Thursday, January 17, 2008

Heavy Equipment Operators

Heavy Equipment Training, Behind the Wheel and You

Each and every day, long before the average individual awakens from their deep rest, long before an alarm clock beeps, and before tea across our country begins to simmer, an event happens that a few select men and women dream of. They aren't of the typical breed. They are driven, from deep within. They were born to drive extreme machines: Grades, Backhoes, Dump Trucks, Loaders, Semi's, Excavators and giant equipment made to do one task, things you already know about and stuff you?ve never even heard of or knew existed. We're talking about tasks that have 1 vital thing in common: it requires a seriously huge machine to get the job done.

Ordinary, common persons get up, attempt to fully wake up with the help of a hot shower, grab their fast food, drive-through breakfast, sit in traffic for what seems like a lifetime or more, to do the exact same thing hundreds of thousands of men and women are destined to do: be chained behind a desk, questioning their career choice.That?s the glimpse of what you may be, but you know deep in your gut, that "ain't" for you.

That?s the glimpse of what you may be, but you know deep in your gut, that "ain't" for you.

The rest of that pathetic job force aren?t too far off from that, but add a clip-on tie, a brightly colored blazer, a tool of their trade: a mop or broom, a spatula, and / or the inevitable frustrating feeling that the choice they made is a dead wringer for years on end of boredom, and the degree of humiliation that results in them having a reason to legitimately bang their head against the wall.

Before that single ignition is turned on and you pump that beast's pedals, releasing a surge of thunderous power to vibrate from your heel to to the end of your hairs, like you?ve just dangled a Easter ham in front of a shark, ever happens, the rest of the world carries on in their usual, predictable way.

That?s the glimpse of what you may be, but you know deep in your gut, that "ain't" for you.

The rest of that pathetic job force aren?t too far off from that, but add a clip-on tie, a brightly colored blazer, a tool of their trade: a mop or broom, a spatula, and / or the inevitable frustrating feeling that the choice they made is a dead wringer for years on end of boredom, and the degree of humiliation that results in them having a reason to legitimately bang their head against the wall.

But, that is not you (thankfully). You were born with unbridled toughness. You?re not the kind of decision maker who drops to the ground, wearing a grimace from ear to ear whenever you stub your finger. Not you. Johnny Cash described a person like you as having gravel in your gut and spit in your eye. Before the common folk crowd ever has the chance to slap their snooze button on their alarm clock, hoping for another 10 minutes, you are already in the seat of an envious combination of steel, fuel, and attitude driven by earth commanding muscle. Sucking in fresh air, sun on your face, and a view few will ever personally witness, there you are, large and in charge. You?re the one who wisely decided long ago, there was no way you were ever going to having your future decided by somebody else or have your destiny dictated to you by some yahoo with a self-appointed, ego stroking title. Go figure. Heavy equipment training obviously isn?t for just anybody, of all people, you definitely already know that.

Resource Box: links embedded:

Lifetime job and employment assistance and training straight from the driver's seat, this heavy equipment training specialist is turning construction minded dreams into reality.

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Friday, January 11, 2008

Starting Your Career as a Heavy Machine Operator by Attending Equipment Operator School

If you are looking for a career as a heavy machine operator, then you have a pretty good outlook for your future. The Manufacturing industries employ 10 out of 11 workers, and you could have very good job stability. The Department of Labor says a career in Heavy Machine Operating is expected to be on the rise in the next upcoming years.

Working as a heavy machine operator is one of the most stable and well paying jobs in the industry. It's pay depends on your experience and skill, location, industry, and size of the company. Some of the starting pay begins at $13.52 to $19.20 per hour. Also, your work would vary on the time of season, as it may busier during the warmer months such as spring, summer, and early fall.

If you want to get a head start on your career as a heavy machine operator, taking some training and attending heavy machine operating school would be your gateway into this exciting field. Most would start out their training with smaller machines first, and then advance into the larger machines. Trainees can learn the basic functions and operations needed in a matter of weeks, but it requires a year to become a more skilled and experienced operator.

Once you have decided to start training in the field of heavy machine operations, you can begin your training at one of the nation's premier heavy equipment operator training schools: Associated Training Services. Located in Wisconsin, they offer a variety of training on heavy equipment and construction related trucking. Associated Training Services teaches the skills and experience to help you find employment as a heavy machine operator. The training school offers three levels of program training that offers courses such as basic safety, equipment preventative maintenance , orientation to trade, dump trucks, bulldozers, introduction to earth moving, principles of HEO Leadership, finish and grading, and many more courses to help you in the field of becoming a heavy machine operator.

Associated Training Services offers an online application, a short educational video, brochure, and contact information. If you feel that you would like to learn more about becoming a heavy machine operator and would like to jump-start your career in this rising industry, you can learn more about the training school at...

If you are looking for top quality equipment operator schools try ATS of Wisconsin

You will find Top quality instructors at their equipment operator training school

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Heavy Equipment Financing Brings Big Benefits to Businesses

While some businesses might be able to get away with only a basic office set up, some require very specialized equipment that can be difficult for start up companies to afford. When a need for heavy equipment is present, there are a number of options, including occasional rentals, long-term leases and outright purchases. It's the outright purchases that can be tricky, but financing can help.

Whether it's a backhoe, earthmover, steam roller or beyond that's needed to make a business get its jobs done, or a combination of it all, financing can be key in ensuring the equipment in inventory is the best and safest possible. With a smart business loan, a company can ensure they have the right equipment to perform the necessary tasks without having to settle for a machine that might not perform up to par.

When it comes to heavy equipment purchases, businesses that need them have a few obligations not only to their customers and their bottom line, but also to their employees, to address in any purchase. Machines, whether new or used, should be solid, offer safety features and must be in good repair. What's jeopardized otherwise is reliability and more importantly employee safety.

Before shopping for business loans, to ensure the best equipment purchases are made, a company should do some shopping for equipment first. Whether the business actually goes out and finds the piece they want to buy or not isn't necessary here, but research of prices, features and safety records of different types and styles of equipment is. The more you know about the machines and what tangible benefits they offer your business, the better.

Pick out a few different styles and makes and research them before heading to the bank. Have a few top choices in mind with a favorite, of course. Make sure the machines you're looking at have a good track record for performance, reliability and safety.

Now it's time to shop for loans. A good business loan will enable even a start up company to have the necessary equipment to get the job done. Shop different loan opportunities and look for those that offer good interest rates and also a decent payoff set up. Simple interest loans are the best because they can be paid off earlier, at a lower overall payment amount, without penalty. This can be very important for a small business. Getting rid of interest loans earlier can make a big difference in the bottom line.

Remember, when you approach banks, you'll want to not only know what types of machinery you need to buy, but also show how they will help you make money and increase your business' profits. Your business plan, financial records, information about the equipment and more might be needed to close the loan.

Getting a business loan can be a scary undertaking, especially for a first-time borrower, but they can make all the difference in the world for a start up. If the needed equipment isn't available for a new company, the chances for success in business are minimal. While rentals will help get the business off the ground, they're generally not good long-term solutions. Plus, outright purchases through loans come with other benefits for a business, too.More Resources:
Heavy equipment financing.

http://www.financeheavyequipment.com

Excavator maintenance.

http://www.excavatortech.com

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Thursday, January 10, 2008

Advancements In Heavy Equipment

There is a rapid advancement in the field of heavy equipment technology. Unlike the earlier days now, using global positioning satellite technology, heavy equipment placed anywhere in the world can be checked or diagnosed. Finding the right new equipment suitable is also getting to be a big challenge. With lot of options and features to consider, it will be an overwhelming chore.

Among the heavy equipment, backhoe-loaders are used in small demolitions, breaking asphalt, construction, digging holes/excavating, light transportation of building materials, powering building equipment, and paving roads. To smash concrete and rock, tools such as breakers can be used instead of the backhoe bucket. To empty its load more quickly and efficiently, some loader buckets have a retractable bottom. Grading and scratching off sand is executed with retractable-bottom loader buckets. The front assembly may be permanently mounted or have a removable attachment. Often other devices and tools replace the bucket. In order to mount different attachments to the loader, the backhoe loader must be equipped with a tool coupler. Find more info at http://www.heavy-equipment4u.info

Bulldozers are heavy equipment but they are also large and tracked engineering vehicles. With the mobility and ground hold given by the tracks they can move through very rough terrain. Swamp tracks in bulldozers are merely extra wide tracks.

The three distinct assemblies of compact hydraulic excavators are workgroup, undercarriage and house. The boom, arm or dipper and attachments such as bucket and breaker are parts of the workgroup of a compact hydraulic excavator. They are connected to the front of the house structure of the excavator via a swing frame that allows the workgroup to be hydraulically pivoted right or left to achieve offset digging for trenching.

Harvesters today do practically all of the commercial felling in Sweden and Finland and they were developed in these countries. Harvesters work best in less difficult terrain while clear cutting areas of forest. Small and very agile harvesters are used in the Nordic countries for thinning operations.
An iron or a cylinder placed between two metal rods so that it is able to freely slide down and up are included in the pile drivers. A pulley system is used to raise the cylinder which may involve the use of manual labor, steam or hydraulics. Small explosions in the chamber are used in modern pile drivers to raise the cylinder.

A piece of heavy equipment used for earthmoving in civil engineering, is a wheel tractor-scraper. A vertically moveable hopper in the rear part with a sharp horizontal front edge does the scraping. Raising and lowering of the hopper is done hydraulically. The front edge cuts into the soil like a cheese-cutter when the hopper is lowered.

Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. For more info visit Heavy Equipment or Catapillar Construction Equipment

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Heavy Equipment Salvage

Replacement of minor or major parts in heavy equipment with parts salvaged from condemned heavy equipment is carried out in order to save money and reduce idle working period of heavy equipment. With the advent of the World Wide Web, it is now possible to locate specific spare parts for heavy equipment by searching in the internet.

Salvage yards specializing in heavy equipment wreckage take out most of the working parts and store them for reselling to buyers who need such spares. The buyers also benefit from the heavy equipment salvage yards because otherwise they may have to replace heavy equipment with new ones incurring heavy expenditure. Find more info at http://www.heavyequipmentsalvage.info

While rummaging through heavy equipment salvage, it will be prudent to check whether the spare identified is in working condition and whether it is the correct spare for the heavy equipment. Otherwise, you will end up with unwanted and unworkable junk.

If you are lucky, you can easily identify a working spare from the collection of junk in the heavy equipment salvage yard, without spending too much money or much time in getting the required spare. Salvage yards come in handy, if the heavy equipment used by you is no longer in the production assembly of the manufacturers, spares could be identified only through sources like heavy equipment salvage yards.

Heavy equipment salvage mostly relates to recycling of automobile parts ? transmissions, engines etc. ? and heavy equipments ? back hoes, tractors, hydraulic pumps and dozers etc.

Some of the latest heavy equipment salvage firms have an online inventory tracking system. If you could not locate a specific spare in one of the branches, they track the availability of the spare in other locations and try to get it to you without delay. Since heavy equipment salvage is being relied upon by most of the heavy equipment owners, these firms never discard a spare and always come up to meet the demand.

The technology has advanced to such a stage that it is now possible to salvage specific spare parts by quoting their serial number or identification tag and find out whether the part is available. Now salvage units for specific manufacturers of heavy equipment also exist and does business pertaining to that particular brand and models.

Heavy equipment salvage firms also conduct auctions to sell heavy equipment and trucks, in both salvage and good conditions. Besides the various brands of heavy equipment the salvage firms also handle heavy tires for recycling.

Lucy Bartlett is a proud contributing author. For more info visit Heavy Equipment Salvage or Salvage Construction Equipment Auctions.

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Monday, January 7, 2008

Consider Heavy Equipment Auctions On Ebay

Heavy equipment auctions are a fascinating and little known niche on eBay. "Heavy equipment" refers to the machines used for manufacturing, industrial, farm equipment, the food industry, printing, electrical, etc.

There are two kinds of equipment sold - new and used - and successful heavy equipment sellers on eBay fall into two basic categories:

First, they are already in the industry and use eBay as an extra channel for selling their equipment.

Or, smaller sellers will focus on locating and auctioning used and second-hand equipment, usually on a consignment basis. In my early days on eBay, I sold this kind of equipment, locating it in industry publications or in our local newspapers. At no time did I own any of this machinery, but merely sold it for others who were unfamiliar with eBay and online sales and needed another sales outlet.

You will need at least some knowledge about what you're selling. Your audience will mostly professionals and they thoroughly understand what they're buying. If you don't speak their lingo you will lose sales unless your prices are so low that nobody cares what you know.

There are some strong pluses for this kind of auction product. For one thing, all those who look at your listings are potential buyers and thus you will be spared the usual gawkers and freebie-seekers that haunt so many auctions and websites. The average person has no interest whatsoever in this kind of auction and will therefore not waste your time.

If you already sell this kind of equipment, eBay is wonderful! It is much cheaper to sell on eBay, rather than maintain a physical location, so you can undercut other brick and mortar competition.

Here's what you need for success in heavy equipment auctions:

1. You need a good reliable and steady source/supplier of heavy equipment.

2. Your equipment has be stored somewhere. You can't keep an industrial crane or a backhoe in your garage so if you're going to own or lease your equipment, this will be an added expense.

3. You should be prepared for a couple of months without any sales in the beginning. You might make some money quickly, but don't count on it.

4. It helps if you have a reputation. Investing $100,000 in a piece of equipment requires a leap of faith and unless your offering is truly extraordinary chances are most buyers won't want to take a chance on you. Heavy equipment auctions are meant for companies and professionals and placing a bid on the heavy equipment auction of an unknown seller might be a risky decision. If you have feedback from any other area of eBay, it might help.

5. You will need to offer shipping if you want to maximize your profits. You can choose the ?pickup only? option but you are certain to lose many potential customers. This doesn't mean that you will have to personally oversee shipping, but you will need to know shipping companies and be able to advise your clients.

If you feel comfortable with this kind of auction, you need to prepare your listing and offer. Pay great attention to these areas:

* You need pictures, pictures and more pictures. Ensure that your pictures are clear and sharp and cover every detail of the equipment you're wishing to sell.

* Detail everything about your equipment. You don't really have to "sell" in these auctions because the potential buyers already knows what he's looking for and it's quite specific. Basically, you're only trying to persuade him to choose your machinery over someone else's and generally there aren't huge numbers for him to choose from at any one time. This is a serious, big-time investment for the buyer and you want him to be impressed with you.

* Offer a pre-purchase inspection, if desired.

* eBay makes it easy to get financing for expensive equipment and you need to cooperate with a prospect by directing him to appropriate financing, if necessary.

* You absolutely must offer some kind of warranty and it should be based on more than just your word. For instance, an escrow service might be appropriate or you might be bonded or a member of an organization that offers such a guarantee.

By knowing the rules of the heavy equipment auction, you might make substantial money from only a handful of auctions.

Figure out profitable and unusual eBay niches instead of competing with hundreds - or thousands - of other sellers in the 'hot' categories. Auctions Online: eBay

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Introduction to Heavy Equipment Operating

Construction equipment operators operate machinery to move earth, building materials, or other heavy objects. You'll find equipment operators working at industrial, residential or business construction sites. You can also find heavy equipment operators working at mines, bridges, dams, even at offshore oil rigs. The working conditions are nearly always out doors, meaning construction equipment operators have to deal with changing weather conditions. Sometimes the work may be suspended because of the weather. Conditions of a particular job might even require the heavy equipment operator to work throughout the night.

There are different types of construction equipment operators. Paving and surfacing equipment operators operate machines to spread and level material such as asphalt or concrete on, for example, roads. Tamping equipment operators operate machines to compact earth or other fill material on roadbeds or footings. Pile driver operators operate machines to drive beams of wood or steel into the ground to be used as footings or supports.

An operating engineer is a more generalized heavy equipment operator. They can operate multiple pieces of equipment such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, fork lifts or cranes. They're also usually charged with the task of maintaining the equipment they operate. For the most part heavy equipment operating is a dirty, greasy, demanding job requiring multiple skills and talents.

Construction equipment operators usually start out by learning on the job with light equipment and work their way up from there. Employers look for high school graduates with a mechanical aptitude, but with modern advances in equipment with computer control systems and GPS, formal training in a vocational school or apprenticeship program is preferred. Such educations usually require a few years apprenticeship with experienced operators along with on the job training. Some pre-qualifications for a heavy equipment operator would be: good physical health, good balance (some jobs require the operator to work at great heights), eye hand foot coordination and the ability to judge distance. Construction equipment controls may require the use of both hands and feet and accuracy in placing objects and tools in precise locations.

Heavy equipment operating can be a rewarding job for those who take satisfaction in seeing buildings and other man-made structures and knowing they had a part in building them. The pay is on the high side as far as construction workers go and as long as civilization grows, there's no end in sight for the need of heavy equipment operators.

Luke Garfield
Respected computer scientist and author
Visit http://heavyconstructionequipment.netfirms.com for more articles like this one.

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Friday, January 4, 2008

Research and Review Yields Best Heavy Equipment Buys

Buying heavy machinery isn't something that should be undertaken lightly. The machines are necessary for getting big jobs done. Smart purchases should last for years. Hasty ones can result in bad buys that might even be dangerous or at the very least not last as long as they should to be worth their price tag. Whether it's a dump truck that's needed or heavy excavating machinery, a purchase should be well researched.

When looking to buy heavy machinery, either new or used, such as excavation equipment, it more than pays to do some research first. Some machines and brands are better for certain types of work than others. Reviews, past reports from previous customers and item specifications should be carefully reviewed. Since the job will be relying on the quality of the equipment and employee safety will as well this step is not one to be taken lightly.

Before buying excavation equipment do the following things:

* Determine exactly what is needed. What to look for specification wise will depend a whole lot on the type of work being done. If heavy earthmoving is involved, excavation tools will need to be solid and built to last. If minor work is required, simple trench diggers might do the trick. Under buying, however, can produce results that jeopardize not only the job, but employee safety.

* Once equipment has been identified, make certain to review possible makes and models. Previous customers may report that one brand did particularly well in rocky conditions, or sandy ones, while another didn't perform as well. Compare your jobs' needs with the best makes and models for that type of work.

* Review safety reports on the machines. Heavy equipment work is dangerous business. Smart companies buy the best - either new or used - and make sure safety features are included.

* If machines that are needed are new to employees, look into training programs. It's never a good idea to put an inexperienced operator behind the controls of a piece of heavy equipment. Either hire those with the know how or train employees accordingly. Don't buy something that employees can be trained to use or don't already know how to handle safely and efficiently.

The previous steps should be considered whether machines that are desired are new or used. For the used market, however, a few extra steps may be required. Keep in mind that used purchases are generally solid, but an extra look could be in order to ensure a good buy.

When looking at excavation equipment such as diggers or haulers on the used market, shop around for the makes and models you're interested in and don't be drawn in by cost savings alone. Ask to see maintenance reports and have a good technician review the equipment before you buy if at all possible. Everything from the engine to any safety features should be in good or at least reasonable order for a great price to really be great.

Excavation equipment gets big jobs done. But to ensure the safety of employees and the expedience of the job, it's very important to make sure the best in equipment is being used.

Excavation equipment.

http://www.backhoeworld.com

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Wednesday, January 2, 2008

About Heavy Equipment And It's Uses In Construction

There are different types of construction that can be performed depending on what needs to be fixed or built in society. For instance one major type of construction is heavy construction. Heavy construction is the type of work that occurs when infrastructure is added to an already built up environment, such as building a highway. Those who own heavy construction projects are typically national or local level government agencies that deal with large contracts that last quite a length of time.

Heavy construction projects are usually done in the best interest of the public to service them better. Of course, it is hard to agree with this when you??re stuck in traffic while the roads or the sewers beneath them are being replaced, but indeed the end result has us in mind. That being said, not every heavy construction project is undertaken by the government. Some large, private corporations, such as power companies, harbors, railroads, mines and golf courses, are also involved. These private companies, among others, undertake heavy construction in order to create dams, railways, massive earthwork projects, etc.

Some developments that are considered heavy construction projects include:

- buildings - parks - playgrounds - apartments - stadiums - factories - malls

The most important part of heavy construction that makes it successful is the equipment that is used. Heavy construction equipment is essential to the project, because without it, even the basic construction work could never be completed. They are typically quite large, and are created specifically for one or two different uses. The primary equipment used for heavy construction includes but is not limited to: bulldozers, cranes, well drilling machinery, earthmoving equipment, loaders, draglines, cable plows, scrapers, generators, rollers, light towers, etc.

Each piece of heavy construction equipment plays an important role in the project. For instance, as far as groundwork is concerned, heavy rollers are used. Heavy rollers set up the project and find the base. They are then used to raise and drag tons of stones and iron from one place to the next.

The biggest problem that often occurs with heavy construction is the cost of building. Heavy equipment is quite expensive, and the people needed to work these machines and tools need to have the skill and experience in order to handle them. That being the case, many companies make the decision to rent or lease heavy equipment, sometimes even with or without the operators.

Unfortunately, because operators need to have both the skill and knowledge to work the equipment, they have become practically as indispensable as the heavy equipment. This can sometimes cause problems for companies who require heavy construction projects. To beat this problem, some companies hire people and then pay for their training, as opposed to trying to find someone who already has the training and is therefore going to request a much higher salary.

Despite certain problems, and expenses, most heavy construction projects are completed. The result of a heavy construction project is usually something that many people can benefit from and enjoy.

Rich Cussons is a prolific and diverse writer. You will find out more about heavy equipment at Heavy Equipment Expert.

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