When most people think of heavy equipment, they think about the typical machines seen at a normal construction site. Some of these items might include cranes, bulldozers and backhoes, but there are some pieces of heavy equipment most people will never have the opportunity to see. One of these monster machines is the Rock Truck. These monstrosities are used on large construction sites, in mining operations and on other work sites that require the transport of a lot of material or very large materials. Here is a video of a rock truck in action:

Much like a dump truck, the rock truck is used in moving around dirt or rocks and to dump the load in a particular area. The main difference between a normal dump truck and a rock truck is their size. The rock truck is manufactured to carry usually between 100 and 300 tons of material. These mammoth vehicles are used extensively off the road because their enormous weight would damage the roads as they passed over them. This actually results in another issue: How are these humongous trucks transported? The answer to that question would be that they actually need to be disassembled into manageable pieces to be moved off the site to ensure no damage is done to the roads.

Due to the size and power of these monster trucks, additional training and certification needs to be performed prior to a heavy equipment operator being able to drive a rock truck. This training will include classroom work as well as behind the wheel hands on training. The heavy equipment operator will need to prove he can handle the rock truck on rough terrain. This rock truck training can truly add another dimension to any heavy equipment operator’s resume.

Crane operators are highly skilled professionals requiring specialized training and certification. As a reward, crane operators generally better wages than other heavy equipment operators.

The role of a crane operator is often quite challenging. There are a lot of factors to take into account every time a crane is positioned. There are also a of different variable that need consideration before and during each lift. In fact, no two lifts are the same, even if your working on a site doing the same lift fifty times a day.

Crane safety is the biggest issue and requires constant thought and attention. The certification process is based on a need for better safety considerations on work sites. In the past, there have been too many work related incidents that have led to death or injury. Crane operator training is now regulated with prospective crane operators having to pass written and practical tests to gain certification.

ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools are qualified to deliver crane operator training in both fixed cab and swing cab mobile hydraulic cranes. We are also authorized to undertake assessments (both written and practical). Graduates of this program will receive a National Certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

If you’re ready for a change in careers and the challenge of working as a crane operator appeals to you, then visit our web site to check out your training and certification options. Being one of the best paid jobs on any construction site is a plus; having a career that is interesting and always changing is an even better plus; as crane operator, your get both.