Associated Training Services is open and operating! Classes start every three weeks. We are taking all necessary precautions regarding your safety and health. We are excited about the opportunity to help you become a well paid heavy equipment operator, mobile crane operator, tower crane operator, rigger, CDL truck driver, or horizontal directional drill operator!

What Makes ATS Different?

• Large variety and volume of equipment – over 75 pieces
• Training that correlates to real-life experience
• Hands-on training
• Experienced, professional instructors
• Nationally recognized credentials
• Stability – in business for 60 years
• Easy tuition financial assistance programs
• Affordable school-owned housing
• VA approved
• Specialized training for your company
• High customer satisfaction

So if this is the right career path for you and you want to find out more about what ATS can offer, please visit our main website www.operator-school.com and request a free brochure.

Mark your calendars, Associated Training Services will be holding a Skilled Trades Career Fair on August 15th, 2019 from 10:00 am – 2:30 pm at the ATS training grounds. The Wounded Warrior Project & TEAM Rubicon will be benefiting from this event.

“Skilled Trades” refers to a number of occupations that require specific hands-on skills, such as machinists, welders, heavy equipment operators, laborers, commercial truck drivers, and electricians.

These occupations are a critical part of the nation’s workforce and play key roles in the field of manufacturing, construction, and repair.

Please RSVP to Jeremy at jeremy.w@atsdigs.com.

You may also visit Facebook for up to date details about this event. We look forward to seeing you.

When you are attending a training school, you want to have access to the most experienced instructors. When you are trained by an individual who has extensive on-the-job training and who is experienced in all aspects of the field. These are individuals who are passionate about what they do, and they want to share their knowledge and passion with others.

When you train to learn a new career field or a new skill, you want to work with an experienced and knowledgeable professional. Every instructor at ATS has worked in their field as a professional for an extended timeframe. ATS instructors include:

• Professional truck drivers
• Heavy equipment operators
• Crane operators
• Rigging/Signalperson
• Directional drilling

These instructors have worked for various trucking companies, and construction companies, on various job sites, and have completed different tasks. With the help of these instructors, you will find that you are ready to tackle any challenge that your chosen career might throw at you.

Many of our instructors spent decades working in their chosen field. They can put those years of experience to work for you and use them for your benefit. This offers you an advantage in the career field, so you can be prepared for the challenges that you face when performing your work duties.

Dedicated and Caring

Our team of caring instructors are dedicated to seeing their students excel. Nothing is as satisfying to them and nothing can reflect as positively on their abilities as students who are successful. Their goal is to help students succeed and do well in their careers. They understand that this is your chosen profession and that you want to be able to excel in your job duties while working to support your family and to provide them with a good life.

If you are serious about taking your career to its highest possible level, call Associated Training Services (ATS) today at (800) 383-7364. We take pride in offering the best quality specialized training for different roles. We will take the time to go over your options, and the financing aspect, and determine the best way for you to proceed.

Federal Judge Blocks Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline

In Montana, a federal judge blocked the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline construction so there will be more time to study the environmental impact that the project could have on the area. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris issued the order on November 8, right as TransCanada, which is based in Calgary, was preparing to start construction on the oil pipeline’s first sections in northern Montana. TransCanada and the U.S. Department of State had been sued by environmental groups in Great Falls federal court.

According to the Great Falls Tribune, Judge Morris doesn’t believe that the government didn’t study greenhouse gas emissions fully, how the current oil prices would impact the viability of the pipeline, or include any updated modeling of possible oil spills. The pipeline is designed so it would transport as many as 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Alberta, a Canadian province, and areas of Montana to Nebraska-based facilities. The U.S. State Department issued a presidential permit for the construction of the pipeline in 2017. When halting the work, the judge said that the analysis conducted by the state department didn’t meet the federal environmental law standards.

Judge Morris issued the order after some equipment had been making its way through parts of eastern Montana so construction crews could start work. TransCanada Corp., the pipeline owner, is reportedly planning a meeting for Tuesday, November 13, to discuss the project and the judge’s order to halt work. The pipeline is set to be 1,179 miles. The State Department prepared an Environmental Impact Statement in 2014. The Keystone XL pipeline construction is stopped until the department completes a supplement to that study.

Keystone Proposal

The Keystone XL pipeline’s proposal is for it to start in British Columbia’s tar sands and then run through parts of South Dakota and Montana before it connects to the existing pipeline already in Nebraska. The company had hoped to start construction of the Montana portion next spring. The lawsuit was filed by Northern Plains Resource Council based in Billings along with other environmental groups, including North Coast Rivers Alliance and Indigenous Environmental Network.

Glendive farmer Dena Hoff, a member of the Northern Plains Resource Council, issued a written statement that said, “Today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law, and it’s a victory for common sense stewardship of the land and water upon which we all depend. Despite the best efforts of wealthy, multinational corporations and the powerful politicians who cynically do their bidding, we see that everyday people can still band together and successfully defend their rights.”

To become a heavy equipment operator, the proper training is required to safely and professionally operate the different kinds of heavy equipment and machinery that you will be using. Associated Training Services (ATS) has been providing high-quality training for individuals for decades. Just read our reviews. The company got its start in 1959 as the National Institute for Concrete Construction. Now a nationally recognized school, ATS has expanded its course offerings immensely.

Students compliment the program by saying, “The facilities and equipment are top-notch and well-maintained,” and “Great instructors and excellent facility for both classroom and hands-on (training).” During the past two decades, ATS has prepared hundreds of heavy equipment operators for success in the roles behind the wheel of various machines and heavy equipment. Students can learn how to operate cranes, digger derricks, directional drills, and different kinds of heavy equipment used in construction projects. The school still offers commercial truck driving training and offers a rigger/signalperson certification.

Specialized Training Programs

When there is specialized training needed, ATS can help employers and job applicants with that as well. With highly detailed training by instructors who have extensive experience in the field, students have classroom time as well as hands-on training. Students will get detailed information about the equipment they will be operating, and they will learn how to troubleshoot problems and address simple issues.

Former students give the school high ratings with most of them finding employment in their chosen field rather quickly after having completed their training program. Offering a challenging educational program, that is also fun and informative, ATS provides students with the knowledge they need to safely and effectively pursue a career as a heavy equipment operator. ATS has provided training for various roles in multiple industries, offering specialized training that meets the need of the company.

Reviews – ATS Thrives On Student Success

ATS is more than a school, the instructors and the administrators want to see students succeed and businesses thrive. The school’s goal is for the success of its students and the success of the businesses that employ those individuals they train. Offering a superior training program that exceeds the expectations of the students, ATS offers a variety of training programs for the operation of construction-related trucks, commercial motor vehicles, mobile cranes, heavy equipment, signaling, rigging, and directional drills. Watch or listen to our reviews.

At the company’s location in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where the company was established, there are more than 50 staff members. The school is comprised of 20 instructors and more than 50 pieces of heavy equipment, trucks, and mobile cranes. There are beginner-level training programs as well as employer-specified training programs available at the location in Sun Prairie and at remote locations across the country, including:

• NCCCO Crane Operator Training, Testing, and Certification
• NCCCO Rigger-1 & Signalperson 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
• Horizontal Directional Drills

Certification, Accreditation, and Associations

ATS is accredited by the National Center for Construction Education and Research and the National Commission for Certification of Crane Operators. It is a certified training provider under the Workforce Development/Workforce Investment Act, offers a training program that is approved by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the use of veterans’ educational benefits and is licensed.

ATS is licensed and approved in Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The school is a registered contractor with ISNetworld, which supports more than 360 hiring clients in industries to manage more than 54,000 suppliers and contractors in 75 countries. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and a 4.8-star rating on Google, it is obvious that ATS offers a quality education that helps students excel in their careers.

A dump truck is a large-wheeled truck, although they do vary in size, designed to transport and unload loose material in the volume. While they are capable of carrying a variety of substances, on-site, they mostly transport sand, gravel, soil, and waste, such as the rubble resulting from demolition.

The dump truck is easily identified through its unique feature, an open box rear bed that has a hydraulic system that allows the front of the bed to be raised, causing the load to slide out of the rear, dumping it at the desired location, and that is where the name comes from.

Operators of dump trucks can have varied jobs, enough that every day is different, and dump trucks are used in so many situations, from site work to disaster clearance, mining transport to demolition removals and so many more. In each of these situations, the dump truck is performing similar tasks, but environments and approaches can be different, with new challenges for drivers in each.

Dump Truck Drivers

For drivers, it’s all about the rules and processes on-site, because safety is the most important aspect of any operation, but especially for trucks that are operating on sites where other contractors or workers are nearby and a potential hazard. This is important in all situations, but on construction sites where there are workers also on foot, then safe operating procedures become even more important than ever.

From routes taken to speed, everything matters when it comes to safety on site, and any training for dump truck work is always focused on the safety aspects of the job. However, safety rules aside, the usual task for a dump truck, whether on a construction site, at a mine, or anywhere else, is to pick up material, transport it to a new location, and deposit it. This often requires precision driving, as sites often have restricted space, and dump trucks are generally large vehicles.

Some dump trucks are designed for one specific situation, and a good example of this would be the Haul Truck, used in the mining industry. These massive trucks are some of the largest rigid framed trucks ever made and are built to drive the flat, wide gradients of modern mines, removing material in huge volumes.

Driving these vehicles places you in charge of hundreds of tons of machine and material, and the experience is one many drivers fall in love with. While the repetition of load/unloading journeys may seem like a dull job, nothing could be farther from the truth with dump truck drivers. The skill, concentration, and dedication required to make it a rewarding, enjoyable career, one that pays well and is in much demand all over the country.

Dump trucks are the driving force behind any site, moving material to provide the environment that allows the project to be completed. It may not be the most glamorous machine you see on a site, but it’s arguably the most important.

The unemployment rate is at its lowest in 60 years, and what it means for your career

A low unemployment rate is not something we normally see, but it can and does have an impact on our students and their careers after qualifying, so it’s important to look at what the current record-setting lows actually mean.

Its 60 years since the unemployment rate has remained below 4% for a sustained period, so these current levels mark a very different job market to the one we have been used to for the last 30 years. As with anything, supply and demand shape markets, and the job market is no different, with so many employed, the job market is more competitive than it has been for a very long time, and for students graduating from our courses now and in the near future, that is a very good thing indeed.

With so many people at work and so few unemployed, employers face stiff competition for quality employees, and this is especially true of those with desirable skills, including accreditations that are required to perform some jobs. Skills shortages are a very real thing, as employers are struggling to find people with the right skills for the job positions they are desperate to fill, and nowhere is that more evident than in the construction industry.

Of course, what that means for those with the right skills and qualifications, is that they are in demand, and wages are rising as a result. For heavy machinery operators, crane operators, riggers, and other construction positions that require training and accreditation, this means a great time to be building a career. Not only are there plenty of jobs on offer, but the wages being offered are rising, and for the right people, this can be an incredible opportunity.

This is where our training approach pays off. By using both classroom-based study and on-site experience, we train you not just in the theory, but the practical aspects of operating machinery on-site, and when taking on that first job, that experience can prove invaluable. We give you the skills and knowledge to pass accreditation exams, but also the on-site experience that will better prepare you for the first day in your new job, giving you the confidence to take on any position and succeed.

We can’t remember a better time to be building your career as a heavy machinery operator, crane operator, or any other construction industry position. With high demand for the skills, rising wages, and a steady growth in construction all over the country, we help you gain the skills that employers are looking for. Your long-term career could be just a few weeks away with one of our comprehensive, accredited training courses, you can gain skills that will last you a lifetime.

Skid steers are small, upright, rigid-framed vehicles that are common on almost any construction site you visit. They get their name from the simple way they have maneuvered around, with the wheels on each side mechanically locked together. Usually having four wheels, to turn a skid steer, the operator changes the rotation speed of the wheels on one side or the other, causing the faster rotating side to skid around and turn the vehicle.

On sites short of space this maneuverability is incredibly useful, they can turn within their own length so are ideal for even the tightest of spaces. They are also popular because skid steers are so versatile, and for operators, that means that every day is a little different, making it a varied career that people enjoy. While the most common fitment for a skid steer is a front loader bucket. This can be used for loading as well as pushing or transporting material, but for operators, it’s a very different experience than with traditional front loaders. Skid steers are used not just on construction sites, but are found on farms as well, and are used in large numbers for landscape gardening applications too.

The agility itself makes this an interesting vehicle to operate, but the small size also means that the lift arms actually pivot behind the operator, and this itself is something an operator must get accustomed to. Loading buckets are not the only attachment in use though, and skid steers are often seen using augers for drilling, and trenchers and are even used with snow blower attachments for clearing roads of snow in winter. You will see skid steers being used to dig holes from the inside, using ramps to remove material from the excavation. This approach is often used when space is restricted, such as in projects that require excavation underneath a building, or areas where site space is significantly reduced for some reason.

A career as a skid steer operator has a lot of potential, with varied work to keep interest high and good pay and the best way to launch that career is through effective training. As with all heavy machinery, operating skid steers accurately and importantly, safely within a site environment takes skills and understanding.

Our professional training course teaches both in the classroom and on-site, providing a broad view of skid steer operation in a variety of conditions, with a particular focus on maintaining safety for the operator and other workers around the vehicle during its operation. That training when successfully completed opens the door to so many career options, and with the skid steer in so much demand across so many different industries and situations, it really is a career that can build for a lifetime.

As the last remnants of the holiday season are behind us, we begin to look forward to the new year and the opportunities available. But before we do, it’s time to look back at the gifts we got this year, and perhaps give some ideas to make sure that as a heavy machinery operator, you find a gift that puts a smile on your face.

There is any number of novelty t-shirts, mugs, and stickers you can find out there today that are perfect for the heavy machinery operator, with all kinds of message and so on. This year, we got a thermal mug in the office, a great addition and perfect for a day out on site. However, we all agree, the best gift anyone here has ever received is definitely a great pair of work boots. Not only do they keep you comfortable all day, they protect your feet and just make working that bit more enjoyable. Timberland, Irish Setter and Keen all make great boots that are comfortable all day and are built to last as well.

If you didn’t get that perfect set of boots this year, just remember to drop hints next time around, or if you are wondering what to buy a heavy machinery operator next birthday or holiday, now you know what to look out for. If you did get a great mug, t-shirt, or even that perfect pair of work boots, it’s time to put them to good use now as the new year gets underway.

It has been a great year for us here at ATS, and we just want to take this chance to thank every single person who took one of our courses over the last 12 months and helped make 2017 one to remember. For those who haven’t yet made that choice to train for a career in heavy machinery, we look forward to helping many of you find that new career or learn some extra skills during this new year through our comprehensive range of training courses.

We hope that all your dreams become reality over the next 12 months, and wish each and every one of you a happy and prosperous 2018.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday

The end of the year brings no greater joy than the opportunity to express to you season’s greetings and good wishes. Associated Training Services – ATS, would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to all families and friends. May your holidays and New Year be filled with joy.

Don’t Forget About Your Operators

Here are some gift ideas for operators in your life.

Best wishes,
Associated Training Services Staff