Whilst there is a shortage of heavy equipment operators across the nation, that doesn’t mean you can just do a bit of training and expect to walk into a job. Employers are still fussy; after all, their operators are in control of heavy equipment that is priced in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not only that, but heavy equipment operators are often working on projects that are valued in the millions if not tens of millions of dollars. Employers simply cannot take a risk on an unknown operator.

So how does a novice get a foot in the door. Employers want experienced and reliable heavy equipment operators, however, if they are not prepared to hire new graduates. How are those graduates going to build that experience? It’s an age old question that affects almost every industry around the world. Sometimes it helps to have someone on your side who can open a few doors. Someone an employer trusts to deliver hard working and reliable employees.

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools has been in business for around fifty years. Over that time we have developed good relationships with a wide group of employers. They trust our training and know that when we graduate a new recruit to the industry, that person will be ready to start in the workplace in an entry level position. Our success depends on our graduates gaining employment – if they didn’t find employment, our name would soon turn to mud. To help graduates succeed, we have over the years developed a strong career services department.

When you start your heavy equipment training with us, our career services personnel start working with you, helping you build a resume and learn how to approach employers, and how to handle yourself during interviews. We also try to match you up to suitable employers in your area. Looking for a career change? Training is half the battle, and we don’t believe in doing things by halves – we like to see our students trained and successfully in the workplace as soon as possible – that’s the best way to kickstart a new career.

As a nation we are heading into a period where there will be just as many retirees as there are workers – perhaps more. Baby Boomers are now reaching retirement age and like most industries the transport industry is already starting to feel the pinch. Most new drivers choose local and intrastate driving opportunities, often shunning any truck driving jobs that keep them away from home for more than a day. This has already led to a shortage of long distance truck drivers.

In the future, and I’m talking about the next three to four years, you’ll be seeing long distance truck driving jobs that use the words “urgent” as in “urgently wanted – long distance truck drivers.” You may even find phrases such as “immediate start,” “great benefits,” and perhaps even “minimal experience required.”

Those with vision can plan now to fill those vacancies as they arise. In fact, gain a commercial drivers license now and build your experience and you’ll be a truck driver who’s not only in high demand but able to demand a top wage and benefits package. Truck drivers with good reputations are already being offered good wages to switch employers – the old-fashioned corporate head hunting at a truck driver level.

How do you take advantage of the looming truck driver shortage? First, you need quality truck driver training, then a commercial drivers license, all followed up by experience gained on the job. We can provide you with the training and help you to obtain your commercial drivers license. Even better, we can help you find that all important first truck driving job, a job that will give you experience and help launch your career.

Our heavy equipment job site receives a steady flow of job vacancies each month, and those job vacancies are for more than just heavy equipment operators. Employers are often looking for crane operators, truck drivers, and multi-skilled operators, particularly heavy equipment operators with commercial drivers licenses. The following listing is an example of a range of job vacancies we receive. It pays to visit our job site on a regular basis to see what jobs have been listed.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Petaluma, CA
The purpose of the job is to operate heavy equipment safely, productively and efficiently. This job could require pushing, compacting, grading, loading or hauling waste or dirt and could require working alone or teaming with other Heavy equipment. This job could also require operating around Customer trucks and Customers at the working area.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Claypool, IN
We are looking for a Heavy Equipment Operator to operate a variety of equipment in the operations, maintenance and construction of landfill, and related facilities.

Operator – Heavy Equipment
Houston, TX
Operates forklift, Pettibone, front end loader and /or Crane (friction/overhead/gantry) to load and unload bulk and break bulk commodities to or from barges, trucks, rail cars and storage.

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
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.

If you need to update your skills, or perhaps add new skills to your resume, contact us for more information on heavy equipment training, truck driver training and crane operator training.

If you fancy a career as a crane operator, then you’re going to need training that leads to certification as a crane operator. Learning the basics from a friend or relative simply won’t cut it in the workplace anymore. Besides which, it’s now illegal for businesses to employ crane operators who are not certified. Certification is a national standard, so once certified you can work in any state without the need to be recertified.

Crane operators can only be certified by passing a nationally recognized crane operator certification assessment. This assessment concentrates on the safe operations of cranes and has been designed to help reduce the number of crane accidents that occur each year. A crane in the hands of an unqualified operator can do a significant amount of damage to people and property, often with devastating consequences.

When considering a career as a crane operator, your best path is to undertake crane operator training through a well respected training organization. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have been around for fifty years and have been approved to deliver crane operator training and the assessments required to achieve certification. Our certification program is conducted on behalf of the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) – a certification that is respected by employers nationwide.

ATS provides training on a range of cranes including:

• Large Telescopic Boom Cranes (swing cab/rough terrain)
• Small Telescopic Boom Cranes (fixed cab/boom truck)
• Lattice Crane (Crawler or Truck)
• Articulated (knuckleboom) Cranes

We also provide OSHA Compliant Rigging & Signal Person training for those interested in careers as riggers or signal persons. When looking at crane operator training, becoming certified is the only way to start a long and successful career, and ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can help you achieve that goal.

It may surprise some potential heavy equipment operators to learn that up to half of their working life is spent driving their equipment. Now I know most would say, “of course they drive their equipment; how do they move around if they don’t drive?” However, the point I am making here is that driving skills and the awareness of driver is just as important as knowing how to operator your heavy equipment.

Heavy equipment, if not handled correctly, can roll fairly easily. You may feel that a bulldozer is big and heavy and that it wouldn’t be possible to roll – believe me, they can roll, and when they do it can be quite devastating. Excavators and front end loaders have a higher center of gravity and will roll quite easily given the right circumstances.

Operators also need to be aware when operating their heavy equipment in congested areas such as construction sites. Giving way to other equipment and trucks, being aware of pedestrian traffic, buildings, and overhead power lines are all part of a heavy equipment operator’s day. These are driving skills as much as operator skills, and generally run true for all heavy equipment.

Workplace safety is a big factor today. Operating equipment in a safe manner is the goal as businesses aim for zero down time because of accidents. Every time there is a serious accident, the workplace, the employer, and the employee come under close scrutiny from government agencies. If they feel there is a lack of safe work practices, they will come down hard with severe penalties. The best way to avoid an accident is by undertaking heavy equipment training through an accredited training organization. Once you have completed your training, remember that you are a driver.

There are thousands of heavy equipment operators who go to work each day, often on a construction site where the only people they need to relate to is fellow workers and managers. There is growing need in the community for heavy equipment operators who can also work a public relations role. These are the operators that work with other businesses or home owners. It goes under the guise of customer service, however, it does play a role that goes beyond just customer service.

Being able to work with clients is important in today’s workforce. Those clients are the very people who can make or a break a business, and with it, your career. If you can follow the instructions and complete the client’s requirements in a timely fashion, that client is more likely to recommend you to others. They are also more likely to call on you the next time they need your services.

Customer service includes communicating with a client, perhaps discussing how the job can best be completed, and often filling out billing information such as hours and equipment used. Some businesses require their operators to also collect a payment once the job has been completed. Tact, a pleasant demeanor and a professional approach are all vital traits that a heavy equipment operator requires to work in this environment.

We can provide the training to help you become a heavy equipment operator. Whether or not you have what it takes to take on a customer service role will depend very much on your past experiences, your personality, and your ability to get on with other people. If you have what it takes to add customer service skills to your heavy equipment operating skills, then you’ll find there are plenty of opportunities for you in the field of heavy equipment operations.

There are some very good jobs on offer this week, including one with the Military Department for heavy equipment operators. We receive a wide variety of jobs through our job site each week, it’s almost worth checking on a daily basis. When applying for these positions, be sure to carefully read the employer’s requirements. Respond to them as fully as possible – get it right and you’ll make it to the interview stage. Employers put these requirements in for a reason – they need people with abilities and skills, so don’t ignore these areas.

MILITARY DEPARTMENT HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
Paso Robles, CA
Successful candidate must be able to pass Live Scan and a National Agency Background check. Duty Statement: Required-Applicant must have a valid state Class A license and a current Medical certificate. 50% Refuse truck operation for garbage removal, backhoe operations for underground work; bulldozer operations for grading roads; firebreaks and provide fire support, Crane and forklift operation for loading and unloading.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Petaluma, CA
The purpose of the job is to operate heavy equipment safely, productively and efficiently. This job could require pushing, compacting, grading, loading or hauling waste or dirt and could require working alone or teaming with other Heavy equipment. This job could also require operating around Customer trucks and Customers at the working area.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Claypool, IN
We are looking for a Heavy Equipment Operator to operate a variety of equipment in the operations, maintenance and construction of landfill, and related facilities.

Operator – Heavy Equipment
Houston, TX
Operates forklift, Pettibone, front end loader and /or Crane (friction/overhead/gantry) to load and unload bulk and break bulk commodities to or from barges, trucks, rail cars and storage.

Heavy Equipment Operator II
Albany, GA
Employee in this position is responsible for, but not limited to, operating heavy equipment such as backhoe, bulldozer, earth mover, dump truck, motor grader, drag-line crane, front end loader, and/or tractor; clearing and preparing landscapes and laying blocks for forging manholes, constructing and maintaining roads, pipe laying, loading and packing dirt and other materials

If you’re here to check out the job situation prior to changing careers, you’ve come to the right place. However, we don’t just advertise vacancies here each Saturday. These and other jobs can be found each day through our job site. More importantly, if you are considering a career change, then visit our heavy equipment training site. There you will find information on training for heavy equipment, cranes and trucks, along with information related to financing your training, and information about our career services department.

Bulldozers are famous for pushing dirt around. They have incredible strength for their size and are capable of pushing tons of dirt in a day. Bulldozers can make use of that strength to pull as well. In today’s video, you’ll see a bulldozer using a twin ripper to break up the ground ready for removal. Bulldozers often work in partnership with a scraper. The bulldozer rips open the ground and the scraper comes through and lifts the loose soil into its hopper to be dumped elsewhere.

In this video, you’ll get a glimpse of a scraper working in the background. Take a closer look at the action towards the end of the video. You’ll get a close look at the ripper in action, and the power of the bulldozer. You’ll see the bulldozer tracks skidding in place as the ripper gets caught, however, once the tracks bite and the bulldozer regains traction, those ripper teeth just carve through the ground.

Bulldozer operators are amongst the busiest heavy equipment operators around today. Bulldozers form the basis of most heavy equipment companies since they really do all the hard preparation work on a building site. You can learn to operate a bulldozer through a heavy equipment training school. At ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, we include both bulldozers and scrapers in our training – in fact, you’ll learn how to operate a range of machinery, a factor you’ll welcome in the workplace as employers are now looking for multi-skilled heavy equipment operators.

Whether you receive your training from an accredited training school, or from a friend or relative, it’s your future that’s at stake. You need to gain as much as possible out of that training. With an accredited training school, you know you are going to receive training that’s set to an industry standard. You are also going to be trained in the right way of doing things rather than learning someone else’s bad habits.

Whichever way you decide to go, the onus ultimately is on you to learn as much as possible. In an accredited training school like ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools, you are going to receive training in a classroom (for the theoretical components), on the ground (for walk around and equipment identification), and in the driver’s seat (actually operating the equipment in a work like environment). Some consider the theoretical side to be rather boring (although we do make it as interesting as possible), it is still an essential aspect of your training.

When it comes to sitting in the driver’s seat and learning how to operate heavy equipment, get as much practice as possible, especially in areas that you find difficult. The more you practice, the easier it becomes – and practicing the right techniques will help you perfect your skills.

Getting the most out of heavy equipment training doesn’t just stop with your heavy equipment training. We have a career services section that works with students to help them find their first job once they have graduated. This service is free to students, and can be a very valuable side to your training. Our career services personnel can show you how to write an industry acceptable resume and job application. They can also help you with interview techniques, all skills that you will come to rely on in the years ahead.

Statistics show that students who make the best use of their training are the graduates who have the best success in their new career. If you’re considering a career change to heavy equipment operations, make sure you choose an accredited heavy equipment training school and then be sure to get as much as possible out of your training – you won’t regret it.

The days of focusing on one piece of heavy equipment as a career are quickly fading. Employers are constantly looking for heavy equipment operators who are multi-skilled, generally on heavy equipment, however, there are other associated skills that employers look for. A commercial drivers license is always handy to have since many employers prefer operators who can also drive trucks.

A look at this past weekend’s job opportunities is a good indication of what employers are looking for, although interestingly enough, this weekend is one of the few where a CDL didn’t appear in one or more job listings. Instead, we had employers that included the following:

• Must have hours on Trackhoe, Backhoe, Dozer and/or Grader;
• safe operation of various heavy equipment vehicles; and
• operates equipment including excavator, compactor, bulldozer, forklift and front end loader

ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools offer training on a wide range of heavy equipment including:

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

Once you have covered the basic training, you should look for opportunities where you can build up hours on a range of heavy equipment. You’ll become more confident on each unit, and over time, build up a range of skills that employers will find attractive.

When looking to change careers, it often pays to carefully study job advertisements in that niche. You will then know what employers are looking for and so prepare yourself for those requirements. Employers are still picky when it comes to heavy equipment operators – they know the type of worker they want, and they know which training establishments provide the best graduates – so deliver them what they are looking for. Over time, you’ll have the pick of the jobs.