Most people go into heavy equipment operator training programs with a set agenda. They may want to become bulldozer operators, or perhaps excavator operators. Some want to learn a range of equipment to make themselves more employable. For most people, life after training follows that agenda. There are, however, many other types of equipment in use, and the pathway to operating this equipment is often through the basic heavy equipment machinery.

So what equipment could you aspire to operate? This depends on the industry you want to enter. In road construction, there are wheeled rollers, heavy rollers and asphalt-laying machinery. In forestry, you could be operating specialist equipment that is used to handle fallen trees. There is a wide range of specialist equipment used in the mining industry, and even there you have a choice between above ground (open cut) and below ground mining. Other industries that make use of specialist equipment include ports (dockyards), general construction, and some manufacturing industries.

There is little in the way of specialist training for these fields, with employers often taking well-trained and experienced heavy equipment operators and providing on-the-job training on the machinery they use. In road construction, for example, it’s not unusual to start as a bulldozer operator or grader operator and to then progress onto other machinery within the company.

The path to this specialized equipment starts with quality heavy equipment operator training that is then backed up with experience in the workplace. In today’s workplace, one leads to another with employers preferring to hire new operators who have graduated from highly respected training schools. Heavy equipment operator training can open doors to more specialized equipment for those who are looking for something different.

Heavy equipment safety is no longer a matter to be dealt with trivially. It is now mandatory for all heavy equipment operators to have OSHA-approved training prior to commencing work as an operator. We certainly don’t make light of this area of training, ensuring that all graduates who leave our heavy equipment operator school have met those minimum safety standards.

Safety is all about getting the basics right. You’ll often hear two phrases repeated time and again, both in training and in the workplace. These are – “three points of contact” and “look UP.”

Three points of contact refers to movement on heavy equipment (and rigging). The three points of contact are your limbs – either two hands and a foot, or both feet and a hand. Those three points of contact reduce any risk of falling.

Looking UP is important for any equipment that uses height as part of its operations. Excavators, backhoes, loaders and cranes are examples of this type of equipment. It’s natural to look ahead, around you, and down, however, it’s not natural to look for danger from above. There have been a lot of accidents over the years caused by heavy equipment coming into contact with overhead power lines. In many cases, the outcome was deadly for the operator and some of those working around them.

These are just two of the basics that heavy equipment operators need to get right, from day one. Whilst it’s important to think safety, it’s also important to do some things automatically, and looking up and maintaining three points of contact fit into that category. When undertaking heavy equipment operator training, don’t pay lip service to the safety aspects – your life could depend on it.

Sometimes it can be hard to watch the news on television each night, especially when there are disasters that dominate that news. We are used to the annual scourge of tornadoes and hurricanes, the occasional passenger plane that crashes, and highway pileups. The recent explosion at a fertilizer plant is another in the long line of disasters to strike in recent years, however, there was one scene that really stood out on news bulletins, and that was the line of trailers loaded with heavy equipment ready to go in and clean up.

There were bulldozers, loaders, excavators and backhoes, all ready to do their part to clean up the scene ready for possible rebuilding. There’s no doubt that excavators and backhoes are being cautiously used to remove rubble in an attempt to find those who are still reported missing. Whilst these disasters take the news, heavy equipment operators work in other areas such as firefighting and even in the military. You can join the military and become a fighting bulldozer operator. Yes, you’re a soldier, however, your main job is to operate a bulldozer building runways, bridges, or just clearing land for new buildings.

That’s just part of the diversity of heavy equipment operators, and whilst these jobs may be at the extreme edge, they are important and require highly skilled operators. The best platform for a career as a heavy equipment operator is through a thorough training program that includes plenty of in-the-seat training and well-designed classroom training that ensures you not only have the skills but you also have the knowledge – and that’s important in today’s world where safety and new technology are high on the agenda.

If you think that heavy equipment operations is boring, think again. It can be interesting, very challenging, and often fraught with danger. If you are looking for that sort of challenge in life, then be sure to undertake the right heavy equipment operator training. Then use that platform to gain as much experience as possible.

There is such a huge focus on heavy equipment safety these days that you could be excused for thinking it was the number one priority. For government agencies like the Department of Labor, it is. For employers, safety is obviously an issue, however, it is not necessarily their number one priority. For employers, it is more of a holistic approach.

What employers are looking for is an operator who can get a job done quickly, accurately, and safely. In fact, safety and skills are linked – if you are not operating your equipment safely, then there is a good chance you’ll have an accident, and this will lead to down time, possibly an investigation, and the job not being completed on time. In today’s construction industry, not completing a contract on time can lead to penalties, which reduce the income a construction company receives. On the flip side, if a contract is completed ahead of time, there could be bonus payments available, and since money rules the business world, you know what an employer’s preference is going to be.

When training to become a heavy equipment operator, it is important to focus on all aspects of your training. Skills are obviously important, however, safety should not be ignored or underestimated. As a student, there is not one priority learning area – in short, all of your training should be your priority.

A well-trained heavy equipment operator who can work safely whilst getting the job done on or ahead of time will always find themselves with work. These operators gain reputations that make them highly employable and sought after. Operators who have a tendency to take short cuts, have accidents, and be generally unreliable will soon find themselves unemployable – the grape vine is very strong in the field of heavy equipment and your reputation, good or bad, will quickly filter through the system. Start off on the right foot by being a competent and safe operator.

There has long been an argument surrounding the best form of heavy equipment operator training. There are those who believe that a long (as in 12 month) apprenticeship type of training is best, and then there are those who believe that informal training by a parent or friend is best. Sitting in between is a formal training program that can be completed in weeks rather than months and an on-the-job training regime that some employers offer. Which then is the best type of training? We believe the short formal training program that we offer delivers the best results for those looking to start a career as heavy equipment operators, however, other training programs do have their positives and negatives. Today we’ll look at the short formal training program and compare it the informal training that used to be the norm.

Formal Heavy Equipment Operator Training

Pros

• Training is completed in as little as three weeks,
• Students are trained to operate a range of heavy equipment,
• Students are provided with a wide range of skills, including modern technology,
• Employers are showing a preference for graduates from reputable heavy equipment training schools,
• Recognized training certificate issued once a student completes all the training requirements.

Cons

• Cost can be a problem for those on a tight budget,
• Time off work for those who currently have a job can also be a problem,
• Difficulty in accessing reputable training schools.

Informal Heavy Equipment Operator Training

Pros

• Cost – this training is often free,
• You generally know your trainer well,
• Very flexible training.

Cons

• Lack of employer support for informally trained heavy equipment operators,
• Incomplete training, particularly when it comes to new technology,
• Students are generally only trained on one type of heavy equipment,
• Training can take months if only done on an ad hoc basis.

There are several important points to note from this comparison. The most important is the employer’s preference. They are more likely to employ someone who is well trained through a recognized heavy equipment operator training school than someone who is employed informally – there’s no ‘checklist’ of skills trained in with informal training. When it comes to the cons of formal training, these can often be overcome if students are prepared to work with their training provider. We can help students access loans to cover training costs, we can offer accommodation to ease the difficulty of access, and we even offer alternatives to full-time training to help those in work. Short formal training does stand out as the better option, and being a short training program, it means you are able to transition into a new career very quickly.

According to the latest Bureau of Labor statistics report, heavy equipment operations is the fastest growing employment sector in the US. Now, when we say the ‘latest’ statistics, they do refer to the period 2010-2020, however, the figures used in their report do appear to be holding up with heavy equipment operators being in high demand around the nation. We have often mentioned the fact that Baby Boomers are now approaching retirement age, and those numbers have not been factored into the Bureau of Labor Statistics report. So what are the expectations in 2010?

The report estimated a growth of 23% for general construction heavy equipment operators with the exception of pile-driver operations where growth was expected to be around 36% (you’ll need a crane operator’s certificate in many states for these positions). The average growth rate for all occupations is around 14%, so heavy equipment operations is certainly an area worth considering if you’re looking for long term job prospects.

What do these percentages mean? In 2010, there were over 400,000 heavy equipment operators in work, and by 2020, the expectation is that 500,000 heavy equipment operators will be required. That’s a growth of around 100,000 over 10 years, or 10,000 new jobs each year. If we take a conservative figure of 25% or those 400,000 being ‘Baby Boomers’ who will be retiring around 2020, then that’s another 100,000 operators that will be required – a total of 200,000 new operators by 2020. Those numbers don’t factor in natural attrition caused by those who move on to other careers.

Other interesting facts from the 2010 census include wages with a median of around $40,000 per year, or almost $19 per hour. Heavy equipment operations is not just a growing field of work, it is also a reasonably well paid field. Even more appealing is the fact that it only takes three weeks of full time training to become a heavy equipment operator – all in all, a good career option.

There is a lot to think about when operating heavy equipment. You have the task at hand that needs to be completed, and in many situations accuracy is of utmost importance. Motor graders are a good example – their fine grading skills are important when they are undertaking the final grade for a new road. Excavator operators also need to be accurate, especially when digging in areas where existing services are located – you don’t want to be breaking open gas pipes, or worse, sewage pipes. To make life a little more difficult, heavy equipment operators must also take into account other workers on the site, structures, and other vehicles – overhead power lines are also a concern in some work areas.

Where a heavy equipment operator is really tested is when working on a project where the general public are in close proximity. One of the hardest jobs is working on road works, either road repairs or road widening projects. Traffic is generally diverted around your work area, however, that can still bring them very close to your equipment. In situations where half a road or a lane is closed, you will always get the rogue driver who thinks they own the road – they’ll ignore road signage and barge through. There have been countless incidents where workers have been injured because of these drivers, yet if your equipment makes contact with their car, they will be the first to place all the blame on your operating skills.

Operating heavy equipment in areas away from others can lead an operator into a false sense of security. They don’t have to be as careful. After all, there’s no one around to harm. This can lead to bad habits, which, if taken to a busier work site, can create a lot of problems. No matter where you are working, heavy equipment operators need to maintain safe work practices, both for their own safety and for the safety of others. If an operator is working safely, and a rogue driver encroaches into the work area, then they will ultimately be held responsible for any incidents.

Heavy equipment safety training is an important part of any training for new recruits to the industry. You will find that many employers follow this training up with their own safety training, especially if they have safety aspects that need to be concentrated on. Are you preparing yourself for a safe work place? Be sure your heavy equipment operator training includes a safety component – employers will not employ you if you don’t have these basics covered.

Spring must be approaching, and rapidly too judging by the number of heavy equipment operators required this week. There is also a smattering of truck drivers and crane operators required. It’s also a timely reminder for heavy equipment operators that employers are looking for operators who also have a Class A Commercial Drivers License (CDL). If you don’t have one, now may be a good time to acquire one – five weeks of truck driver training will have you well and truly ready for the spring hire. This weeks jobs include:

Heavy Equipment Operators
Lubbock, TX
Seeking Heavy Equipment Operators, Maintainers, & Dozers – Must Have Class A CDL License

Heavy Equipment Operators
Fort Myers, FL
There are immediate openings for Heavy Equipment Operators to operate heavy construction equipment at various worksites. Heavy Equipment Operator performs more than one of the following units: backhoe, excavator, dirt loaders.

Equipment Operator
Pasco County, FL
Salary Disclosure: Starting Salary: $11.13 – Salary Range for this Position: $11.13 – $18.12

Mobile Equipment Operator
Lake Charles, LA
Two years of experience or training in the operation of mobile equipment.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Grand Rapids, MI
Highway contractor hiring Heavy Equipment Operators to operate a variety of excavating equipment with CDL.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Bristol, VA
ATMOS ENERGY is hiring installer and maintainer that operates heavy Equipment.

CRANE OPERATOR
San Ardo, CA
Operates tire mounted crane 15 to 80 tons. Small and large cranes. Class A drivers license. Must possess Certification NCCO (National Crane Certification Organization). Operates heavy earth moving equipment to gouge out, level, and distribute earth and to push trees and rocks from land preparatory to constructing roads and buildings to remediate soil or other operations in accordance with PSC policies, practices and procedures.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Nicholasville, KY
Seeking safety minded experienced heavy equipment operators to work on railroad construction crews. Previous railroad track construction will get preference. Considered candidates must be willing to travel extensively.

Truck Drivers
Baraboo, WI
Menards Lumber needs Contract Delivery Drivers. Deliver construction materials.

Equipment Operator
Gypsum, CO
Maintains and operates light and heavy equipment used in the operation of the
county’s maintenance and construction projects.

Heavy Machine Operator
Albany, GA
Understand and program the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) equipment. Ability to operate CNC equipment. Load and unload equipment with material. Troubleshoot, properly mark and stamp materials. Maintain and clean machine daily. Other duties may be assigned.

You can find more information on these and any other vacancies on our jobs website. You can also visit our main equipment operator website for more information on truck driver training, heavy equipment operator training, and crane operator training.

In an era in which technology is taking over everywhere, there is still no compromise when it comes to training to become a heavy equipment operator. Sure, you can learn theory through a book, or online over the Internet, or perhaps even through a CD or DVD. However, nothing beats in-the-seat real time operator experience. I know there have been attempts to train operators using simulators, similar to those used by airline pilots, however, they still don’t deliver that same real life experience – even pilots need time in a real airplane to experience the real thing.

There is a lot that modern technology can simulate, and it does do a good job in general. When it comes to employing new heavy equipment operators, most employers want operators who have had experience in a ‘real’ machine, not just through a simulator. Where simulators do have a roll is in early training – it provides a safe environment where accidents cause harm to no one and to no equipment.

Of course, a good heavy equipment operator training school will ensure that students are trained in a safe environment that includes close supervision – and you learn a lot through your mistakes. Simulators can often be too forgiving when it comes to mistakes, not ideal when you’re trying to learn to become a good operator.

Simulators have one further failing that needs to be considered – simulators generally train operators to use the latest heavy equipment. The reality is that most workplaces use heavy equipment that is ten or more years old – certainly not the latest. Training schools that use real heavy equipment will have machinery that ranges in age, some new and some old, and that is the best equipment to train on since you gain a more diverse range of skills. What’s your preference, training in real heavy equipment, or training in a simulator?

When considering any career change, it’s important to look at the bigger picture, and this includes employers. If you’re looking to enter the field of heavy equipment operations, one key element is job vacancy – what, exactly, is an employer looking for? It may sound very simplistic, and it is in terms of social skills – for example, reliability. However, you need to look a little closer.

If you look back over the job vacancies that have been posted on these pages each Saturday, and on our jobs website, there is one characteristic that should stand out – employers are looking for heavy equipment operators. They are not looking for bulldozer operators or road grader operators – they are asking for multi-skilled operators. Sometimes they will list the range of equipment that an operator could be required to operate, however, it stills boils down to a requirement for a multi-skilled operator.

That doesn’t mean you cannot specialize in one piece of heavy equipment. It does mean that opportunities may be limited if you do specialize. Sometimes, the key to specialization relies in the old-fashioned ‘foot in door’ theory. Get a job with an employer who is looking for multi-skilled heavy equipment operators, then work your way into becoming their main bulldozer operator, or grader operator (or whichever equipment you want to specialize in).

Like all careers, undertaking training that meets the needs of employers is the first step to success. Being willing to meet those needs in the short term will help to further your career. Once you have the experience and reputation, you can then start to dictate the direction of your career. Your first step is to find a heavy equipment operator training program that exposes you to a wide range of heavy equipment. The wider the range, the better your chances of a successful career.