Apprenticship training started

[Oregon Rob]

Just finished up day 2 of my pre-apprenticship training (all calss room health and safety). Although not the most exciting, i know it can be the most important. It is great to be getting started just when the weather and mark are in the upswing. Will post more when i have more.

Rob, Out

[Steve Frazier]

Good luck, Rob!

Pay close attention to safety issues, lives depend on it! Your best friend will be common sense, your worst enemy the clock as far as safety is concerned. Don't take shortcuts!:yup

[BRL]

Congrats on getting started & good luck!

Ditto Steve's comments - Safety First, and Always !!

[Oregon Rob]

Today we got to run the crane simulator. I set a 94,000 lbs bridg span in place! It was pretty cool. Just like sitting in a 500 ton crane.:D only without the risk.

Rob

[Dirtguru]

They have a crane simulator! Cool, I wanna play with it.

A Chapman

[Oregon Rob]

Thought I would give a quick update. Just finished Week three of the 4 weeks of my pre apprenticeship training. As I already mentioned, got a lot of health and safety stuff. We spent several days just working with the high reach lift trucks, I think to get a sense of some basic ideas like load moment, how hydraulics feel….
This week I spent about 2 ½ days with reading elevations, laying out base lines and catch points and grade checking, some backhoe time on a case 580 and more safety.

Next week, I will spend more time on the case, a little dozer time on a JD450 or D5 and some roller work. It looks like my first dispatch may well be asphalt rolling. Not fun work I know, but it counts toward my hours and the pay is good. I guess you gotta start somewhere.

Well, that’s all for now,

Rob

[diverdown7]

We are fixing to all have to go thru the cat certification simulator because the project we are on is requiring due to insurance requirements. I just don't see how they can make it seem realistic.

[Steele]

What type of traing course are you taking??? I assume it is a private Heavy Equipment Operator school.

I did my apprenticeship the old fashion way; 3 years, 6000 hour apprentiship program. IUOE Local 12, 1985 thr 1988.

Good luck to you. Hope you have as much enjoyment in your chosen career as I have over the years.

[diverdown7]

I have been a operator for the last 16 years, I have plenty of training from making mistakes and learning the hard way. The company I am working for has been doing a major expansion project in Garyville, LA at Marathon Oil Refinery. The idiots have decided that there insurance company requires that all operator the work on the project must be certified. They have picked the cat on site simulator to use for this cert. The way I understand is that it takes a day to do and then the requirement is met. To hell with CAT and there simulator, I believe that my 16 years should speak for itself. These idiots are even firing operators if they find a OLD EMPTY beer can in the back of there pickup in the parking lot. We have all been laughing about getting paid $300 for a days work to play a video game.

[Buckethead]

DIver the thing about the beer cans is a total injustice. If someone has it out for you all they have to do is put an empty beer can in your truck. What about people who are taking empty aluminum cans to be recycled? The simulator deal sounds like nonsense as well.

[Preppypyro]

The beer can thing is retarded!

As for the simulator, I can see it, I have seen guys do various different types of jobs with ten years or more experience, and still not know how to operate equipment.

I would just relax, play the video game and try to enjoy the break!

[diverdown7]

They change the rules on us on a daily basis. That is what is a injustice.