4 More Machines You Can Operate With Heavy Equipment Training
You probably already know how important heavy equipment training is for a career in the construction business. Employers are always on the lookout for ambitious men and women who have learned to operate the machines that are regularly found on jobsites. These highly trained professionals carry heavy equipment certification or credentials from organizations such as the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) or the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
When you attend one of the programs at West Coast Training, you’ll be equipped with the skills you need to thrive in the always-expanding world of construction. You’ll also earn valuable real-world experience since about half of your time will be spent behind the controls of the various pieces of equipment. Finally, once you complete the program, you’ll walk away with a professional heavy equipment certification or credential that indicates to prospective employers that you are certified to operate their valuable machinery.
Of course, there are many different types of heavy equipment, and you should learn as many as you can in order to make yourself as marketable as possible. Here are four more of the machines you can learn to operate at West Coast Training:
1. Bulldozers
Bulldozers are an extremely common presence on construction and demolition sites across the country. As a powerful tractor with a large blade attachment in the front, bulldozers specialize in pushing heavy loads of material from one area to another.
They can also be used for digging trenches and other specialized tasks. They are frequently employed to clear away rubble after a job has been performed and are used for grading land. You may also see bulldozers being used to remove ice and snow after a severe winter storm.
2. Excavators
No heavy equipment training program would be complete without a discussion of excavators, which are used primarily for lifting and moving heavy quantities of material. Not unlike a smaller version of a crane, the excavator is a cab with a hydraulic-powered boom connected to it and usually features a shovel attachment, known as a bucket. Students who learn to operate excavators will be in high demand for any jobs involving digging and earthmoving.
3. Scrapers
Another piece of heavy machinery that is frequently employed for earthmoving needs, the scraper is excellent for moving large amounts of material over longer distances. While bulldozers and excavators are generally fairly short-range in operations, scrapers are useful because they can cover much larger areas. Scrapers are generally connected to tractors, in much the same way that dozers are, and they feature a large scraping blade that collects the material as the machine moves forward.
4. Utility Tractors and Trenchers
A good deal of your time at West Coast Training will be spent learning to operate the controls of various utility tractors. Many of the equipment types you’ll practice with are based on this widely used construction vehicle. You may also learn to operate a tractor with a “trencher” attachment, a long, narrow digging implement that can resemble a large circular saw or chainsaw. These trenchers are used for digging the narrow trenches that are used to lay pipes, drains, and electrical cables.
West Coast Training is an incredible place to start your construction career, so reach out today and start earning your heavy equipment certification.