Employment-related training is rarely free these days. However, for certain sections of the community, most if not all of the cost could be covered by one or more government programs. These days there seems to be state or federal programs related to every sector of our community, and if you meet the requirements for just one of those programs you could be attending a heavy equipment training program at no cost and on your way to a lucrative career as a heavy equipment operator.

Some of the government programs include:

• Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
• Department of Workforce Development
• Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
• Displaced Workers
• Displaced Farmers
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Tribal Education (BIA)
• Veteran’s Benefits (VA)
• Active Service Personnel
• Guard and Reserve Members

These programs are changing all the time so you will need to check with the relevant bodies to determine your eligibility and the size of the grant. If you are eligible, you may be surprised at how much is available for employment-related training.

In some cases, you may not be eligible for a grant in the normal sense. For example, you may not be a veteran, but there are some benefits that are available to the spouses and children of veterans or currently serving personnel. This is why it is important to look closely at what benefits are available right now.

If you are eligible for a tuition grant, talk to one of our admissions staff members about how you can enroll into one of training programs using that grant. Heavy equipment is a career where demand is on the increase and new operators always welcome.

We seem to be having wild weather all around the world. Hurricanes, heavy snow with colder than average temperatures, and in the southern hemisphere, where it should be summer, they are having heavy rains with severe flooding. When you start to look at some of the news stories, heavy equipment like bulldozers and snow plows feature as do trucks, although in Europe and Australia many of them are stuck as they wait for the highways to clear. The one that stands out for me, though, are the mobile crane operators – what a great career they must have.

I notice several news stories from Australia where cars had been carried away as they tried to cross a flooded bridged. That water can certainly move quickly. But there were mobile cranes with their booms swung out across the flooded river, hauling those cars back to firmer ground. In England, there are similar scenes with vehicles skating off roads and ending up in all sorts of precarious positions. Again, it’s the mobile crane operator who has to work out how to get that car back onto safe ground. The car is often a complete write off. But you know what insurance companies are like … if they can’t have the car in front of them to do an assessment, then they often won’t pay out.

We have similar scenes here, and that’s what makes the job of a mobile crane operator so interesting. You just never know what sort of job you’ll be asked to do next. Some jobs are fairly standard, like lifting machinery into place, or lifting building materials around a work site. Other jobs can be dangerous and exciting and they can really be a test of the skills of an operator.

Learning to operate a mobile crane is not as difficult as most people think. Mobile crane operator training can be completed in three weeks and, following a successful assessment, graduates can also then be certified. Many states have made the certification of crane operators mandatory so completing the assessment is a step that should be seriously considered. If you are interested in a career that is interesting, has plenty of variety, and the occasional tough assignment, then consider the role of a mobile crane operator – they have it all.

Heavy equipment technology has come a long way over the last twenty years. Gone are the days of heavy equipment that took brute strength to operate. Now you can almost operate equipment with one finger. What is becoming apparent is that those kids who have had a lot of experience playing console games are finding that learning to operate new heavy equipment quite easy. It’s almost like there is a convergence of the two technologies.

There is sound logic to this. First, there is the obvious. Console games involve the use of small joysticks and steering wheels (and sometimes foot pedals as well) while watching the outcome on screens several feet away. Modern heavy equipment technology is quite similar although there may be more than one joystick to control. The second observation I can make is that related to coordination. Being able to manipulate the console games while watching the game on monitor is fairly similar to the coordination needed to operate heavy equipment.

What students do need to learn is that tactile feel that operating equipment delivers. This is something that game makers have not yet been able to achieve. Being able to feel what your equipment is doing is an important part of heavy equipment operations. However, this is something that comes with experience in the operator’s cab.

For young adults who have had a lot of experience playing console games, a career as a heavy equipment operator is a natural progression. They can put their console gaming experience and coordination to good use learning to become heavy equipment operators. Three weeks hands on heavy equipment training will help to provide those tactile skills that are missing, and prepare them well for a great career as a heavy equipment operator. If you were told your hours playing games where a complete waste of time, prove them wrong and put those skills to good use.

If I mention a bulldozer – what image springs to mind? Let me guess, a short squat vehicle on tracks with a large blade at the front. That pretty much describes your average everyday bulldozer – the only real difference then being in size. However, bulldozers are not all built the same with designed to cover a diverse range of terrains. Rather than tracks, these bulldozers are driven on wheels.

Operating a wheeled bulldozer is not quite the same as operating a tracked dozer. The steering of a tracked bulldozer is managed by speeding up, slowing down and even reversing one track while the other track is stationary or perhaps doing the reverse. A wheeled bulldozer is operated using a more conventional steering wheel.

Whether wheeled or tracked, both do essentially the same job – they push dirt around. Tracked bulldozers work well on ground that is soft and potentially boggy for wheeled vehicles. Wheeled bulldozers work well on hilly terrain where tracks would find it slow going. The military have big users of wheeled bulldozers over the years because of that ability.

Training to become a bulldozer operator can be completed in as little as three weeks. This provides you with the skills required to undertake entry level employment positions within the heavy equipment field. Your heavy equipment training includes hands on operational skills, workplace safety knowledge and preventative maintenance knowledge. You will also learn about the different types of soils, grade reading and site layouts, all important to enjoying a successful career as a bulldozer operator.

Planning a new career is a big step for anyone and one of the most daunting aspects is the concept of transitioning from training to an actual job. Heavy equipment careers can be even more daunting since there is such a wide range of machinery and industries from which to choose. This is where career services personnel who are experienced in the field of heavy equipment are so valuable. It is their job to create a bridge between your training and prospective employers.

At Associated Training Services (ATS), our career services personnel are not there to just push possible job vacancies at you. Their role starts early on your training with an interview designed to give them a feel for your goals and preferences. During the interview they will determine what geographic locations best suit your needs; what, if any, industries interest you; and which heavy equipment do you feel most comfortable with? This helps the career services personnel put together a package that includes possible employers in your preferred geographic region and information related to your training.

During your time at ATS, you will also receive soft skills training designed to develop skills in employment application procedures, interviewing techniques and networking methods, all designed to help you win that first job. Instructors at ATS all come from the real world so they bring with them years of industry experience, many as foremen, superintendents or small business owners. They know what it takes to succeed in the industry, and they pass that knowledge onto their students.

When you first start your training, you may feel there is a gulf between your training and actually finding work. It needn’t be as there are jobs available in the field of heavy equipment. When you bring together nationally respected training in heavy equipment, and the knowledge and experience of career services personnel, that gulf between training and employment suddenly shrinks to a crack. If you’re considering a career change, be sure to select a training company that not only delivers the training, but also delivers real employment assistance.

Heavy equipment careers seem to wax and wane in popularity, and it normally doesn’t relate to demand. In fact, it can often be more location-based than national. This has been evident in areas where there has been a lot of heavy construction over the last year. Seeing heavy equipment being used on a daily basis seems to trigger a desire to ‘give it a go’ by people from that area. Motor graders are one piece of machinery that is seen for extended periods of time. If you’re interested in a motor grader career, the path is not that difficult.

To gain an entry level job as a grader operator, you need to have completed a heavy equipment training program. These training programs can take from three weeks to three months depending on how many hours of instruction are delivered each week. Some training establishments also stretch training programs to the max in order to justify higher fees. When looking at a heavy equipment training program, there are several factors that should be covered. These include:

• hands on operation of a wide range of heavy equipment,
• safety training,
• basic preventative maintenance skills,
• technical skills such as laser levels and grade reading,
• soil types and how they react when worked, and
• site layouts.

Finally, look for a tried and trusted heavy equipment training provider. These are training organizations that have a long history in the business and that have good reputations with employers. When talking to your training provider, ask if you can visit the training site prior to signing on the dotted line. Normally, after three weeks training you should be ready to accept entry level employment as a grader operator. The path is easy, if you find the right training provider to begin with.

Career changes can take a big investment. You have to sacrifice your time and, of course, your money. Time? It only takes three weeks to complete a heavy equipment training course. That leaves the money and there are several components to consider here. First, of course, is the cost of the training program. The second cost that must also be considered is the loss of the income while training. They both go hand in hand and should be considered together when deciding on a heavy equipment training course. The upside, as I have already mentioned, is that it’s only for three weeks.

Funding the training cost is the biggest hurdle for many prospective students. There are several options available ranging from career loans to government funded programs. If you are out of work then it could be well worth investigating some of the government funded programs available. Some of these programs include:

• Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
• Department of Workforce Development
• Trade Adjustment Act (TAA)
• Displaced Workers
• Displaced Farmers
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Tribal Education (BIA)
• Veteran’s Benefits (VA)

If you are not eligible for any of the government funded programs then career loans are your next option. You can apply through one of your local financial institutions, or you can fill out an application through ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. One of the benefits of a career loan is that they can be used to pay for your training, accommodation while attending training, and your general day-to-day expenses.

Funding your way through a heavy equipment training course can be difficult. However, there are one or two points well worth considering. First, your training is only over a three week period so you don’t need to find funds to cover a long training program. The second point to consider relates to the first – since you are only at training for three weeks, this means you could potentially be in the workplace in four or five weeks, earning a living, and repaying a career loan before the ink has dried on the contract. Find the funding, a career in heavy equipment operations awaits!

If you are looking for a reliable career as a heavy equipment operator then backhoes are one of the better choices. Being versatile equipment, there is generally always a demand for competent operators. The key word there of course was competent, often measured by experience across a wide range of projects and activities.

For most new operators, lack of experience is the one area that will count against them when looking for employment. On the plus side, if a new operator has received training through a well recognized training provider then employers will consider their application more seriously. Getting your foot through the door is the hard part – once you achieve it, you then need to learn as much as you can on the job.

In years gone by, a prospective operator could basically learn from their parent, or the operator from down the road. Training was unstructured and most new recruits to the industry brought with them the bad habits of their trainers. In today’s world, heavy equipment training needs to be structured and with such strict safety guidelines in place on worksites, there is no room for bad habits.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have been training backhoe operators for decades. The training program offers instruction on a variety of equipment, including loaders and excavators, equipment closely associated with backhoes. Our training record speaks for itself and over the years has built a solid reputation with employers and those involved within the industry.

If you are seeking a reliable career as a heavy equipment operator, rather than limiting yourself to one piece of equipment like a backhoe, look at who is providing the training. Heavy equipment as an option is fairly reliable, but only for those who have had good training and developed a record as competent and reliable operators – that’s where ATS can get you started.

Having the will to work in a particular field is not enough these days. In fact, having all the skills along with that will is often not enough. Employers are becoming picky and when it comes to heavy equipment that has hefty price tags attached, they are even pickier. Employers need to have confidence in the workers they recruit and, in most cases, look for experienced operators with a track record. For novices, the experience is missing and with it the track record. This is where a good career services section comes to the fore.

There are two important issues connected to career services assistance. Since you don’t have a proven track record, employers look at the track record of the training organization. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools, for example, have a proven track record that has been developed over decades. Not years – decades. Employers have come to trust the quality of operators that graduate from these schools. So the track record for the training provider is there. The second issue is the track record of the people behind the career services section. Do they have a track record of providing the right people for that employer? Again, ATS has that track record.

What is important to you, if you are considering a career in heavy equipment, is whether or not you can get a job in the industry fairly quickly. Let’s be honest here – there are no guarantees. However, when you have a training provider with a proven track record and career services with a proven track record, you are well ahead of most others who are also trying to enter the industry.

I said there are no guarantees, and there aren’t. However, the career services section at ATS will work with you from day one to ensure you have every opportunity to secure a job. Whether it’s a good resume, interview skills or access to a database full of potential employers, ATS provides it all. If you need help launching your career in heavy equipment, contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools for the latest information on heavy equipment training, crane operator training and truck driver training.

Backhoe operators have one of the most varied careers when it comes heavy equipment. One moment they are excavator operators and the next, loader operators. Because of their versatility, they are also used in a wide variety of situations. Home building, landscaping, construction of services such as water and sewage, forestry and road constructions are just a few areas where you will find a backhoe. As an operator, you could find yourself working in any one of those places – everyday it may be different.

When it comes to owning an earth moving business, backhoes are often the first choice because of that versatility. As an owner operator, backhoes can do some of the work of an excavator or a loader. This means owner operators can offer their services to a wider range of clients.

As a career, backhoe operators are well sought after, particularly those that have a wide range of experience. The only way to gain that experience is by starting at the bottom and working your way up. Starting at the bottom means finding a good backhoe or heavy equipment training provider – one that will train you to industry standards so that you are employable from the day you graduate.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have a long history of providing proficient operators to industry. We also have a very effective career services department that may be able to help you secure that first job. As industry leaders in heavy equipment training, we pride ourselves on the reputation gained with employers across the country. Are you looking for a career that takes you outdoors, is varied and, at times, challenging then consider a career as a backhoe operator.