Help getting into the heavy equipment field...

Hi, I am new here and actually came in with a very specific purpose: I am looking for guidance about how to get into this field.

I am a college student, and I am looking to expand my skill set-- with the way that today's economy is, I want to make sure that when I come out of school that I have a marketable skill set: if I can't get a job as a pencil pusher, I want to be able to say 'you know what, not only can I do community planning/zoning, but I can run that backhoe and drive that dump truck too..' Not to mention the possibility of getting a part time job to help cover my tuition! (At damn near $20k a year for state school, I am going to be paying Uncle Sam back for a long time....)


Anyway, my biggest hurdle is actually getting into this field. I don't have the option to do an apprenticeship with a union, since I am a full time student-- and most job openings want years of experience! Not to mention just sitting the hoisting license exam here requires a letter from a company saying that you know how to operate the machinery-- kind of ironic: you need experience to get the license, but to get the experience you need a license!


Not to mention to get your CDL around here, you need to have a truck to road test in. And I have a hunch not too many companies just lend out their $100k trucks.....



So does anybody have any ideas for me as to how to get my foot in? Or better yet, anybody in the Rhode Island area willing to take on a greenhorn for weekend work/odd jobs? I know that's like asking for the keys to the castle!
---- I have experience driving box trucks, I've run forklifts, and have a fairly good head on my shoulders; and since I know nothing, I am willing to work for next to nothing (just enough to make it legal..)


If anybody has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate the guidance.

Thank you for your help,
-B

It takes time and experience to get good at running equipment. It's like any other skilled trade like plumbing or being an electrician. You have to be willing to put the time in to gain experience.

Buckethead said:

It takes time and experience to get good at running equipment. It's like any other skilled trade like plumbing or being an electrician. You have to be willing to put the time in to gain experience.

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Very true. So how does one get the opportunity to put in the time? I realize this may sound like a stupid question, but it all reverts back to that underlying problem: how do you get the exposure...?

Thank you

There is no easy road to take. You are going to have to make a choice, make time for school, or make time to learn the construction trade. It`s up to you to figure out how to fit it in. I`ve never set foot in a college class of any kind. I did however go through the Operating Engineers apprenticeship program. 38 years later I don`t regret the choice, but you need to figure out what YOU need to do if you really want to be in this trade. My $.02

Your best be would be to try and get work during the summer when you have time to devote to the construction trade. Many contractors hire extra help during the busy season. Don't expect to be hired as an operator. Every laborer that applies with us says they are an operator or wants to be one. Most are not and many will never be. I would be very leary of taking a chance and training someone that doesn't intend to stay with me. You have to start somewhere though. I think you may have trouble advancing much since construction will be playing 2nd fiddle to your mostly unrelated schooling. In this industry you have to be fully committed to really succeed. Not to discourage you but I don't think you have the time to get the results you want.

Deeretracks said:

Your best be would be to try and get work during the summer when you have time to devote to the construction trade. Many contractors hire extra help during the busy season. Don't expect to be hired as an operator. Every laborer that applies with us says they are an operator or wants to be one. Most are not and many will never be. I would be very leary of taking a chance and training someone that doesn't intend to stay with me. You have to start somewhere though. I think you may have trouble advancing much since construction will be playing 2nd fiddle to your mostly unrelated schooling. In this industry you have to be fully committed to really succeed. Not to discourage you but I don't think you have the time to get the results you want.

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Okay, fair enough. And i definitely feel the same way, it's kind of incompatible-- and I definitely get that every John Q Public wants to be the guy running the backhoe.

I am looking at an internship/job in my field, and they want you to have your hoisting license so that you can drive tractors/loaders--- its working for the Dept of Environmental Protection/Management. So I guess a more manageable question would be: How do you satisfy the licensing board? It's mainly just a test, but on the application they want a notarized letter stating your experience.
--Maybe that is a more manageable question to ask, perhaps somebody has dealt with the DOL here in RI-- or a similar state-- and can speak to the experience requirement (or if a letter essentially saying 'I dunno crap' will suffice...)

At least you are starting out right ,honest ,admitting that you don't know anything but willing to learn .but have to echo what some of the others are saying about taking the time to train some one thats only temporally But at least your honest we have all trained a plenty that we thought would stay so we could at least recoup some of our time and effort only to learn just enough to go get a job with our competion. Good luck :thumbsup

I'm curious, why are you being requested to have a "hoisting" license if you're not operating a crane? That doesn't make sense to me, there are two distinct classes of heavy equipment, those that hoist (cranes) and those that move earth. I'll stick to earthmoving!

SeaMac said:

I'm curious, why are you being requested to have a "hoisting" license if you're not operating a crane? That doesn't make sense to me, there are two distinct classes of heavy equipment, those that hoist (cranes) and those that move earth. I'll stick to earthmoving!

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My state doesn't make a distinction in terms of the actual license-- you just get different restrictions put on it. So if I want to run a backhoe, I get my hoisting license with a earthmover restriction placed on it. Likewise if I wanted to run a tower crane, I could get it with a crane restriction....



Clint: Yeah I definitely get that hesitation on the part of people. I imagine it is easy to get burned in this business. I've never been one to jump ship for the competition-- especially if only to make a dollar more! The last job I worked, I got offers to make more money elsewhere, but I stayed because the guy seemed nice enough... needless to say I got burned on that one... :Banghead





EDIT:
A friend just happened to tell me that apparently I misunderstood the requirement: They want ride-time on the rig, not necessarily employment. So here comes the rephrase of my question: Is there anybody in RI, SE MA, West CT, that would be willing to let me observe/teach the basics-- and write a short letter saying 'yup he knows a backhoe from a bulldozer'.... lol

I can't appeal to you from a business sense-- it makes little sense to invest time into somebody like me-- but maybe somebody will be feeling charitable...


I hate having to ask people for help--especially people I don't know-- it is not to my personality-- but since I don't keep a backhoe in my pocket (hmmm... that could be turned into an innuendo haha...) it sounds like asking people is the only way!!

Anyway thanks again.

I too am trying to make a transition from mechanic to operator. I am doing what some have mentioned and am applying at local construction companies for a second job. I am a mechanic for Caterpillar but honestly Im ready to start pulling sticks and moving dirt instead of turning wrenches and busting knuckles. I guess the difference here is that I have a decent amount of heavy equipment operating experience, mostly backhoe but that what I want to do anyways is backhoe and excavator operation.

If your heart and mind are focused on operating, then get your foot in the door somewhere even if its as a laborer. Get the experience and try for an apprenticeship when your schedule allows. Alot of companies will let you jump behind the sticks to get some seat time either after hours or when the workload demands. Show people you want the experience more than anything and youll get behind the sticks sooner than later.

there are also actual trade schools that train on heavy equipment, nsd will do the cdl with you as well
local school here is about 5k, but it an be done part time to allow you to get into classes as you want, NOT that you want another bill
BUt they have job placement after going through there training and they have leads into all sorts of jobs in like fields, NOT just equipment operator
SO I have to think like schools would be in your area
ITS a way you get seat time in all sorts of equipment and can get that use a 10K truck to get the cdl training and then lic>
and can do all this without worrying about an employer NOT wanting to spend there time and money on a guy that isn't going to be a longer term investment
everything in life today has a price tag LOL