As the winter chill sets in the number of job vacancies for heavy equipment operators often drops off just a little. Many operators find work in snow removal and road clearing whilst others look to the warmer states where construction continues – in fact, it often increases at this time of the year. This month’s jobs have been varied and included a visit by Schneider representative talking to and signing up new truck drivers. If you are looking for work as a truck driver, crane operator or heavy equipment operator, then take a moment each day to visit our jobs website. There you’ll find the latest offers by employers.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Decorah, IA
Employer taking job applications for heavy equipment operators for projects in IA and MN (also requires truck drivers with CDL-A).

Truck Drivers
Decorah, IA
Employer taking job applications for truck drivers with CDL-A for projects in IA and MN (also requires heavy equipment operators).

Equipment Operator Fuels
Pardeeville, WI
Alliant Energy is currently recruiting for an Equipment Operator. We are a publicly traded energy holding company with over 4,000 employees. Alliant Energy is committed to providing an inclusive work environment for all our employees and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In this challenging role you will operate fuel-handling equipment and performs related coal yard and plant tasks at a steam generating station.

Truck Driver
Madison, WI
Capitol Warehouse needs a tanker driver for mostly WI and surrounding state runs, home most nights.

Truck Drivers
Marshfield, WI
Roehl at Marshfield hiring CDL-A drivers for Dairy Tankers runs, WI and MN

Heavy Equipment Operators and Laborers
Nationwide Contracting – Oklahoma
Heavy Equipment Operators and Laborers Experience required. Must have valid D.L., be able to work ex­tended hours.

Heavy equipment operator careers are lucrative and in demand, and that demand is going to grow over the next five years. If you are interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver, or crane operator, then contact us for information on training programs that have been designed to get you into work, not just cover the basic skills.

Heavy equipment safety has become a big issue to the point it has drawn the attention of regulators. We have already seen crane operators requiring certification and riggers and signal persons now require some form of skills acknowledgement. Heavy equipment will most likely be the next area that regulators target, although that will prove to be a huge task given the number of operators currently employed. That doesn’t mean they won’t take them on and require some form of skills recognition, possibly to the level of certification.

We currently have compulsory minimum safety training requirements in many workplaces, and that includes heavy equipment operations on construction sites. For many operators, certification will just be an assessment of their current skills. However, there are quite a few operators who may fail some of these assessments, and one of the reasons for their failure will have been the lack of relevant training when they first started out.

Quality training is one of the most important aspects to a new career in heavy equipment operations. Employers look at your training history as part of their assessment for employment suitability. Employers do have preferred training organizations, and likewise, there are training organizations that employers don’t like. A good guide to quality is longevity – if a training organization isn’t delivering, it won’t stay in the business for long.

Workplace safety is an important issue for employers today. Accidents cost employers a lot in terms of money, time and reputation, areas that businesses can ill afford to waste. Be sure your heavy equipment operator training includes a strong safety component and that your training is provided by an organization that is well respected within the heavy equipment community.

Mention heavy equipment and most people think of a bulldozer. That probably relates back to most people’s childhood where a bulldozer was an essential toy in every sandbox. In the adult world, bulldozers are still one of the most popular choices when it comes to heavy equipment careers.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, depending on your mind set, many employers see life differently. Rather than employing a bulldozer operator, their preference is to employ a heavy equipment operator – in other words, an operate who is skilled across a range of heavy equipment. That’s not to say you can’t spend your whole working life as a bulldozer operator. Having those extra skills does come in handy when times are quiet.

In truth, there is a certain sameness coming into heavy equipment. The levers, buttons and pedals are very similar across most heavy equipment. Bulldozers run on tracks, but then, so too do many other types of heavy equipment. Bulldozers have a range of attachments that can be added to the rear – so too do excavators and backhoes. Most heavy equipment machinery now utilizes modern technology such as onboard computing, GPS and laser technology.

The big difference between each type of machinery is the type of work done. Bulldozers typically push dirt around. Excavators excavate, loaders load and graders grade. Modern operators learn how to perform each job, how their heavy equipment interacts in various environments and with different soil types.

Bulldozers are still the number one choice for many new operators to the industry. However, if they have attended a good heavy equipment operator training school, then they will have the range of skills that many employers are now looking for.

It probably doesn’t surprise readers to learn that over 200,000 women currently work as truck drivers. What is probably not known is that there are more than 100,000 women working as heavy equipment operators. It’s not just the older women who are looking for something to do once the kids have leave home either; there are a lot of young women who are also undertaking training in these fields.

So why are they entering what has in the past been considered a non-traditional career for women? Money is one lure as is the freedom that heavy equipment operators and truck drivers experience. There’s also the lure of power – not the kind of power that politicians crave; rather, it’s the power of the equipment. Being in control of a bulldozer that is pushing around tons of dirt each day is an incredible feeling for those who are new to this type of work.

Every woman will have her own reasons for considering a career as a heavy equipment operator. If you’re a woman and considering training to become a heavy equipment operator, I’m sure you will have your reasons – and for many, it’s a combination of those three – money, freedom and power. It’s the one area where anyone from any walk of life can work successfully in if they have had the right sort of training.

Heavy equipment operator training lays the foundation that opens doors to entry level work. Once you’re on the job, you can start to build on those skills. Modern equipment is easy to operate, and physical strength is no longer a requirement.

When it come to looking for work, you’ll be surprised how many employers readily hire women. They have a reputation for the meticulous, especially when it comes to attention detail, following plans, and completing the required paperwork that often comes with each job. If you’re a woman looking for a different career, consider joining the growing army of women truck drivers and heavy equipment operators.

Bulldozers are just bulldozers, right? A large engine pushing a large steel blade. They have been around for a long time, and they never change. Technology surely hasn’t affected a bulldozer! To the naked eye, that may appear to be true, however, all heavy equipment, bulldozers included, have gone through some remarkable changes over the years. The problem is not with the new technology; it is that many of the improvements are behind the scenes.

Engines are a good example. Today’s engines are more efficient than those of ten or twenty years ago. More importantly, modern engines are much cleaner using the latest technology to reduce emissions. In some countries, heavy equipment technology includes the use of solar cells to generate the power required to run cab air conditioners, radios, and many other devices that require electricity.

When it comes to digging tools, blades, buckets, and scoops have been redesigned to maximize their effectiveness. A bulldozer blade of today, for example, can cut cleaner and push more dirt simply because of the changes in angles and curvature of the blade.

Of course, computer technology now plays a big role in heavy equipment operations. Grader blades, for example, can now be set to the finest accuracy using GPS, laser technology, and computers. The operator doesn’t need to estimate a blade’s position, or set it manually – the computer can do it for them.

Whilst technology is playing a big role in the efficiency and accuracy of heavy equipment, that doesn’t mean that operators are either becoming redundant or mere ‘drivers’. Heavy equipment operators are more highly skilled, technology-wise, than those of many years ago. The emphasis now is on ensuring that new operators are well trained, not just in the operational aspects of heavy equipment, but also on the technological aspect. Well-trained heavy equipment operators are in high demand, and with experience, often command top dollar when it comes to negotiating wages.

This week’s jobs listing has an interesting mix of heavy equipment operations, truck driving, and crane operations. There is still a steady demand for all three occupations although we have seen a trend where employers have either shown a preference for those with multiple skills (heavy equipment operations and truck driving for example), or have actually listed that as a requirement in their vacancies. This week’s jobs are more straightforward, however, if you do have multiple skills, you’ll find yourself far more employable. If you need to add skills, consider a heavy equipment training or truck driver training program. You can broaden the range of skills in just a few weeks.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Leesville, NY.
Fuller hiring Heavy Equip operators.

Truck Drivers
Eagan, MN.
Dart Trans is setting up regional runs where you get home more often.

Truck Drivers
Amherst, WI.
HO Wolding is hiring drivers.

Truck Drivers
Marshfield, WI.
Windy Hill Foliage is hiring drivers.

Crane Operators
Waterloo, IA.
Construction companies need a certified Hydraulic Crane operator, asking for 5yrs exp.

Truck Drivers
Eagan, MN.
DART is hiring new CDL-A drivers.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Fargo, ND.
Border States Paving is hiring Heavy Equipment Operators, Starting at $20-$22/hr.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Wilmington, NC.
LARGE CIVIL CONTRACTOR (Heavy Highway & Utilities) has immediate openings for Project Managers, Superintendents, Foremen, Heavy Equipment Operators, and Pipe Layers & Laborers. MUST HAVE EXPERIENCE. Competitive pay.

You should take special note of the job listings. If a job states that truck drivers are required, the plural indicates that there may be more than one vacancy – the same holds true for heavy equipment operators and crane operators. If you require more information on these jobs, or to keep up-to-date with the latest job vacancies, visit our dedicated job site.

Right now, nearly everywhere in the U.S., there are roads being built or repaired. No matter which highway is traveled there is the familiar row of orange barrels leading drivers on a new path or detour. These new projects are often part of the federal government’s stimulus package, but they are also sometimes the result of local government projects that fulfill a more local need. These barrels and work sites are often an unwanted sight for many drivers, but for heavy equipment operators, this is a sign of a steady job market and good paying jobs.

Regardless of who is sponsoring a road project, there are needs that can only be met by a well-trained road crew filled with numerous heavy equipment operators. One of the most important of these heavy equipment jobs on a road crew is the road scraper operator. The road scraper is the machine used to prepare the earth for the actual road. It slices the top layer of ground in a flat, level slice that will give the road grader a better surface to work with. These road scrapers are able to perform this duty without creating the mess that a bulldozer or other piece of equipment would make.

Quality road scraper training is essential in performing this important duty on any road crew. So, an operator that wants to perform this specialty needs to be certain the training school he is planning to attend offers scraper training. The best heavy equipment training programs will offer a road scraper program, and this training will enable the operator to get a good paying job on a road crew more quickly.

Did you know that motor graders are frequently used as part of a demolition team? They are and they are expert at some of the jobs given to them. Motor graders have traditionally been used to finish road surfaces prior to the asphalt being applied.

Today, motor graders are used to peel off old asphalt when roads require rebuilding. They are also used on unsealed roads, particularly in late winter or early spring after snow and water damage. Motor graders can restore a road to a full use quickly, making short work of any potholes or rocks that have accumulated. But what interests us today is the work a grader can do on a demolition site.

In the past, scrapers would be called in to slowly peel away the foundations to level the ground. Today, a motor grader can be called in to do the job – and they can complete the work in half the time. Large construction companies are calling on motor graders to perform jobs that 20 years ago would have been impossible. Motor grader operators can now set their blades to such precise measurements, they can peel snow away from a road without harming the road’s surface.

To become a grader operator today, the real skill requirement is in being able to read site plans and then setting your motor graders blades to achieve the intended results. This takes knowledge of soil types, and often laser or even GPS technology. For those seeking a career that is varied, interesting, and full of technical wizardry, a career as a motor grader operator could be perfect. You can learn to be a motor grader operator in just three weeks by attending our heavy equipment operator training program.

A career as a heavy equipment operator is always challenging, but it can be very rewarding as well. Demand for operators has been steadily climbing in recent years, particularly as our workforce ages. For some reason, heavy equipment has not been a popular choice amongst our youth so the average age for operators is quite high. The forecast over the next few years is for negative growth as more older operators retire. This will benefit new operators since demand is expected to continue to grow.

With negative growth in the workforce and demand steadily increasing, the fear in some sectors is that by 2012/2013 there will be a shortage of operators, particularly experienced operators. Those that undertake training now should be able to gain the experience required to fill those ‘experienced’ vacancies when they occur. Heavy equipment training creates a platform which can be quickly built upon once you’re in the workplace. However, that heavy equipment training needs to cover a broad range of subjects, most particularly safety, operations, and preventative maintenance.

So what is in store for 2011? Demand will continue to grow, especially in areas where Federal stimulus spending is continuing to build roads, bridges and public infrastructure. The economy is slowly lifting out of the doldrums and there are predictions that new home building projects will start to increase. Business is also starting to fight back with success, and if consumers continue to spend at reasonable rates, you can see further expansions in those areas, including new construction. If construction does improve as predicted, then the demand for heavy equipment operators will also improve.

In a nutshell, this is a perfect time to consider heavy equipment operations as a career. The future looks good, wages are good, and working conditions are getting better every year. Make a start now to attend a good quality heavy equipment training program. Once you have completed the course, you should be ready to commence work as an entry level operator where you can gain further skills. 2011 and beyond looks very promising for new heavy equipment operators.

More and more, Americans of all creeds are finding that they need to start new jobs and they’re finding that getting the right heavy equipment operator training leads to the best jobs. And while there are other places that can train you for the heavy equipment operator jobs that are growing in number as America rebuilds, none can compare to the comprehensive package offered by Associated Training Services.

Still, many people have questions and concerns and rightfully so. When you take the course that ATS offers in one of several areas that includes truck driving and backhoe, people want to be sure that they’re going to get their money’s worth , that in fact there are jobs in field that they get the training in.

And only a confident company would respond to those concerns in the way that ATS has. They make job placement at all of their schools a priority. They have job placement specialists that start working with the heavy equipment operator candidates in the first week of training to find them the jobs that they’ve been trained for.

But they go a step further at ATS. They are so confident in their ability to turn out the kind of top end operators that land the jobs that are waiting for them, they’ve even developed a page on their site detailing the wages in the different areas that heavy equipment operator training can get for their candidates.