Heavy equipment like bulldozers, excavators and even graders are incredible machines when it comes to power. Take the bulldozer as an example. For their size, they can move an incredible amount of earth. To sit in the operators seat and feel that power in your hands and through your legs – there is nothing like it.

I am sure some would argue – truck drivers, pilots, ships captains and others and they are probably right. However, with heavy equipment, the results, the power, and the earth being pushed around is now – you can see and feel it as it happens.

Learning to operate heavy equipment is a life long task. Just when you feel you know your machine inside out, you come across a job that is different, on different terrain, or requires such precise movements. Once again you are learning what your equipment can do and what you can do.

Of course, this ongoing learning process needs a good foundation to start with. The foundations of a good heavy equipment operator can only be built through training from accredited and professional heavy equipment training schools.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are not only accredited, they are also recognized for delivering quality training and preparing students for the workplace. If you want to feel the power of heavy equipment then contact us ATS either through our website or on 1.800.678.8120.

Excavator or excavators are one of the pieces of heavy equipment that you may hear talk about but rarely actually see – unless you are specifically looking for them. They don’t do a lot of driving around like a bulldozer or loader, they tend to sit in one place and do a lot of work before being moved a small distance to continue on with the job.

The excavator consists of a cab, an engine, dual bulldozer-like tracks or treads, a boom arm, and an attachment.

• The cab is where the operator sits. It can generally pivot 360° on top of the tracks and act as enclosed rollover protection work areas.
• The engine provides power for the tracks and powers the hydraulic systems that run the arm and its attachments.
• The undercarriage includes the tracks that move the machine around, along with the sprockets and rollers that guide and propel the tracks.
• The boom is like an arm that extends from the body of the vehicle. It connects at an elbow to the stick that holds the attachment.
• It is the attachment that does the actual work – generally a bucket with teeth designed to dig an remove the loosened material.

Some excavators use a quick coupler that makes it a lot easier to switch between attachments. Some common attachments include augers for boring holes and thumbs for pinching or gripping, as well as hydraulic hammers, rakes, rippers, and mulchers.

Learning to operate an excavator is not that difficult. It just takes a little attention to detail and plenty of practice. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools include excavators in their training program. Check us out for details on our next heavy equipment operator course.

There are times when I get asked why I need heavy equipment operator training through a school and not just on-the-job. In reality, you can. However your training wont be complete, wont be recognized nationally and can harm future job prospects. Here is an example of how most of the job descriptions are written when vacancies arise.

DUTIES

• Transports and operates a variety of heavy equipment including, but not limited to tractor trailer unit, lowboy, bulldozer, grader, crane skip loader, tandem drive axle rigs, service trucks, and backhoe/loaders
• Operates a backhoe for excavating utility trenches, placing pipe and backfilling

QUALIFICATIONS
Ability to:

• Operate a variety of heavy equipment including tractor trailer unit, lowboy, bulldozer, grader, crane skip loader, tandem drive axle rigs, service trucks, and backhoe/loaders.
• Adjust and perform preventive maintenance and make minor repairs on the vehicles and auxiliary equipment.
• Operate equipment in compliance with District, State, and Federal Safety Codes.
• Learn to operate and maintain newly acquired heavy equipment.
• Understand the operation of heavy equipment and report any variance from proper operation.

EDUCATION

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training in heavy equipment operation.

EXPERIENCE

• One year of experience operating heavy equipment.

KNOWLEDGE

• Operation and maintenance requirements of a variety of heavy equipment.
• Practices, methods, and materials used in construction and maintenance work.
• Traffic laws, ordinances, and rules involved in truck and heavy equipment operations.
• Principles and practices of routine and preventive maintenance of light and heavy equipment.
• The use of hand tools and safety gear.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

Don’t let all of that put you off. Heavy equipment training schools cover most of those topics at some stage in their training. On-the-job training can provide you with some experience on one piece of equipment, however that limits your future employment to that piece of equipment.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide you with training to get started in the heavy equipment industry. We can also help you get your first job so you can gain that 12 months experience that many employers, particularly government related, require.

Once the excavator, backhoe or trench-digger have completed their task, it is time to call in the specialized pipe laying machines. These are relatively easy to operate when it comes to controls. Most units are comprised of a swing control and raising and lowering controls. Of course, like most heavy equipment, they have a drive control for movement.

Pipe laying machines do just that. They pick up pipes are lower them into the trench as precisely as possible. This process means that long lengths of pipe can be lowered and connected fairly quickly. They can be used for hard piping such as the cement piping used for sewerage, stormwater, or mains water. They can also be used to lay softer pipes used for telecommunications such as fiber optics.

Whilst the operation of a pipe layer is fairly straight forward. Many businesses in this field prefer operators that have a history of heavy equipment operation such as a bulldozer, backhoe or excavator. There is certainly a requirement to have the safety aspects of this training before starting work. Training for a pipe layer builds on the skills already acquired and can be done on the job.

To gain skills as a heavy equipment operator, you need training from a reliable accredited training organization such as ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools. At ATS you can be trained in the use of a variety of machines including bulldozers, graders, excavators and front end loaders. Check out the site for details on free online training, training dates and employment assistance.

If you have seen an excavator or excavators at work then you will know they are quite powerful and can excavate trenches fairly quickly. What you may not be aware of is the range of attachments that can be added to the equipment. These attachments provide for a wide range of tasks that an excavator can perform. Attachments include:

• Jackhammers: Jackhammers are used to break up material such as hard earth, rock or concrete;
• Shovels: Hydraulic mining excavators often use shovels;
• Grapples: Grapples are similar to claws and are used to grasp objects such as trees or tree stumps;
• Augers: Augers are similar to a drill bit, and are used to drill through materials to help break them up.

Operating these attachments is not difficult and often taught on the job. Using the attachments is often the easy part. The difficult part can often be the process of attaching and removing the attachment.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools provide training for all heavy equipment including excavators.