I am, perhaps, exaggerating a little when I compare modern heavy equipment technology with an Xbox – but only a little. The technology that is found in modern heavy equipment is certainly of Xbox quality with computer microchips controlling many of the operations. It has also been said that those who regularly play computer games are already half way to becoming heavy equipment operators since they have excellent hand-eye coordination.

Motor vehicle technology has moved to heavy equipment with similar computer technology that controls a motor vehicle’s performance being used to ensure heavy equipment engine runs smoothly. Heavy equipment machinery like motor graders are starting to use computer technology to accurate set the positions of their blades – and using GPS and laser technology to continually fine tune those settings to deliver precise gradings. Computer technology is also being introduced to other machinery such as excavators to enable them to dig to precise measurements.

There are some training organizations that are incorporating computer controlled heavy equipment simulators in their training. While these simulators are helpful, they still don’t beat being outside in a real machine, working on real dirt. While technology is starting to playing a much bigger role in heavy equipment operations, the basics still remain the same. Bulldozers push dirt around, excavators dig holes, loaders still load dump trucks – the technology that is being incorporated is designed to get a job done using the smallest amount of fuel possible while in most cases producing very precise results. More importantly, new technology is making it easier for operators to complete tasks quickly while not affecting the quality of their work – and time is often a construction company’s biggest enemy.

For new operators coming into the work force, the difficulty is knowing what sort of training to undertake. Simulators, for example, usually train operators on heavy equipment that has all of the latest technology. In reality, the workplace is using a wide range of equipment, some of it is still 20-30 years old. The most effective training involves getting into the cab of a range of equipment, some new and some old. This gives students a feel for both the old and new technologies and delivers a better all around training experience. When considering a career as a heavy equipment operator, look for a training organization that is going to deliver training across a broad range of equipment.

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.

There has been a lot of discussion here and throughout the news regarding the economic stimulus packages and the effect it will have on employment. This package is having a huge impact on heavy equipment requirements with motor graders in high demand. The economic stimulus package, however, goes beyond dumping a lot of money on infrastructure. There are few a little programs that can impact on grader operator demand in their own right.

One of these programs is the one-time 50-percent tax depreciation bonus that is available for purchases made before December 31, 2009. Heavy equipment manufacturers have jumped on this and made their own offers. This includes payment free six or twelve month periods. This has led many businesses to either replace or add new equipment to their work force. Those that have added new equipment are the businesses that are expecting to be part of the infrastructure construction program in 2010.

Obviously, if you add new equipment to your line up you are going to need additional operators to utilize the equipment. Motor grader sales are up compared to this time last year and the demand on operators continues to grow. This reinforces our opinion that now is the best time to act if you want a career as a motor grader operator. The winter period is one of the best times to gain hands on experience in these machines in preparation for the expected busy spring construction period.

If you are interested in a career as a heavy equipment operator, particularly as a motor grader operator, then act now and give us a call on 1-800-383-7364 to discuss your motor grader training options. It can be tempting to say – ‘I’ll wait until after Christmas’. This could be a big mistake. Act now and come the New Year; you will be well placed to commence a career as a motor grader operator.

Bulldozer operators and backhoe operators are the two units of heavy equipment most likely to work on their own. They do form integral parts of teams but you will often find a backhoe out on a site doing the preparation work alone. One such job is the digging of foundations for a new building. Let’s spend a day with a backhoe operator as they dig those foundations.

A backhoe operator typically starts the day quite early. They arrive at the construction yard where they collect their work orders for that day. After an inspection of the backhoe they load it onto a truck and often drive it themselves to the site. Once on the site the backhoe is unloaded from the truck, the scene of battle surveyed, the blue prints checked then it’s on with the job.

As the name suggests, a backhoe is a piece of heavy equipment that has a hoe (the bucket) that is operated by dragging the bucket through the earth towards itself. In other words, it drags it back, it doesn’t push forward like a bulldozer of loader. As the backhoe edges forward, it is leaving a trench behind itself.

An experienced backhoe operator can dig a standard house foundation in less than a day. Once the foundations have been dug, it is time to pack up and return to the construction yard. After unloading the backhoe, the operator generally reports back to the manager on the work performed. They may even preview the following day’s work, particularly if special attachments are required.

A backhoe operator’s day finishes with another walk around inspection – this is to check for any damage the machine may have received during the day. Backhoe operators often work long hours when required and may work six day weeks. If you are looking for a heavy equipment career that provides some independence then training to become a backhoe operator could be your best option.

If a backhoe is not quite to your liking then I suggest you check out our “spend a day with” series. The series covers mobile crane operation, bulldozers, motor graders and excavators.

You may not be aware of it but if you have a local football stadium, hockey fields or even soccer grounds then you can be sure a motor grader has had an integral role in the creation of those playing areas. In fact, when you look around at most recreation centers, if they are flat, or built on a flat piece of ground, then a motor grader had a role.

These days, the motor grader can do almost all the work involved in creating sporting grounds. From carving out the top of native soil to smoothing and leveling the base materials used. Sports such as hockey use an artificial surface, a form of synthetic grass, to play on. These artificial surfaces require perfectly flat terrain before they can be laid. Motor graders, particularly those equipped with laser guidance and/or GPS systems are capable of preparing a flat and even surface of the size required.

Of course, as a grader operator you won’t be working on sports grounds too often unless you’re employed by a professional sports ground construction business. However, this is one example of the variety of work that grader operators do on a regular basis.

What professional grader operators do have in common is a background that includes a heavy equipment operator training through an accredited training organization. This ensures their training credentials are recognized throughout the nation and that the training has been designed to meet a minimum set of standards. Fancy working on the next major football stadium, perhaps an Olympic stadium? If so, start your training now – you won’t regret it.