Heavy equipment operations can be taxing at the best of times. For those who are not in the industry, heavy equipment operations may seem like a ‘bust or bust through’ type job where brute strength is used to perform jobs to a rough plan. In most cases, the reverse is true – heavy equipment operators are working to precise measurements and well drafted plans, and the ultimate skills are perhaps those possessed by a fined grader.

Fine graders are the operators who complete the final work on a surface. A new road is a good example. A fine grader will grade that surface to fractions of an inch in accuracy in both thickness (of the road base) and angle – and roads are built at precise angles to facilitate water drainage whilst helping to keep vehicles on the road. You may notice that well built mountain roads have a camber that angles the road away from the mountain edge – gravity forces help to keep vehicles on that road, especially around corners (check it out the next time you’re driving along a mountain road).

Graders, whilst predominantly used in road building, do have uses in general construction. Fine graders are found in those areas as well. Most grader operators work towards the recognition of being a fine grader. They are generally paid more than standard grader operators, however, achieving that goal takes more than just a few weeks of heavy equipment training.

Once trained with a sound platform of skills, a grader operator will need many months, sometimes several years, of on-the-job experience, all the while refining their skills to the point they are able to complete tasks with very fine accuracies. Heavy equipment operators are just muscle machines – they do work to plans, often to fine degrees of accuracy.

Truck driving technology has changed a lot over the years. At one point, the only technology wanted by truck drivers was their CB radio. That one piece of technology allowed truck drivers to communicate with one another whilst on the road. Drivers were warned of road hazards, bad weather, even highway police (or smokies as that famous trucking song goes). Today, new trucks have gone way beyond the CB radio; instead, they have fully fledged computers, similar to your iPad or tablet PC.

This new technology includes everything from GPS and the mapping and road direction advice that we install in our cars to full internet connections including Skype for voice calls. Trucks are now often connected directly to their home base through computers with traffic managers able to communicate directly with drivers. Managers can advise truck drivers on alternate routes when problems are encountered, or alternate delivery destinations if necessary.

What we are now seeing in the latest heavy equipment models is similar technology. Grader operators can use onboard computers to accurately set their blades at the right height and angle based on the engineering plans and the current conditions. These computers use a combination of GPS and laser technology to gather the data required to perform very accurate grading.

Graders are not the only equipment to use technology. You will find excavators, bulldozers and backhoes taking advantage of this new technology. It won’t be long and operators will be using tablet PC-like devices to do a lot of their work. It’s interesting to note that those who have played a lot of computer games using joysticks are able to make the transition to heavy equipment operations with ease. That’s where technology in the home is helping to train individuals for the workplace – if only most people realized that fact.

Trucks are setting the way when it comes to using modern technology, however, heavy equipment technology is quickly catching up. Truck driving, heavy equipment operations and crane operations are getting easier every year. At the same time, operators and drivers are being paid more each year, sometimes due to the new skills required to operate that technology. If you’re considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, the future is exciting, especially when it comes to heavy equipment technology.

It doesn’t matter how much training you give an individual, there are still times when they will do something silly. That one silly act can often have devastating results. The big problem is often being too relaxed and getting into bad habits. What prompted this post today was the story of an English heavy equipment operator who was run over (and killed) by his own ‘steamroller’. How? The details are not clear, however, it appears he climbed out of his cab and went to the front of the equipment, and it rolled on top of him – not a pleasant experience, yet it could have been avoided by ensuring the hand break was on, or better yet, not standing in front of his equipment.

We frequently hear or read about accidents, some that threaten life whilst others are just downright inconvenient. As an operator, the day will come when a neighbor, friend or family member asks for a favor – dig me a pool; grade my driveway; dig up an old tree stump. Every weekend there are heavy equipment operators doing these favors, and every weekend there is an accident of some description.

Some of these accidents involve hitting the wall or roof of a building. Of more concern is the digging up and rupturing of underground services. Sewerage is an obvious problem, however, it’s gas that causes the biggest problems, often involving the evacuation of nearby residents for several hours. More disturbing is the failure to look up, and in failing to do so, coming into contact with overhead powerlines. Small towns have been blacked out for hours because someone failed to take care.

These situations are all avoidable. Checking for underground services before digging; being constantly aware of overhead powerlines; and being aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re in unfamiliar territory. Interesting, these are skills and processes that most operators do automatically whilst at work – take them out of the workplace, and those skills and processes are suddenly forgotten. We can train you to become a heavy equipment operator, and we can train you in all the safety requirements of heavy equipment operations. What we can’t do is train common sense – hopefully, you already have that.

Our latest job listings are dominated by requests for truck drivers, a continuing indication of the shortage of truck drivers around the nation at present. Requests for heavy equipment operators have been stable over the last few months and so too have crane operators. The indicators are all good that demand for operators and drivers will continue to rise, especially over the next five years as ‘Baby Boomers’ start to retire and leave the workforce. If you’re considering a change of career, there has never been a better time to undertake heavy equipment training, truck driver training or crane operator training – our job site is showing a steady demand for all three.

Truck Drivers
Fort Atkinson, WI
Employer requires local drivers, home every night, and good benefits.

Heavy Equipment Operators
Huntsville, AL
Contractors hiring machine operators, rollers, spreaders, millers, and grade checkers

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

Truck Drivers
Friesland, WI
An employer is hiring drivers.

Crane Operators
Deforest, WI
E80 needs an Experienced Lattice Crawler Crane Operator

Heavy Equipment Operators
Carlsbad, NM
Contractors hiring Heavy Equip Operators

Heavy Equipment Operator
Garland, TX
Landfill Heavy Equipment Operator responsible for operating heavy equipment and other vehicles for the purpose of excavating, processing, and compacting municipal solid waste (MSW) on a daily basis. Also, responsible for the efficient operation and care of assigned equipment.

You can find more information on these jobs at our dedicated job site. It pays check there every couple of days as new opportunities are coming in all the time.

The construction industry tends to run in cycles when it comes to employment requirements. This is often caused by a domino effect – a major project commences hiring and this attracts a lot of interest from heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, and crane operators. As operators and drivers move into those positions, they leave behind a vacuum that needs to be filled.

As a career option, operating either heavy equipment or cranes provides an individual with options. They can stay with one employer for decades, or they can move from employer to employer looking for jobs that are rewarding and challenging. This week we are not as hectic when it comes to job options, however, in recent weeks we have been inundated with opportunities – that’s the nature of the construction business. Some of the latest jobs include:

Truck Drivers
Friesland, WI.
An employer is looking for drivers

Heavy Equipment Operators
Huntsville, AL.
Company looking to hire heavy equipment operators, grade checkers, traffic controllers, and ready-mix drivers.

Crane Operator
Deforest, WI.
Employer requires an experienced Lattice Crawler Crane Operator

Heavy Equipment Operators
Carlsbad, NM.
Contractors hiring Heavy Equip Operators

Truck Drivers
Huntsville, AL.
Ready-mix drivers required. An employer also requires heavy equipment operators, grade checkers, and traffic controllers.

Truck Drivers
Louisville, KY
Employer also requires heavy equipment operators

Local Truck Drivers
Beaver Dam, WI.
Employer taking applications for local drivers

Short Haul Truck Drivers
Madison, WI
hiring short-haul drivers

Heavy Equipment Operators
Louisville, KY
Employer requires Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy Equipment Operators
Nationwide.
Heavy Equipment Operator openings

If you are interested in any of those job opportunities, you can visit our dedicated job site for more information. If you’re interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, truck driver, or crane operator, then visit ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools for more information on our training programs. You can be work ready in as little as five weeks.

Heavy equipment has long had a reputation for destroying much of the land that it travels over. It can be true as well. Heavy equipment is “heavy” and it can be cumbersome as it moves over the land. In the right hands, however, heavy equipment can be a great tool when it comes to reclaiming land and helping to rebuild nature.

A story out of the City of Charlottesville makes for interesting reading if you’re interested in the restoration of public lands. Many people read these articles and gloss over the work done by heavy equipment. It’s a role that’s important, especially in a situation like this, where time can be a real issue. When reclaiming this land, workers had to divert water from its normal course so that rocks, earth and fallen trees could be removed, and the environment rebuilt.

This can be challenging yet very rewarding work for those involved. There’s immense satisfaction in walking away from an area that has been over-run by weeds and debris having restored it to its native state. For heavy equipment operators, the key is to complete the tasks required whilst not causing any new damage. This means working to very precise instructions, often very closely with experts directing each movement.

To be successful in this type of work, heavy equipment operators need to be well trained, and to have a good feel for their machinery. Being able to follow directions is vital, as is the ability to respond very quickly when required. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training Schools take a lot of pride in the quality of the training provided, and the level of skills that graduate operators take into the workplace. With experience in the workplace, graduate operators are frequently found working in situations such as that described in the City of Charlottesville.

If you have an interest in restoring areas to their natural environment, then it all starts with your heavy equipment training. Seek out the best and you’ll be headed in the right direction.

Choosing the best career option can be a difficult decision. When it comes to heavy equipment careers, there is a lot to consider. You’ll be working outside – although generally in a cab (often with climate controlled air conditioning). The work can be hot and dusty in summer, and you’ll also find there are frustrating periods where everything comes to a standstill because of bad weather – rain, ice and snow play havoc with construction schedules.

So who is best suited to a career as a heavy equipment operator? Obviously someone who enjoys working outside. It also helps if you have a mechanical aptitude since your work includes maintenance and safety inspections of your equipment. You’ll also need to be able to work both on your own and as part of team. Whilst not definitive, the following list is a good guide to those well suited to careers in heavy equipment.

• Enjoy working outdoors,
• Mechanical aptitude,
• Team worker,
• Reasonably fit,
• Good eyesight and a good awareness of depth
• Good eye, hand and foot co-ordination
• Fast reflexes

It also helps to have a reasonably good understanding of English (both written and verbal) and personal attributes such as honesty, integrity and reliability. However, there is one attribute that probably outshines all others, and that is desire. For many, if the desire is strong enough, they can soon develop any other deficiencies. There are heavy equipment operators who don’t have a great mechanical aptitude, however, they do have the ability to learn what is required to look after their equipment (and still remain useless under the hood of their own car).

Heavy equipment careers are lucrative and offer a lifetime of interesting and flexible work. If you’re interested in becoming a heavy equipment operator, you meet most of the attributes listed, and you have the desire to succeed, then contact us. A heavy equipment career could be waiting for you, and your first step is to complete a recognized heavy equipment training program.

When it comes to heavy equipment careers, the number one preference still seems to be bulldozers. The problem with taking a stance on bulldozers is that it limits your career options. Heavy equipment operators are in high demand, however, employers are not just looking for bulldozer operators. In many cases, they are looking for multi-skilled operators – that is, heavy equipment operators who can operate a range of machinery.

A recent look at job vacancies in the heavy equipment field will demonstrate this. Two recent job vacancies advertised for:

operators that have experience with the following equipment:- Tracked Excavator- Finish Dozer Operator- Motor Grader- Rubber Tire Loader,

and

Operate motor graders, scrapers, front-end loaders, dump trucks and other construction equipment of comparable size and complexity

The second job vacancy was particularly interesting since it also included operators who can drive dump trucks. Employers also often prefer heavy equipment operators who have a CDL and experience moving heavy equipment from site to site. The message here is simple – don’t rely on one piece of heavy equipment, diversify and gain experience on as many different machines as possible.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools, we provide training programs that cover a range of heavy equipment (and CDL/dump truck driver training). By undergoing training across a range of heavy equipment, you will be setting yourself up for a much broader heavy equipment operator career.

Yes, bulldozers are still one of the most commonly used pieces of heavy equipment. And yes, there is always a strong demand for competent operators. However, our recommendation is more practical. Give yourself a range of skills and you’ll always be employable.

Often looked down upon when it comes to heavy equipment, skid steer loaders have their place in society, and there is always demand for more operators. Rather than concentrating on just skid steer loaders, new operators should be looking at a broad range of heavy equipment. Skid steer loaders, whilst quite small, can be quite challenging to operate. They rely very much on an operator’s coordination between hands and feet, and their ability to move all four limbs very quickly.

Skid steer loaders have found a home in areas such as landscape gardening, and in cleaning up construction sites once work has been complete. They are also frequently used to clean up demolition sites once the major work has been completed. If there were no skid steer loaders, this work would have to be done by hand, and this can be labor intensive. A skid steer loader can do the work of a dozen manual workers, especially in skilled hands.

Ideally, a skid steer loader operator will also have experience in larger loaders, and perhaps backhoes and bulldozers as well. The ideal training program is one which covers these and other heavy equipment whilst also covering the required safety aspects of heavy equipment operations.

Over the years, skid steer loaders have proven to be the ideal equipment for those who wish to become owner operators. The equipment is easily transported on a trailer pulled by a car. Skid steers can get into small areas that larger equipment would find impossible to manage.

If you’re looking for a career in some of the smaller units of heavy equipment, then a career as a skid steer operator is well worth considering. We include skid steer loaders as part of our heavy equipment training program as good operators are always in demand since they perform the finishing touches to many construction projects.

If you think that heavy equipment careers are one dimensional, think again. Operators are not equal, and with some equipment, only the best operators need apply. A finishing standard grader operator is one example. These are operators who have developed the fine skills required to grade to very exacting measurements.

Airport runways are a good example (with roads a close second). When runways are being built, they are done to very precise measurements. They need to be when you consider their use. Large very heavy jets thundering in at high speeds, wheels thumping into the tarmac, then hard breaking towards the end of the runway. A runway that isn’t too smooth has the potential to kick a jet back into the air causing a very bumpy (and perhaps damaging) landing – one that pilots, passengers and airline companies don’t want to see.

A finishing grader operator does just that, they put the finishing touch on a surface prior to concreting or asphalting. Their work needs to be precise; after all, once the top layer goes on, there’s no going back to make any corrections. Finishing grader operators are those that have worked hard to develop their skills. In particular, how to set their blades and control their equipment. They also know how to accurately read site plans, and how to work closely with other people on a project.

To become a finishing grader operator, you need to start at the bottom. This means undertaking quality heavy equipment training, then gaining employment where you can develop your skills. When you first start, you won’t be in the same league as a finishing grader operator, however, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can develop those skills. A career as a heavy equipment operator is definitely not one dimensional, there are always new skill levels that an operator can aspire to reach.