Amounting to what the company considers more capable wheel loaders its customers can simply “do more with,” John Deere has revamped its three Utility Class wheel loaders with power and operator comfort updates.

The new 444K, 524K, and 544K are each powered by Deere PowerTech Tier 4 Final engines producing 124 horsepower, 141 hp and 163 hp on the respective models. Deere says the engine provides ample torque for maintaining good boom and bucket speed in and out of a pile for heaped loads, even in wet or hard-packed material.

The new loaders are outfitted with excavator-style, load-sensing hydraulics and Deere’s PowerShift torque-converter transmission which constantly monitors speed and load conditions. Plus, the new top-of-the-line 544K features a standard five-speed transmission with lockup torque converter which boosts acceleration reduces cycle times and optimizes power and fuel efficiency during transport, roading, and ramp climbing in gears 2 through 5.

Inside the cab operators will find a new color monitor where diagnostic and maintenance info is displayed along with a new high-back, air-ride seat. The cab also features reduced engine noise, a keyless start and one of two radio options: an AM/FM/WB with auxiliary port or an AM/FM/WB and Sirius/XM Satellite Radio with auxiliary port, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. The loaders can be outfitted with Deere’s Ultimate Uptime telematics service which provides pre-delivery and follow-up inspections, three years of JDLink telematics, machine health prognostics, and remote diagnostics.

There are different types of loaders. A loader is a handy piece of equipment to have on a construction site.

You’ll often come into contact with these types of loaders on the work site:

• Bucket Loader
• Front end loader
• Front loader
• Payloader
• Skip Loader
• Wheel Loader
• Track Loader
• Swingloader

All loaders are tractors – some have wheels and some have tracks – that have a bucket on one end so the driver can scoop up loose material and move it around. Loaders come in various sizes. Most of them are wheeled, but sometimes a tracked loader comes in handy.

On construction sites where gravel or loose sand needs to be moved, a loader is a useful piece of equipment. But you need a qualified operator to make good use of it.

You can always find employment as a loader if you have a few construction companies in your area. In northern states, many municipalities use loaders to move snow off of streets or parking lots. Business owners or landlords at large apartments or business complexes may use them too.

The most common type of loader is the front-end loader, although skid steer loaders are fairly popular as well. Compared to industrial loaders, however, they’re both quite small.

If you can learn to operate a large loader, such as a front loader like the John Deere 944K or the LeTourneau L-2350, then you should be able to operate smaller loaders just fine. Backhoe loaders not only have a bucket on one end but also a backhoe on the opposite, giving this small tractor an extra measure of mojo for the operator.

One of the things you’ll learn in a good heavy equipment school are the different types of loaders you’ll find on the job. And you’ll learn how to operate them too.

You’ll learn the difference between a bucket loader and a payloader, for instance. Important questions like “Why do some loaders have wheels and others have tracks” will be answered. Plus, you’ll learn why some loaders have scoops and some have shovels. And you’ll learn how to use these tools in a safe, effective manner on the work site.

Front end loaders, skid loaders, swing loaders … the list goes on. Why do we have them and what do they do?

When you enroll in the ATS Heavy Equipment School, you’ll learn the answers to all of these questions and more. More importantly, when you graduate, you’ll be well qualified to operate any type of loader on the job site, and you’ll be employable in your state, ready for hire. ATS will even help you get your first job.

One of the things that students say they like about our training is that they get plenty of practical field training. We don’t just sit you in a classroom and lecture you.

Don’t get me wrong. You’ll get your classroom lectures too, but that’s not where you learn to operate heavy machinery. You learn by doing, in the ATS Heavy Equipment School you’ll get plenty of opportunities to ‘do’. That includes all types of loaders.

Heavy equipment operators work in a wide range of activities, the hardest being the clean up after storms. As we head into the summer months, there are many operators preparing themselves for the associated storms. A lot of attention is paid to those who lose homes and businesses because of storms, however, little attention is paid to those who do the cleaning up, and it can be a heart-wrenching job. People’s homes, often still full of personal items that have been destroyed, need to be cleaned away – sure, insurance can pay for a new home, but to see those memories being trashed is never easy.

Bulldozer operators are particularly busy although loader operators and dump truck drivers run a close second. Excavator operators and backhoe operators are also kept busy during these periods. It’s not just homes and businesses either. The environment receives a fair hit as well with sand washed away from beaches and replaced by debris that wind and the waves throw up. Rivers often flood, and they leave behind a big mess as well – mud and debris, sometimes cars and parts of houses.

It requires a lot of experience to work in these areas, experience that is built up over several years following an operator’s initial training. That initial training has become very important in today’s workplace – employers don’t have the time (or money) to train operators from scratch, so they rely on new operators being at least competent enough to do many of the basic tasks that heavy equipment operators do every day. If heavy equipment operators have those entry level skills, they can build upon them in the workplace, taking on harder and more complicated tasks as they develop those skills.

At Associated Training Services, we pride ourselves on the skill levels that heavy equipment operators have when they graduate from our training programs. Our programs are designed to meet the needs of industry – we don’t just train students in the basics and leave them to fend for themselves. If you want a career as a heavy equipment operator, then be sure you receive the best training available. That will set you up for a long and successful career, and that includes working to clean up after storms have ravaged the landscape.

When we discuss heavy equipment operator careers, the primary focus is on construction. Mining is another industry that relies heavily on equipment operators. Rural communities are also reliant on heavy equipment operators, however, their needs are more for operators who are multi-skilled. This includes being able to operate bulldozers, loaders, excavators and backhoes. It also helps to have a commercial drivers license.

Rural communities are farming communities, and whilst farms frequently have a need for heavy equipment, it is the townships themselves that are most reliant. Heavy equipment operators are generally required to deal with snow and ice in winter, road repairs all year round, general construction, and in many areas, reclaiming land and restoring it to its former natural state.

Working in a rural community has a lot of benefits. You’re certainly not going to be bored since every day tends to bring a different job with a different type of equipment. Rural communities are generally smaller and closer knit compared to large town and cities where most people don’t know each other at all. The down side to a close knit community is that you may find people asking for ‘favors’ – the odd job after hours or on weekends.

If you’re looking for a heavy equipment career that is a little different, is as much a lifestyle as it is a career, then consider becoming a heavy equipment operator in a rural community. You’ll need heavy equipment training on a range of vehicles, and a commercial drivers license. You’ll also need commitment, and a friendly and sociable outlook on life. Bring those traits together and those rural communities will welcome you with open arms.

If you’re looking for a job that pays top wages, offers an excellent benefit package, or perhaps provides you with an opportunity to work for a global leader, then keep on reading. This week’s job listings include opportunities with theses features for heavy equipment operators.

Pipeline Foreman & Experienced Heavy Equipment Operator
Dewey, OK
Hiring Pipeline Foreman & Experienced Heavy Equipment Operators! Must have hours on Trackhoe, Backhoe, Dozer and/or Grader TOP WAGES & BENEFITS!

Heavy Equipment Operator
Tyler, TX
A global leader in engineering, consulting, design, program management, construction and operations, is looking for heavy equipment operators.

Heavy Equipment Operator II
Joseph City, AZ
Heavy Equipment Operators are responsible for the safe operation of various heavy equipment vehicles that perform the spreading and compaction of construction and demolition, commercial and residential waste disposed of at the post collection facilities. Occasionally, items up to 50 lb. must be lifted while performing the daily routine in all weather conditions. Daily Equipment Inspections (DEI) is required.

Heavy Equipment/Scale Operator – Landfill
Punta Gorda, FL
POSITION SUMMARY…Reporting to an Operations Manager/Supervisor, this position operates heavy equipment to move materials and tow trailers for the purpose of transferring spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in a productive and safe manner. Safely and productively operates equipment including excavator, compactor, bulldozer, forklift and front end loader.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Portage, IN
A leading provider of services to steel companies throughout the United States and Canada, has several openings for Heavy Equipment Operators at our job site. Primarily we are in need of loader operators. Full time, permanent employment and an excellent benefit package including medical, dental, prescription drugs, disability, life insurance, and 401k. 2-3 years experience as heavy equipment operator preferred.

If you require more information on these or any other job opportunities, or if you’re an employer looking for heavy equipment operators, crane operators or truck drivers, then visit our job site. It’s totally free and available for both employers and job seekers.

Should you multi skill and become a backhoe operator? I guess I don’t have to remind everyone of the economy and the struggles that everyone has been through – if you didn’t see, feel or hear about it then you probably weren’t on the planet at the time. Times have been tough and many small businesses have been feeling the pinch – even in heavy equipment. As we start to shake off the problems of the past two/three years, businesses are starting to spend again, but very cautiously.

When it comes to heavy equipment purchases, prudence is the order of the day and cost reduction the number one factor. One of the easiest ways to cut costs is by using equipment that is versatile. The more versatile a unit of heavy equipment is, the more income that equipment can generate. I know, boring details on how to run a business – however, it does impact on all of us.

When it comes to heavy equipment, why buy a loader and an excavator when a backhoe can do the same work – in one unit. The only down side to buying a backhoe is that it can only be in one place at any one time – but it can certainly undertake a wide range of tasks while in that one place. During the recession, the last unit of heavy equipment to be mothballed was the backhoe. The first unit to be purchased was also a backhoe and, at present, the highest demand for operators is for backhoe operators.

Since it takes the skills of both a loader operator and an excavator operator, it makes sense to multi skill and take on the role of a backhoe operator. The path to multi skilling is made easier when a heavy equipment training program actually covers a wide range of equipment When the economy evens out, you can specialize in excavators, or loaders, or perhaps stay with backhoes, it’s your choice.

Backhoes are one of the most in-demand machines when it comes to construction and general excavating work. Because they incorporate the digging system of an excavator and the loading ability of a front end loader, they can do the work of these two machines with less cost to a business. Backhoes together with bulldozers are often the first heavy equipment purchased by a new earth moving business because of the range of work they can perform.

How do you become an in-demand operator? It goes beyond operator skills, although they are important. In-demand operators are those that know their soil types well, can complete a job on time (or sooner) and according to the plans, and do so with the right attitude to safety and the employer. Operators that fit this description soon earn a reputation and it is that reputation that creates the demand. Operators that have a strong reputation can often demand good wages, good work conditions and are rarely out of work.

So how do you gain those skills? It doesn’t start with your training – it starts with your attitude. If you have a positive outgoing nature, get on well with people, and can work to a set of plans then you’re ready for training. If you’re the kind of person that is always right, and everyone else is wrong then perhaps you should reconsider you career plans – the backhoe may not be your best choice.

If you have the right attitude then you’re ready for training and that means getting your training through the best possible training school. Guess what – ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools is one of the best in the business. Our graduates are well respected by employers and often find employment soon after graduating. If you take that positive attitude into our heavy equipment training program, and can acquire the skills quickly, you will become one of those skilled and in-demand backhoe operators.

Winter brings quite a few interesting scenarios that backhoes have to deal with. Water pipes that rupture due to the cold, perhaps sewage mains and a myriad of other problems that occur every time we bury essential services. The one piece of equipment you can always rely on to come in and help, of course, is the backhoe.

They are quite nimble for their size and can be quickly set up to dig up a trench and expose problematic pipelines. They can help raise and lower pipes and finish the job by back filling the trench. It can be a cold job, however, especially in some of the older models that have open cabs. You could be called out at odd hours as well if it is an urgent situation.

Learning to operate a backhoe is an interesting experience as it combines the skills of an excavator operator and those of a loader operator – fortunately not at the same time. Gaining employment as a backhoe operator is even more interesting since your versatility exposes you to such a wide range of tasks.

Becoming a backhoe operator is not as difficult as many would imagine. ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools can have you trained and ready to work in as little as three weeks. Forget training that takes three or six months – developing skills in areas that employers need is what is important, not developing a range of skills that you may never use.

If you are considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, particularly as a backhoe operator, then contact ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools and find where and when the next operator training course starts.

Backhoes have one major advantage over most other heavy equipment. After they have finished digging a hole, they can turn around and use their scoop to clean up the mess they have made. Bulldozers can move mountains, but they still need a loader to load the unwanted material onto trucks.

Excavators can at least dig a hole and deposit the material straight into a truck. However, it can be a slow process considering how much a bucket holds compared to a scoop. For the backhoe, it can dig a trench as long as necessary, help to lower the pipes, for example, into that trench then use the scoop to back fill the trench before loading the leftover material straight into a truck. The complete all-in-one package.

Many operators shun backhoes considering them to be the babies of the heavy equipment fleet. They are often smaller in size than some of the other machines in use, however, don’t be fooled. There are some decent sized backhoes around as well. In fact, the skills required to operate a backhoe encompass several machines.

To operate a backhoe effectively, you require the skills of an excavator operator together with those of a loader operator. It also helps to have a little knowledge of crane operations as well. Of course, this all depends on what attachments have been added.

If you are looking at a career as either an excavator or loader operator then you may want to consider combining both skills to become a backhoe operator. You can still operate an excavator or loader whilst having the backup skills for the backhoe. For most training institutions, backhoe operator training is undertaken as part of a broader heavy equipment training program. It makes sense these days to multi-skill – you will always be employable then.