OK, first, a disclaimer: If the other guys on your work crew also do this, then you’ll be the “best heavy equipment crew around” because all of you invested in the same steps.

Choose The Best School That Is Nationally Recognized

There’s a good reason that schools like ATS are nationally recognized, and it’s because the history of the school and students have a proven track record of excellence. Look for a heavy equipment operator training school that has a good reputation in the industry. Pay attention to what the school offers, too. Nationally recognized schools will have access to employers simply because they are known to be good sources of professional-level operators.

Choose The Best School That Is Accredited

Look at the credentials and affiliations the heavy equipment operator school has. Those credentials and affiliations are proof that high standards have been met in curricula and instructor quality. Being an accredited training school also has financial benefits because a wide variety of education funding sources require accreditation for eligibility. You could qualify for more financial assistance than you realize if the training school you choose is accredited.

Choose To Invest Your Efforts Into Your Training

The best training facility in the world still needs the student to participate in the training, right? Once you have selected a nationally recognized, accredited heavy operator training school and gone through the process of application and financial aid, there’s still a choice to be made.

You can goof off and regret it, or dedicate this time to learning how to be the best heavy equipment operator around.

In one sense, it sort of sounds like a heavy equipment operator does just one thing: operate a big machine. But there’s a lot more to heavy equipment operation than being at the controls of a bulldozer or anything like it. In order to be a good operator, you need to be able to do things like this:

• Grade Reading — because the way the ground is now is not the way it should be when you are finished
• Soil Identification — because dirt does not act the same all the time
• Site Layout — because your machine might not fit where you thought it would
• Laser Levels — because it’s easy to get cockeyed
• Safety Procedures — because you work with other people and everybody wants to go home tonight
• Heavy Equipment Maintenance — because your machine isn’t magic

Heavy Equipment Operator Training has to include far more than simply learning to work the machine because your goal is a career, not a ride. All the extra stuff that is part of earthmoving and excavation is included in the studies at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School because it’s part of the job. You’ll learn how to work with a crew on different types of equipment and different types of job sites because the real heavy equipment jobs are in new places all the time.

When you are operating heavy equipment, usually the job site is changing as you work. You can’t assume things will be the same way they were yesterday and you have to be able to assess what’s happening now. We do our best to get you prepared for the real world of heavy equipment and a fulfilling career.

A factory owner once said that when he investigated workplace accidents, most of the time he was told, “I didn’t think it would do that.” His response usually was, “that’s right, you didn’t think!“

It’s easy to get accustomed to being around danger when you are working around heavy equipment and machinery. After all, most of the time things are fine, so the sense of caution begins to go away. Here’s a few of the safety rules you do have to keep thinking:

• Communication is essential – Hand signals, two-way radios, high-visibility vests and helmets, and a backup warning alarm have to be used so that everybody knows where everybody else is. In the contest between human bodies and big machines, the machine wins every time.
• Rollover protection and seat belts save lives – A lot of dead operators didn’t think it would tip and they were wrong.
• Hearing protection and other safety gear are there for a reason – You might not think it is going to make you deaf but wait a few years.
• Hold on to the safety handles when you get off the machine – Jumping off the equipment is something that the guy with the broken ankle didn’t think would happen.
• Inspecting and maintaining your equipment keeps you from mistakenly thinking everything is working fine – Do a pre-shift walk around to make sure.

These are the safety rules that get repeated over and over (along with a lot of other good information) when you get your heavy equipment operator training at ATS. It gets said in different ways at different times until you think you will never forget it. That’s the plan — we want you to know the safety procedures so well that even if you aren’t thinking, you’ll still be automatically following the rules and everybody will stay safe.

“Slow down to go fast” is a wise statement used in a lot of different settings. Pretty much, it means that trying to go fast usually messes things up. In a field like heavy equipment, “slow down to go fast” is a good thing to keep saying over and over again.

During training, slowing down to do every day’s classwork and not worry about the next is a good idea because it breaks a huge pile of information into bite-size pieces, kind of like eating an elephant one bite at a time. It isn’t your job to worry about knowing the whole thing when you are in training. It’s your job to chew on the day’s lessons and digest them. That’s why ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School offers housing assistance, so you don’t have to worry about anything but classes. Experts have figured out that we learn best when we get a little bit of a break in between stuffing our heads with knowledge. Somehow, the break puts the facts into our heads better.

When you are actually on the machine, slowing down is good, too. Accidents happen when people get impatient and skip safety steps or push equipment past where it is ready to go. Jerky bursts of angry speed are out of control emotionally and can quickly become out of control on the work site because the momentum of heavy equipment keeps a motion going until something physically stops it. Bad stuff can happen quickly if an operator in a hurry misses an important detail in the conditions on site. By the end of the day, a steady, slower pace actually gets more work done. The work is better, too.

Slowing down to go fast is one of the things you learn in heavy equipment operator training. It’s a good thing to remember all through life.

Is money stopping you from changing careers? It is one of the main reasons that people stick out their current careers even though they hate every day they go to work. Money shouldn’t be an obstacle to a new career, and at Associated Training Services, we don’t believe it should stop you from seriously considering a career as a heavy equipment operator.

Training to become a heavy equipment operator is not free. There are training costs involved, and sometimes, ancillary costs such as travel and/or accommodation. We minimize these costs as much as possible, including the cost of local accommodation. By staying close to our training school, you will also save on travel costs.

You will still have an upfront cost that must be paid prior to your training commencing. We have tried to alleviate this problem by providing a financial assistance service. If you qualify for a career loan, for example, your training, and many of those ancillary costs are covered. As an alternative, you may be eligible for funding through various government programs, including those designed to help current and former military personnel and their families.

Money should not stop you from undertaking training to become a heavy equipment operator. If it has in the past, come and talk to us, or fill in our online application for financial assistance. If granted, you will have made that all-important first step to a new and challenging career as a heavy equipment operator. Our financial assistance service is also available to those looking to train to become truck drivers or crane operators.

The role of a heavy equipment operator has changed little over the years. They use their heavy equipment to move earth – in fact, in some circles, heavy equipment is referred to as either earth moving equipment or heavy earth moving equipment. Where there has been a change is in the requirements of some employers. It’s quite normal now to see employers asking for heavy equipment operators with CDL, a commercial drivers license. Employers are looking for operators who can truck the heavy equipment to a job site, unload, complete the task, then load up again and drive to the next job.

There are a number of reasons for the increase in demand for operators with a CDL. One is cost – why employ two people when one person can do both jobs. If employers hire both a truck driver and a heavy equipment operator, there is a risk that one will be sitting idle whilst waiting for the other to complete their role. One operator to do both jobs saves money – and in this day and age, that’s an important factor for any business. Another factor that has led to dual skill requirements is a lot simpler – there is a shortage of truck drivers and, in the past, employers have often struggled to find drivers to move heavy equipment.

Having complementary skills is also good for operators. It means they have several employment options. If it is quiet in the heavy equipment field, for example, during the winter months, then they can take on work as a truck driver as a fill-in until the demand for their skills returns – as it often does in the spring and summer.

For those considering entering the heavy equipment operating field, obtaining a CDL early can be a wise investment. Heavy equipment operator training only takes three weeks. If you are prepared to study at home, you can also gain a commercial drivers license with as little as three weeks of training. That’s a total of six weeks training to obtain dual skills that you will have for a lifetime and that you can use in a range of jobs. It certainly reduces the chances of long periods of unemployment.

Safety starts NOW! Heavy equipment safety is now one of the most important issues in any workplace. So much so that special regulations are in place that are designed to force employers into ensuring that workplaces are safe. As a heavy equipment operator, you have an important role in this area. However, that safety starts with you personally, before you even start your heavy equipment’s engine.

As a heavy equipment operator, you will be required to follow certain regulations. Some of these regulations will be determined by the actual workplace. For example, on many construction sites, the general rule for all employees may be steel capped boots, work gloves, hard hats, and ear and eye protection – if you don’t comply you could be suspended and sent home until you are ‘work safe’. Continue to ignore the regulations and you will lose your job. On some sites there is a zero tolerance – you’ll lose your job immediately if you have blatantly ignored the regulations.

Other sites may be a little more relaxed, however, the more protection you have, the safer you are going to be. Remember, problems such as ear damage could take decades to show through, and by then it’s too late as the damage is permanent. It’s not just the safety equipment required. There are other safety issues that you need to learn to the point they become a habit. The ‘three points of contact’ rule is a good example. When boarding and leaving your heavy equipment, three points of contact (two feet and a hand, or two hands and a foot) will help to ensure you don’t slip and fall.

Some regulations may seem silly or pointless, however, they have been put in place for a reason, and that reason is to protect you. Other regulations are in place to ensure you don’t harm others or do damage to property. Follow the rules and you will help to ensure a safe workplace, or at least a safe workplace when it comes to your actions. One of the focuses of heavy equipment operator training is safety – not just because it’s a requirement but because it could prevent your, or someone else’s, death.

Bulldozers would have to be one of the slowest moving pieces of heavy equipment in operation. If you’re looking for a speed machine, then bulldozers are definitely not for you. In most cases, you could outwalk a bulldozer, I doubt you’d raise a sweat trying to evade one. What they lack in speed they more than make up for in power, so whilst you could say that bulldozers are the slowest, it’s also true to say they are the strongest.

What slows a bulldozer down considerably is the fact they run on tracks rather than wheels. Those tracks may be slow moving, however, they can operate in all weather conditions and on very rough terrain. Where wheeled vehicles are prone to becoming bogged, bulldozers breeze through it all with barely a pause. This makes the slow moving bulldozer ideal for a wide range of applications in a wide range of industries.

Some of the areas you could work in as a bulldozer operator include mining, construction, demolition, agriculture and the military. In fact, the tracks used to operate bulldozers are the same as those used to operate tanks. Whilst bulldozers are famed for their large blades that push dirt, they can also have attachments added to the rear that can be used for a variety of jobs. The ripper is the most common, used to rip up hard surfaces like concrete, large rocks and tree stumps.

If you are looking for an interesting and well-paid career in heavy equipment operations, consider what a bulldozer has to offer. You can train to become a bulldozer operator in as little as three weeks, and considering the opportunities and wage rates available, that training should prove to be a good investment.  The training offered through Associated Training Services is undertaken using modern machiney in simulated work environments – the perfect solution for anyone looking for a career or career change.

The last ten years have been tough for many employment sectors as one financial crisis after another struck the world. Our own economy suffered, and for a long time, private sector investment in new buildings came to a virtual standstill. If it wasn’t for the huge investment in public infrastructure by state and federal governments, the construction industry would also have ground to a halt. That investment could prove to be a wise one in the long run – for one thing, it kept construction industry workers employed and in the industry.

As summer rolls in, the national economy looks to be strengthening to the point that private sector investment in now starting to find its way into construction. The construction industry workforce has remained strong although there are still shortages in many areas, one being heavy equipment operators. This is good news for those looking to undertake heavy equipment operator training and looking for work. With both public and private dollars being spent on construction, the demand will continue to grow, at least until the government funded projects come to an end.

It won’t just be for this summer either. Long term job prospects are even stronger with demand for new workers increasing due to the age of many of our current operators – in short, they are baby boomers who are ready to enter retirement. As the economy grows, private sector investment in new shopping malls, new factories and new office complexes will increase, and this too will create a demand for more heavy equipment operators.

Now is a good time to consider a career as a heavy equipment operator. Three weeks of training will have you work ready, just in time for the summer. Finding your first job won’t be that difficult, especially if you have the assistance of our career services personnel – they know who’s looking to hire, and more importantly, they know how to prepare you for the application and interview processes. Heavy equipment operators are well paid and work in situations that can be challenging yet at the same time enjoyable.

One of the frustrations that confront millions of people around the nation is the cost of training to either start a career, or to change careers. Training isn’t free unless you can hook into a government sponsored training program. In some rare situations, employers will sponsor those undertaking training, however, that often comes at a price, for example, agreeing to pay for the training if they don’t employ you, or agreeing to pay for the training if you leave your job before a certain time period has elapsed. So how do you undertake training for a career when money is tight?

There are a number of solutions. Some people are eligible for government funding, especially those who have served in the military. You could save – however, that is difficult these days. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools tries to remove some of the financial hurdles that face many people. We have several financial assistance processes that prospective students can access, all offering the opportunity to train now.

It is also helpful to undertake a cost-benefit analysis. Training to become a heavy equipment operator can be completed in as little as three weeks. This means you could be working in your new career in weeks, not months or years. Heavy equipment operators earn a good income, especially as you gain experience. This increase in income will pay for your training quite quickly making the cost of your training a good investment – certainly higher than the interest rates currently on offer for savings.

Cost should never be a barrier to a new career so we do everything possible to help remove that barrier. If you are considering a career as a heavy equipment operator (or as a crane operator or truck driver), then talk to us. We may be able to help you find solutions that could have you training in next to no time – and with our career service assistance, into a new job.