Employers are often caught in a difficult situation when it comes to having employees who have been trained to a standard required in that particular workplace. Employers can opt to employ trainers themselves, however, this can be a lengthy and expensive process since trainers will need to develop training programs and organize testing processes that result in formally recognized qualifications. The alternative is to engage the services of a training company that trains in specialized equipment training.

The benefits of engaging a training company like Associated Training Services (ATS) are many. ATS already has a wide range of training programs developed. These can often be developed to suit your workplace. If not, our experienced staff can quickly develop a training program suited to your workplace. We have a long history of working with employers to deliver training designed specifically for their work environment and the equipment or work required. We deliver training in areas such as:

• Crane Operator Training, Testing and Certification,

• OSHA Compliant Rigging & Signal Person Training, Testing, and Qualification,

• Heavy Equipment Training, Testing and Qualification, and

• Class-A CDL Commercial Driver Training, Testing and Licensing.

It is important to have instructors who are certified and who utilize the latest training methods. We can deliver training on-site or in our training facilities. Contact us if you require specialized training for your workplace. We have fifty years of successful service to the industry and during that time has built a strong reputation for quality and delivering what the customer needs, not what we think you need. We work closely with industry, national accreditation organizations, and regulatory authorities to ensure our standards exceed those expected within the industry.

Work places are not the same, especially in industries like construction and mining. These industries often have special situations that call for specific skills, skills that are not always readily available in the general workforce. To cater to the needs of these workplaces, employers are often forced to recruit employees who are well suited to the situation, and to then train them in the specific skills required.

Associated Training Services (ATS) has a long history of working with employers to deliver training that meets these specific needs. Our training can be designed specifically for your work environment and the equipment or work required. We deliver training in areas such as:

• NCCCO Crane Operator Training, Testing and Certification
• OSHA Compliant Rigging & Signal Person Training, Testing and Qualification
• NCCER Heavy Equipment Training, Testing and Qualification
• Class-A CDL Commercial Driver Training, Testing and Licensing

Our instructors are certified and they work from the latest in training methods, up-to-date curricula, and where necessary, to national accreditation standards. Training can be delivered on-site, or in our training facilities. Designing a training program to meet specific requirements can be challenging, however, our instructors are experienced and work closely with employers to ensure that training meets their needs, the regulatory requirements, and any specific requirements such as insurance.

If you require specialized training for your workplace, contact us to discuss your needs. Our long history of success (over 40 years) is based on customer satisfaction and industry relationships we have built. By working closely with industry, national accreditation organizations, and regulatory authorities, and we are able to deliver no matter how specialized your requirements.

Major transport companies have, in recent years, started to push into areas that were once the domain of small owner operators. The oil fields and associated mining were once happy hunting grounds for these small owner operators because of the specialized nature of their work. Sand tankers are a good example – a few owner operators were able to service the needs of most areas and make a good living.

Today, those small operators are being overrun by big transport companies, and it’s all related to economies of scale. Large transport companies can buy in 100 or 200 trucks, gaining huge discounts because of the size of the order. Those trucks can then be distributed to wherever the need is greatest, then re-distributed when required. Of course, with 100/200 trucks in operation, that suddenly increases demand for drivers, and flow-on effect can be felt in the industry across the nation.

The end result is a general shortage of truck drivers, and in some areas, a chronic shortage of specialized truck drivers. On the weekend we saw a job vacancy listing from Schneider. They are looking for experienced sand tanker drivers in Odessa, TX, and drivers are looking at pay rates of $65,000+. Schneider are not alone when it comes to specialized drivers – a closer look will demonstrate a shortage of drivers everywhere.

You can’t expect to start life as a truck driver in a $65,000+ specialized job. However, it doesn’t take a lot of experience to be snapped up by large companies, especially if you work hard at establishing a reputation for being a good driver who always arrives on time without incident. It all starts with a commitment from you, and good quality truck driver training. We can deliver the training, are you committed to completing your training and building a solid reputation as a truck driver? If so, contact us, the industry needs you!

The ever changing world of heavy equipment operators can be an exciting ride. The industry is constantly changing with innovative technologies and better equipment that requires new training. Many engineering and construction companies will need their employees to be trained on these new machines and technologies. This specialized training can be performed by a quality heavy equipment training school.

This specialized training can be set up to teach employees exactly what the firm desires. If the company will be changing focus from building houses to building roads, the specialized training curriculum can concentrate on the heavy equipment used by road crews. This training will teach the employees how to properly and safely use the equipment that may be new to them. Specialized training can also be used to train employees on a new piece of equipment that has been purchased. For example, if a company buys an articulating crane and none of the crew has ever used one. Specialized training can be set up to get the crew trained and back on the work site quickly.

Specialized training is a great way to train a crew or a part of a crew quickly, so they are not away from the work site for a long period of time. It also enables the company with the ability to focus the training on their specific needs. Lastly, it allows the construction company or engineering company time to build and not have to focus on creating the training program from scratch. The heavy equipment training school has performed this training in the past and can perform the specialized training quickly and much more cost effectively.

There are times when standard training to operate heavy equipment doesn’t satisfy the needs of a particular job. What is required is specific training that has been customized to meet the needs of the work required. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools have decades of experience training individuals to operate heavy equipment, and this includes designing specific training programs to meet an employer’s needs.

Cost is always an important factor when it comes to training a work crew. As an employer, you can hire a dedicated trainer and they can either design the training program you need, or buy an off-the-shelf training program and modify it to fit your needs. This can be an expensive option, especially if you have a small group of employees, and there is no ongoing need for that heavy equipment trainer.

A less expensive option is to talk to us at ATS. We can discuss your specific heavy equipment operator needs, design a training program that trains operators to meet those needs, then deliver the training. More importantly, that training plan doesn’t end up in the trash once we have completed your training. That training plan is always available should your employers ever need refresher, or if you engage new employees who require specific training.

While standard heavy equipment training programs do provide a solid grounding in heavy equipment operations, there are a wide range of workplaces where the training needs to be more specific. If you are an employer about to take on a new contract, and you feel your employees need specific skills to meet that contract, talk to us – we customize your heavy equipment training, we’re flexible when it comes to delivery of training (your site or ours – which days), and our training is backed by a solid reputation earned through decades of quality training.

There are a lot of workplaces that require operators of heavy equipment and cranes to have specific skills to that industry, or to a specific job. The same can be said for those employing truck drivers, riggers or signal persons. For some businesses, they are moving into areas that are relatively new, having secured contracts they have tended for.

Being able to train your employees to do specific tasks with heavy equipment can be time consuming, and not very cost effective if you do it yourself. Associated Training Services (ATS) have been delivering customized training in areas such as heavy equipment operations, crane operations, truck driving (including CDL training) and rigger/signal person for almost half a century.

We are able to walk into a workplace, assess the training needs of that workplace, then deliver cost-effective training based on those needs. Where appropriate, ATS can undertake assessments of those individuals to ensure they receive the right documentation – for example, certification of crane operators.

ATS work with employers to ensure the training outcomes meet all the demands that operating their equipment may deliver, including safety aspects of their equipment. Training can be delivered at the workplace or in one of our facilities. Workplace training is often effective because the operators are learning using the equipment they are going to be operating.

Is it cost effective? In the majority of cases, most definitely. By engaging a professional training organization like ATS, your employees receive quality training that is focused on the employer’s needs. Skilled trainers are able to identify weaknesses quickly and to work those showing a weakness to ensure maximum productivity with lower down time due to accident or poor performance.

If you’re an employer with specific training needs when it comes to heavy equipment – cranes, truck driving or rigging/signal persons – then contact ATS for a no-obligation discussion on how we can assist you to obtain the best out of your employees.

There are times when standard training is not specific enough to cover certain tasks in a workplace. While heavy equipment operators can normally acquire the skills required to succeed through a broad-based heavy equipment training program, there are some industries that have very specialized roles for their heavy equipment. Normally, the only way to acquire these specialized skills is through a specialized or custom-designed training program.

Customized training starts with a customized training program. Most training organizations use training programs that have been designed off site so their training staff have little, if any, experience in designing a customized training program. To design a program that is specific to a particular workplace, a training program designer will need to inspect the workplace, define the skills required to perform the work, and to then design a training program that delivers those skills.

While that may sound easy, in practice it isn’t. Designing a custom training program also needs to take into account factors such as:

• Time – How long will the training take?
• Prerequisites – What skills should a trainee already possess?
• Equipment – The equipment required to learn these skills.
• Location – The best place to learn – at the workplace or at the trainer’s campus?
• Cost – When developing a custom training program, the end cost must cover the training school’s cost whilst remaining affordable for the employer.

That is a tightly woven set of requirements that must be considered while designing the training itself. Associated Training Services has a long history in delivering specialized training including training for:

• NCCCO Crane Operator Training, Testing and Certification
• OSHA Compliant Rigging; Signal Person Training, Testing and Qualification
• NCCER Heavy Equipment Training, Testing and Qualification
• Class-A CDL Commercial Driver Training, Testing and Licensing

If you require specialized training for your work crew, contact ATS for an expert assessment of your training options.

Crane operator training has become an important part of any workplace that employs cranes. Today, it is compulsory in most states to be certified as a crane operator before you can step foot anywhere near a crane. One of the problems with crane operator training is that one size does not fit all and there are many different types of crane in use today.

ATS Crane Operator Schools conduct regular training programs for those wanting to enter the mobile crane sector. For those employers looking for specialized operators, we offer training in:

• 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 training in for OSHA Compliant Rigging & Signal Person and offer NCCCO Written & Practical Exams for those ready for certification. ATS is approved by the NCCCO as a test site for both the NCCCO written and NCCCO practical exams so we provide the complete pathway from training through to certification.

Whilst most of our training is undertaken at one of our campuses, we are happy to set up a training and testing room on your site if that is more convenient. This can be beneficial for those businesses that are located, or who are working in remote locations. Because we come to you, there is a less impact on your day-to-day business. Employees are also then trained on the equipment that will be using.

If you want more information on specialized crane operator training, feel free to call us on 800-678-8149.

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 a business that employs crane operators to do specialist tasks then forming an alliance with an experienced and accredited training provider can make a lot of sense. Alliances enable employers to build a relationship that delivers quality training to their employees, often at a cost far less than if the employer was to deliver the training themselves.

Training providers like ATS Crane Operator Schools do the hard work in developing training programs, training materials and gaining accreditation for both their training program and their training delivery. They can also gain accreditation to deliver assessments and certification of crane operators under the umbrella of the National Commission For The Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO).

These can all be costly processes to go through and, unless you are training a hundred or more operators each year, not very cost effective. Internal training costs are exploding these days, particularly when operators (like crane operators) are faced with compulsory certification. Many large businesses are now finding that the cost of training is moving beyond being viable as an internal process so they are instead outsourcing their training requirements.

By developing informal partnerships with training providers, the individual cost of training is reduced yet the training delivered is still tailored to their specific requirements. At ATS Crane Operators Schools, we have dedicated training staff that can deliver crane operator training at one of our training schools, or on your site if that is more practical. It becomes a win-win situation for employers – their employees are trained to operate the equipment on hand using techniques that are often unique to that business niche. The costs are reduced with one whole department (training) effectively outsourced for someone else to worry about. For your employees, they are receiving the skills that continue to make them valuable employees to your business.

If you employ crane operators, particularly in specialist situations, or in areas that are considered remote, then contact ATS Crane Operator Schools to discuss forming a training relationship.