I want to get into a Heavy Equipment Career (have some ???'s)

[DaveMorris]

After 14 years, I finally realized that I am completely burnt out in my current occupation and have always wanted to get involved in running / driving heavy equipment, but I really don't know the direction to take to get started.



I have looked at a couple of training schools that will give me a certification from "National Center for Construction Education and Research" (NCCER). This certification / training includes (up to level III):

-Backhoe

-Wheel Loader

-Dump Truck

-Skid Steer

-Tractor Trailer CDL

-Bulldozer

-Scraper

-Compactor

-Hydraulic Excavator

-Telescoping Excavator

-Motor Grader





I know it is difficult to get into this kind of work without experience under your belt, so I need to know if this (NCCER) certification really means something to get my foot in the door, or if it really doesn't mean anything and is just going to be a 2 month and $12K waste of time / money.



So you guys that are doing this kind of work, is this certification recognized? Will it help me get my foot in the door and get me some advantage if I can operate all the equipment above, or is there a better route? I have some guys looking into gettin me into the Local union here, but figured that this training (on numerous machinery) may help make me more valuable when / if I get a job doing this work.



Is this type of employment a decent field to get into, I am not looking to become "Rich", I just want to make a decent "middle" class living? I understand that (especially here in the mid-west [STL, Missouri]) there is possibilities of layoffs, etc. What I am asking is; Is this field "flooded" with layed off workers looking for work or is it pretty steady employement?



I am leaning towards a school in Wisconsin called ATS (Associated Training Services Network) has anyone had any experience with this place?



I know these are some vague questions, but please answer any you can. I am really looking for guys that are in this field to give me some advise on the do's and don'ts of getting started. If you feel more comfortable to PM or e-mail me instead of posting here please feel free to -- email address removed --



Thanks in advance,

Dave Morris

 

[JFinke]

Here in WA there are plenty of people to run the equiptment, the only problem is finding ones who can get a CDL and pass the drug tests. Jake

 

[michigandon]

I would try to weasel into the Operating Engineers' Apprenticeship program if possible: http://www.iuoe.org/training/training.htm



My Dad was an Operator for 30+ years. I almost went for it myself. Somtimes I wish I had, other times I'm glad I didn't.

 

[tractorseller]

I've run just about everything you list at some point in time. The way construction is booming here in Arizona, I can't see any shortage of opportunities. The problem for employers isn't finding someone who can run a piece of equipment..... it's finding someone who actually does a good job, shows up for work everyday, and stays clean and sober. I guess just like anything else.



Running heavy equipment is fun for awhile, but it's like anything else, it can get old. I enjoyed it though. A lot of the bigger developers and home builders here are contracting a lot of the work out to "owner/operators". If you have some money saved up and can buy a piece of equipment and they will pay for maintenance, etc. while you're working with them.



My advice is to look carefully at the employment sections of the papers and other publications where you live and see what kind of opportunities are there. If it's anything like the need for registered nurses and house framers here, you're in. Can't help with the certs, my education was all OJT with everything.



Hope all goes well for you.

 

[DRadzierez]

I own a excavateing company in PA. And honestly your certs mean nothing to me. I need guys who can not only run a machine but do the job. It is not hard to find guys to run a machine well if I stand there and tell them how to do the job But if I have to stand there I may as well do it. Not to be rude but around my area most guys would sooner ask you to work a day or two to see if you are any good than to consider looking at any certs.

 

[Tony T.]

Take in consideration with some construction companys that if the weather is not right for working the machinery you don't get paid. Now some might give you a guaranteed forty hours. Also theres a good possibility you could be away from home and family working a job site depends on what company you sign on with. In my case I'm with county gov't, close to home guaranteed forty hours, decent health insurance, good retirement program, an fairly decent salary. I started out at the bottom there and worked my way up, but had a CDL A licence to get my foot in the door to start. I have operated everything in your list except the scraper and skid steer. I currently operate a motorgrader now, but before that was mostly a track-loader. I like outside work the best, had two jobs years ago working inside, both I lasted three weeks and I was gone. Good luck with your choice.



Tony

 

[Andy Perreault]

Tony T. brings up some good points about whether or not you get paid if the weather is bad and there's no work, and benefits, etc. Plus, if you're planning on it for a long term career, you need to see what kind of retirement package there is. I would think a government type job like Tony mentioned (or a major corporation) would be more secure and and have better benefits than a mom and pop construction company.

I do not work in the heavy equipment field, but I thought I'd throw this idea out at you, Dave: have you considered working for one of the railroads as a "Maintenance of Way" worker? The railroads are hiring these days. You'd start out as a "laborer" but you could work your way into the heavy equipment. Check out the Union Pacific Railroad and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad websites. The railroads are growing these days. I read where the American Association of Railroads says that the seven major U. S. railroads will be hiring 80,000 people in the next 6 years.

This link should take you right to the Union Pacific jobs page. Select "Union Pacific Railroad" in the "Family of Business" drop down box, and "Union" in the "Job Type" box. U. P. has a bunch of "Track Laborer" jobs, which are the entry level maintenance of way jobs.

This link should get you to the BNSF open jobs page. Select "Transportation" for the category.



I know what you are going through in regards to a career change. I'm looking to change careers after 16 years. I finally decided I didn't want to grow to be an old man and always be saying, "I sure wish I would have... "

Good luck, Andy

 

[Sled Puller]

Keep your $12,000. You would be better off getting into the Union apprentice program.

The one we have in Pennsylvania, Local 66, if you get accepted,will let you go to the training site and run whatever you want, with instructors. 100+acres, dozens of machines. 4 year course, 5 weeks a year. As a journeyman, you have access to the site as long as your dues are current.



Better training,with out the big price tag.

 

[DRadzierez]

Sleddy's on track. That is your best way to get in this field and have some securety.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Wow Great thread! I've been in the construction industry for close to 15 years (Electrician , general construction , Maintenance) And many of the Larger Machine opp's (Not D9 large but large on down) out this way are Owner / opps and just scoop up machinery at auctions and run em down. The Nor' East has been booming for the last 12 years and is still on the encline and as of late I see more and more joe noone's out there with a lil' 5th wheel and kabotas , and deere's in tow. However the Ol' "Digger's" you talk to do wish that they had gotten some type of cert along the way. Our big komatsu linkbelt just left a week ago and in talkin to John he kinda hemmed and hawed at goin out and doin just what sleddy said before. This guy is in his 50's and has heard time again that with cert more dirt.

 

[Sled Puller]

One thing about the Operators Union. Anyone can put their name on the list, and by-pass the Apprenticeship. If theres work, they have to call you out, by law. However, you are lower on the totem pole, than a first year apprentice.



Crane certification is going to be required almost everywhere, sooner, rather than later. Local 66 takes the certification very seriously, and has a well respected training simulator, plus several cranes of all types on the grounds.



OSHA Forklift certification has been around for a while now.

Insurance costs are what is driving the training programs, and I'm sure the more dangerous machines will come on line, one by one.



In the early 90's, I think they said it cost the Union $30,000 to train an apprentice, over the 4 years, and that was only 12 weeks of field training, and 8 weeks of classroom. 4000 hours, on the job.



Watch out for scab outfits like Dave Rads, they will use you up and toss you out like am empty beer can! :-laf

 

[mjoppie]

i would agree with sleddy too about the union training, you have to find a host company that will let you be in with them and then its years of training, at first you make nothing and then it slowly goes up in pay. i am in the labors union and run machinary all the time, my benifits are better and the retirement is heads above the operators. i would like to be a operator in a couple years. most companys like to see a guy that has background experiance in what there doing. my suggestion would to be to talk to a company and start as a labor and get your 5yrs in to be vested for your retirement and then become a operator. trust me ive seen guys that have never been a labor and go straight to operating and they get tore apart by the labors because they dont know what the labor wants. good luck with it though, and btw i get laid off from nov-april every year, colect from uncle marvin and snowmobile with the family in the winters. cant beat a 5mth paid vacation





best wishes



matt

 

[Sled Puller]

News flash!

It ain't about what the laborer wants!



Be careful which laborers you listen to... ... . LMAO!! :-laf



Also, we don't do host companies down here, and the laborers union is NOT the place to train to be an operator.

 

[DRadzierez]

Hey Sleddy you need to talk to several of my employees who have been in my company for over 15 years and dont sit around half the year waiting for a phone call like some of you guys do. I just simply told him that with no time in the field it would be better to take your steps. My employees have most if not all the benifets youi have. I dont think 14 trucks and 18 pieces of equipment is a scab out fit. Besides lets see if your union company puts up equipment for one of our DHRA (or any other)pulls like my scab company would.

 

[Sled Puller]

LOL. Who would want a job that they had to work 12 months out of the year? Not me.



Do you take better care of your equipment than your Dodges? :-laf

 

[DRadzierez]

Yea there better taken care of than my pulling trucks---Most them I didnt void the warranty in the 1st 6 months LOL

 

[mjoppie]

i would watch out what you say about not listining to labors, ive seen operators get drug out of equipment and whooped on for not listening theres a lot of responsibility in the cabs of those machines and a labor is usually the one in harms way. i just meant that you would be a much better operator if you had labor experiance. ive seen those that go from labor to operator and there the best there is, and seen the ones that just come in as a operator and they tend not to make a bunch of friends very often. i very strongly belive that a labors spot is the way to start as a operator because of the simple fact of knowladge.





matt

 

[Sled Puller]

I know what you meant.



Should Crane Operators be Iron Workers first?



Non-Union Laborer yes, on a job where you are allowed to jump from task to task. But if I'm going to go to the trouble of getting into a trade union, I'm going to start where I want to finish.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I wouldn't want to see any of the iron workers I've met operating a crane!