Hello Everyone

[gohan858]

Hello there. For starters I'd like to answer the question from the sticky. I found your website on google. I am 24 few months away from 25. I've been working as a laborer for construction for about 2 years. Been in and out of commercial and residential construction. I even worked on navy ships doing the decking. I've long been around heavy equipment, mostly Cranes.

I'm pretty much fed up with my work. All the hard labor and so little $$$. I spent a couple of months watching operators and crane (mostly dockside cranes" work. I've gotten a very high desire to an operator now. To be trusted with such an expensive equipment is really what I seek as a career.

I honestly havent even touched the controls of an Equipment yet. I have spent some time researching the industry, safety issues, and the growing need of operators in the near future. And I have spent many days looking for a school that would fit me just right.

I have decided to go with ATS training school located in Nevada. Been working with a man name Kim on my admissions. The school is pricey, about 15k for three levels of training. They offer training with Backhoes, Wheel loaders, dumb truck, scraper, bulldozer, compactor, hydraulic excavator, telelscoping excavtor, motor grader, laster/grade reading, grading/excavating, water truck, equipment maintenance, first aid, underground utilities, construction safety, and soils/compaction. They also just started the Crane operator coarse just recently too.

Sadly enough I dont have enough to afford the level 1 coarse of 6k and cant get a loan through the school for the 15k for 3 levels due to my credit being too low. I would like to know if there is other schools or programs that I can partake on. Or if I should just save money for the level 1 coarse that will have me run dumb trucks, tractor, skid steer, backhoe, and grades? Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated from someone who is desperately seeking a chance to get his foot in the door. Thank you for having me here and I'll see you again!

[tylermckee]

As much as you may not like it you may be money ahead to continue on as a laborer/pipe layer for an excavation contractor. Let them know you have a real interest in making a career as an operator. That way you will have a better idea of what you are actually doing, its not moving those joysticks that is hard, its knowing what you need to do. Making the machine do what you want is the easy part. You will learn a learn a lot more in the field than they would ever be able to teach you in a classroom, and you're still getting paid to do it.

As long as you have a decent head on your shoulders i'm sure they will slowly let you hop on some different pieces of equipment. Granted youre not gonna be digging mainline on huge projects for a long time, but seat time is seat time be it on a roller, backhoe, loader, etc.

Also search for school on this forum there have been a few threads about different schools and other options.

[gohan858]

I wasnt really with that kinda company. I was really working under a sub contractor. the work had be workign around or near the equipment...lol. sorry for not making that clear

[tylermckee]

I should have worded that differently, i meant continue as a laborer, except hire on with an excavation company.

[Steve Frazier]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums!!:drinkup

I got my start as a truck driver with a local non-union construction company. When there was no trucking to be done, we were expected to jump in wherever needed , be it laborer or operator. I had worked around farms so was pretty good on anything they put me on and got my heavy equipment exposure that way. Try to find a large non-union construction company to get a foot in the door, and as mentioned, let the foreman know your intentions. I never had any schooling as far as equipment goes, all my exposure has been hands on.

[Dozerboy]

Welcome
Have you looked into the AGC's school, but you have to go up to LA? 2 of our guys are in it and they told my if they don't get to operate they can complain to the school and the AGC will come down on the company. Both of them are morons and don't deserve to be in the seat, but if that's what the boss wants ya know. I think on the job training is the best I was moved for TX to San Diego with help from West Tech they are a good company nice iron good guys know there stuff, but they don't pay very good except they do there share of prevailing work. The company I work for now is a real pieces of work, but the $$$ are good.