There are tens of thousands of people sitting at home right now, all pondering a possible career change. Some are unemployed following the economic downturn that hit us all pretty hard while others are just bored or fed up with their current career and looking for a change. Associated Training Services (ATS) have, since 1959, helped thousands achieve new careers in either heavy equipment operations, truck driving, or crane operations – perhaps we can help you to build a new career.

The construction industry is one of the biggest employers of skilled operators of heavy equipment, cranes, and trucks, and while it too has its ups and downs, it is one of the first to recover from any recession. You only have to look at the billions of dollars the federal and state government have thrown into building new roads and bridges to see this. As the economy improves, factories, homes, and commercial centers are developed, all needing these skilled workers.

ATS prides itself on the reputation it has built over the last 50+ years. Quality is the key as our instructional staff, curriculum, equipment, and facilities all come together to deliver well-trained operators to industry. For students, we offer a variety of payment options, housing assistance for the duration of your training, and a well-trained career services department designed to help you find that all-important first job.

If you are interested in looking a little closer at a career as a truck driver, crane operator or heavy equipment operator, then contact us for more information. You can also call to arrange a visit to one of our training schools to see first hand what is involved with the training and the career options available to you.

Dump trucks are an essential part of a construction team as they work to either bring in construction materials or to cart away unwanted material. The one thing that most dump trucks rely on is another piece of heavy equipment to fill their dumpers. In some cases, there are silos that can be used to fill dumper with sand, soil, or gravel that is required on a construction project.

When it comes to removing unwanted material from a site, dump trucks have to rely on the speed, skill, and accuracy of loader operators and backhoe operators to fill their dumpers. Most teams develop a communication system that even tells a dump truck driver when their dumper is full and ready to be driven away. It’s an interesting process to watch from a distance – a little like ants running around slowly filling that dumper.

Dump truck drivers that drive their vehicles on public roads will generally require a commercial drivers license (CDL) before they can be employed. Leaning to drive a dump truck can be completed in a few short weeks. With the current state of our construction industry, employment opportunities are opening up every day – and the demand is set to rise as spring turns to summer.

Is the job of a dump truck driver boring? Never. Driving on the open road is challenging these days, especially with a fully-laden dump truck. The work is varied with operators often required to spread their load rather than just dumping and running. Spreading takes considerable skill as the dumper’s gate is only opened enough to let a steady stream of material escape. The dump truck driver needs to drive at the right speed while raising the dumper to allow a smooth and even flow of material over the surface. If you are ever near a road building project, watch the dump trucks as they spread gravel along a stretch of newly forming road. With those skills, it’s never boring!

It’s still winter in most places up north. And there is still ice and snow on the ground. In fact, Southern Pennsylvania just received snow last night. So will that kill the excavators?

Absolutely not. When a trench needs to be built, there’s no better tool than an excavator. It’s a machine that was built for the job. But, while that’s true, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend using the bucket for breaking up ice. The excavator has other tools for that. One tool that has proven to be useful for breaking up ice is the ground-breaking pick.

Backhoes are OK. They are versatile machines, but excavators are more powerful. In fact, put them side by side and let them have a contest and I guarantee you that excavator will win on breaking ice.

Heavy equipment operators are often multi-skilled operators. If you know how to operate a backhoe, chances are you know how to operate an excavator. By taking your training through a heavy equipment school that trains on multiple equipment such as the excavator and backhoe, you improve your chances of obtaining and keeping a long term job.

At ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools, you’ll learn how to use the excavator even on the ice. You’ll be trained in its various functions and how to determine when to use each tool this versatile piece of machinery has to offer. Enroll today and start your career in heavy equipment operations.

Is there a clear definition of heavy equipment in today’s workplace? According to Wikipedia, heavy equipment is defined as:

…. heavy-duty vehicles, specially designed for executing construction tasks, most frequently, ones involving earthwork operations. They are also known as, construction equipment, construction plant, earth movers, engineering vehicles, or simply equipment. They usually comprise five equipment systems: implement, traction, structure, power train, control and information.

Now that’s quite a definition, especially the latter part which names the equipment systems. What should be noted is that the word ‘heavy’ is not mentioned in reference to weight. In fact, weight is not the issue in today’s workforce as can be seen by the use of skid steer loaders and mini excavators. While relatively lightweight, they are still classified as heavy equipment. Generally speaking, the follow vehicles are typical of what could be described as heavy equipment:

• Backhoes
• Wheel Loaders
• Scrapers
• Excavators
• Bulldozers
• Road Graders
• Rock Trucks
• Skid Steers
• All-Terrain Forklifts

These range in size from small vehicles up to massive vehicles (if you can still call them a vehicle) the size of small buildings, often used in the open cut mining industry. You should see the size of the dump trucks that are used alongside them – a single wheel stands almost twice as tall as most people and requires a special forklift when a tire change is required.

Size is irrelevant when it comes to determining heavy equipment. What is interesting is that training for a mini excavator is virtually the same as training for a standard excavator and for one of the giants used in the mining industry. Training is the key to using this equipment. If you are interested in heavy equipment as a career, then start by gaining your skills through a reputable heavy equipment training organization. That way you will be sure of having all the base skills required to launch a successful career as a heavy equipment operator.

If you’re a former heavy equipment operator who has been out of the business for several years, you would be surprised at how many technological changes there have been. GPS and laser technology is used in some equipment whilst many others have converted to computerized controls, especially in equipment like graders where fine degrees of accuracy are required in blade placements. In many cases, an operator from ten years ago could still operate this equipment – for others, refreshing your skills certainly wouldn’t go astray.

Where former operators may struggle is in the current safety knowledge requirements. Twenty years ago, operating heavy equipment was virtually seat-of-the-pants stuff. If you knew of short cuts, you took them, irrespective of the dangers. Safety regulations are such that seat-of-the-pants operating styles are no longer tolerated on any work site – in fact, employers and employees could be fined heavily if caught in the act.

Heavy equipment technology has certain brought this machinery into the 21st Century. Operators are now highly skilled in this modern technology, and because of that, they are much safer operators. The field of heavy equipment is now well paid in comparison to many other careers, and could be a viable choice for anyone who has worked in this field before. A short three week heavy equipment training program can help you to renew your operational skills, introduce you to some of the latest technology, and provide you with the knowledge you need under workplace safety legislation.

If you were once a highly skilled and in demand heavy equipment operator, there is no reason why you can’t be again. Heavy equipment technology has advanced, but at the end of the day, heavy equipment is still doing that same old task – digging, pushing, and carrying dirt.

Heavy equipment have long had a reputation for being gas-guzzling machinery that belched huge quantities of noxious black smoke into the air. That reputation is a little unfair in this day and age, especially when you consider emission controls that have been placed on all vehicles over the years. Manufacturers have gone further, making new heavy equipment more fuel efficient and capable of running on blended renewable fuels. The very latest equipment runs totally on renewable energies.

However, I said that heavy equipment is going green in more ways than one – and it is. Reducing carbon emissions is one half of the equation. The other half is rebuilding our landscape so that it can grow native vegetation – the lungs that help to clear our air of carbon and other pollutants. Heavy equipment, particularly equipment that is itself environmentally friendly, is being used more and more to help rebuild that landscape.

Add to this President Obama’s Green Job’s Initiative, an initiative designed to fund green projects in the construction industry, and you have a future career that’s going green. This green initiative will go beyond just heavy equipment – we are already starting to see environmentally friendly trucks being used in some green projects – this is opening the way for new truck drivers to enter the trade (which makes it a good time to investigate truck driver training).

Cranes, in particular mobile cranes, are also being used, both in green construction projections, and as part of clean-up crews – especially when old wrecked cars are found in environmentally sensitive locations. Cranes can lift heavy material out of these areas rather than dragging them through and creating more damage. Undertaking crane operator training, or the broader-based heavy equipment operator training provides graduates with the skills necessary to become a part of the greening of our country. So who wants a well-paid environmentally friendly job?

Certified crane operators are well paid when compared to many other heavy equipment operator positions. In fact, if you were to compare the hours of training required to become certified to many other positions (of any skill), certified crane operators come out well on top. Training to become a crane operator can take as little as three weeks – now, compare that to some occupations that take a minimum of six, twelve, or more months.

Mobile crane operators can also look forward to a position that involves a lot of variety. Mobile cranes don’t often stay long in the one place doing the one job repetitively. It’s not unusual for a mobile crane operator to do two or three different jobs in two or three different sites, all on the one day. If there is a down side to being a mobile crane operator, it is the fact that you could be called out in the middle of the night for an emergency. Don’t worry, it doesn’t happen that often, and it only applies to operators who have made themselves available for that task.

ATS Crane Operator Schools are one of the nation’s oldest crane operator training schools. Our three-week training program includes both in-class and in-the-seat training. This training is comprehensive and will cover all the areas required for a graduate to successfully complete their certification assessment following training. Certification is becoming a requirement in most states so employers are not longer willing to employ operators without this certification.

If you are looking for a well-paid job, a job where you can be trained and in the workforce quickly, then consider becoming a certified crane operator.

Many states are now in the process of adopting legislation that makes it mandatory for all crane operators to have passed a certification assessment. For many employers, this may make life difficult. Their crane operators may be highly skilled and valuable assets to the organization, but without that certification, their value could be lost overnight. The simple solution, of course, is to have those operators assessed and certified.

That is a simple solution and many employers are now taking that route. For others, the solution is not so simple. Over the years employers have used employees in multiple roles. For example, a heavy machinery operator is trained to operate a crane, but only used when the need arises. Their main use to the business is a heavy equipment operator. These individuals will also need certifying before they can again operate a crane and, given their limited experience, may struggle to pass that assessment.

This is where ATS Crane Operator Schools is in a position to assist. We are able to deliver training and assessment, either at one of our training schools or in the workplace – depending on the needs of the employer. We can also provide specialist crane operator training in workplaces that have special needs. Our training covers a variety of cranes including fixed cab and swing cab mobile hydraulic cranes, crawler or truck mounted lattice boom cranes, and rigging. We can also travel where employees that require training, assessment and certification are located in remote places.

Skilled employees are valuable assets to any business – ensure your crane operators have been tested and certified so they remain of value to your business.

If you’re looking to get a start in the heavy equipment industry then loaders can be your best option. They form the backbone of most construction sites because of their versatility and their ability to often get into tight spots. Loaders are used in a wide range of industries ranging from agriculture through to manufacturing. Construction is the major user, either on road building projects, land clearing projects or building projects.

The loader’s main role is the movement of earth. Whether it is moving loads of earth from one place to another or loading the trucks, the principles in use are the same. Loaders are also used to carry heavy objects in areas where fork lift trucks and manual lifting is not possible. You will often see loaders carrying machinery and pipes around a construction site.

One of the important roles of a loader is the cleaning up that occurs once a construction project nears completion. Loaders can scrape the ground pushing debris into piles, then load those piles into waiting trucks. Smaller versions have been built that perform a similar role in tight spaces such as around new homes. They have also become extremely popular with landscape gardeners.

Because of their ease of use, they make a perfect vehicle for those wanting to enter the heavy equipment field of employment. Training for loaders is generally undertaken as part of a wider heavy equipment training program. This is ideal for newcomers to the industry as it provides training on a range of heavy equipment types.

You may gain a start in the industry operating a loader, but through your training you can move onto graders, bulldozers, excavators or backhoes. Loaders – they really are the backbone of most construction sites, and that’s from start to finish.

Do you need a history of heavy equipment operations to become a qualified crane operator? As a matter of fact – no. You can come from any walk of life and undertake a crane operator training course. To a certain extent, students that undertake training with no prior experience in heavy equipment can be easier to train. To begin with, there are no bad habits to erase. Of course, prior knowledge of the equipment can make life easier for the student since they are not being confronted with completely new terminology.

In short, however, as stated, anyone from any walk of life can undertake training to become a crane operator. Your success really is going to be measured by the commitment you give to the training course along with the skills and commitment that a crane operator trainer gives to you. Women have successfully made the transition from home duties to crane operations, middle aged former office workers have made the transition as have college students that found academic life not to their liking.

ATS Crane Operator Schools works on the principle of training students to work readiness. This means incorporating both in the cab, around the equipment and in the class room activities. The main emphasis of course is hands on in-the-cab operations – the more supervised practice you can acquire, the more skilled you will become. Having a rounded training program that includes operations, basic maintenance and safety components readies a student for the work place.

If you have never been near heavy equipment before, don’t let that stop you from becoming a crane operator. The most important skill or attribute that you can bring to any training program is an open mind and readiness to learn. If you have that then you’re ready to take on crane operator training.