer technology is playing an increasing role in an operator’s work whilst, at the same time, there is a lot pressure to increase the safe operations of cranes. Operators have to be far more vigilant and safety conscious than they were several decades ago. In fact, the workplace has reached a stage where legislators are now insisting that operators are certified to meet minimum standards before they are allowed into a crane cab.

Crane operator training through an accredited and respected training organization is the only way to ensure your training meets those minimum standards, and that you are then able to seek certification. Once you are trained and certified, you won’t have to worry about technology taking over your job – humans will always be required to operate cranes.