Machinery such as bulldozer, cranes, excavators, forklifts equipment etc that are used for construction are considered as heavy equipment. Since they are large in size are use for heavy-duty work, those who operate the must be adequately trained and be highly skilled. Those who handle these are called heavy equipment operators.
Heavy equipment operators generally specialize in equipment like bulldozers, backhoes, graders, cranes, etc. They repair, operate, maintain, and adjust these machines. They need to learn about the mechanism of various types of gear like pedals, levers, switches, hydraulic controls, turn dials, and various other devices that are present in equipment.
The work of the heavy equipment operator includes the handling of mining equipment, excavation equipment, and material handling equipment, or road construction equipment to excavate, grade and landscape the earth, or to transport workers, materials and equipment. Like other professions, this career requires a certain level of education and training in special schools.
If you are interested in getting trained by enrolling into a heavy equipment training program, there are a variety of advanced levels of certificate programs provided by the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools (NAHETS). These are the most comprehensive and innovative career programs designed for people who are interested in this field as a career. These programs offer fully accredited equipment career training for both new and veteran operators. After being certified, there are many job opportunities available in various industries like highway contractors, grading contractors, road contractors, housing development contractors, etc.
Many websites too offer some of the best on-line heavy equipment career training programs. The curriculum of the career training programs provide an overview to the heavy equipment industry, and train operators on the basic and advanced mechanisms involved in HE operations. The training is chiefly targeted at candidates looking for entry-level jobs. Many of the heavy equipment operator training courses are offered throughout the academic year, and can be taken to upgrade current skills, or fulfill degree and certificate requirements.
Specialized training is also offered for a number of types of equipment. These include dump truck, tractor, scraper, wheel loader etc. Candidates learn how to safely and efficiently operate and maintain bulldozers, backhoes, excavators, wheel loaders, skid steers, forklifts, and so on. These training programs include acquiring expertise and knowledge in the basic operations of the equipments, as well as the safety precautions the operator must take. First aid certification is also given to the students. The duration of these programs are from 4 to 10 weeks, at the end of which the completion certification is awarded to the candidates.
After completing the course successfully, candidates will have the academic preparation and practical training required for jobs that can pay anywhere from $10 to $25, depending on the level of experience, expertise, and the employer.
According to the 2005 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the demand for construction equipment operators is expected to remain high right through to the year 2014. The handbook also reports that the average salary of construction equipment operators will be $17.00 per hour, but that highly skilled and experienced operators can earn over $29.34 per hour.
Tags: crane, dozer, Dump Truck, excavator, forklift, heavy equipment, skid steer, wheel loader
Mayes County Commissioners discussed purchasing equipment through the revolving fund, a credit card agreement with the treasurer’s office and the annual memorandum of understanding with the Cherokee Nation at their meeting.
Commissioners approved purchase contracts for two dump trucks, one each for Districts 2 and 3, and a pothole patcher for District 1 through the revolving fund.
The credit card processing company the Mayes County Treasurer’s office uses has been purchased by Official Payments. Credit card tax payments will continue to be available as before. The company requested a new contract which was approved by the commissioners. “There will be no changes in the way we conduct business,” said Mayes County Treasurer Martha Carman.
Commissioners approved the annual memorandum of understanding and statement of inability to participate with the Cherokee Nation.
Request for blanket purchase orders and consideration of claims for payment were approved.
Tags: Dump Truck
South Australia’s commissioner for consumer affairs Mal Hemmerling said more than 2000 of the plastic trucks were sold nationally through The Reject Shop outlets.
Safety inspectors from South Australia’s Office of Consumer and Business Affairs detected problems with the truck during a product safety campaign targeting stores selling toys intended for children aged under three.
The truck was subjected to a number of tests and failed to meet mandatory safety standards.
“The safety standard requires that toys intended for children in this age group do not contain small parts and will not easily break into small parts if dropped,” Mr Hemmerling said.
“Children can be boisterous with their play, particularly if playing with trucks, so it is essential that these toys are soundly constructed so that they will not easily break into small parts.
“Small pieces of the toy can be hazardous for young children if ingested or inhaled.”
The truck was priced at $10 and first went on sale in October last year.
Mr Hemmerling said The Reject Shop was the sole importer and distributor of the toy and had removed all stock nationally and issued a recall.
Anybody who bought one of the trucks was urged to return it to the place of purchase for a refund.
A new competitor to the rugged Panasonic Toughbook laptop was introduced in Chicago—the Ford F-150. Ford unveiled an integrated, computerized office for commercial users, with more technical partners to thank than a NASCAR team. Together, Ford and this high-tech cabal have assembled a powerful suite of tools that can help manage businesses on the road.
Here’s a quick look:
Computer: An in-dash computer with high-speed Internet access via the Sprint mobile broadband network is integrated in the center console space used by typical double-DIN stereos. It uses a 6.5-inch, touch screen, and it includes a wireless keyboard and mouse. The computer has two gigabytes of memory, plus a slot to add a memory card and a USB port.
The computer works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, offering hands-free calling with push-to-talk voice recognition, access to user phonebooks, and the ability to receive text messages. More significantly, it allows access to a home or office computer from anywhere. Files can be transferred and even printed in the truck via Bluetooth.
Tool Link: Yes, even power tools are becoming computerized. By placing a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tag on tools, or other equipment, the truck can inventory the equipment loaded in the bed. Conversely, the user can program lists of equipment needed for specific jobs, and the Works system can verify that everything needed is on board.
Crew Chief: Fleet owners and managers can use this telematics and diagnostic tool to monitor vehicle 
locations and condition. Using the integrated Garmin navigation system, drivers can see their fleet in real-time on the dash display. And they can confirm the tool inventory, to make sure they have the right equipment onboard. Because the computer is integrated into the vehicle electrical architecture, it can tap a wealth of information. It would know if a tire is low, or an oil change is due. Further, it can be programmed to alert if a vehicle is idling excessively. To aid the back office, it can deliver detailed fuel reporting to calculate consumption and taxes. All this information can also be accessed from a desktop computer.
Cable lock: Developed with Master Lock, the non-electronic Cable Lock system is essentially a recoiling cable in the bed that can be looped through tools to protect them from theft. Not high tech, but handy.
All four Ford Work “Solutions” will be available this fall on the new 2009 Ford F-150, F-Series Super Duty trucks, and 2009 E-Series vans. Several of the features will be available for dealer installation to upgrade Ford trucks model years 1997 to present, including the core computer system.
No pricing has been released, but a Ford representative said the aim is to keep the basic package within the pricing range of their current factory navigation systems. Translation: $1,500-$2,200. Of course, the customer will be responsible for monthly Sprint mobile fees. Each feature, like Tool Link or Crew Chief, will cost extra. In some cases, additional equipment will be needed, from RFID readers to transponders for other vehicles. The full Works computer is not necessary for the entire fleet to be linked.
Even with a limited number of things to move, your car can be too small and it will take many trips to get all things to another place. Launching trucks9.com has been somewhat of an adventure, and although we have not covered even one percent of our grounds yet, things are moving rapidly. We have established ourselves on the Internet and are quickly becoming known in the business. Working advertising for trucks and trailers in the entire 50 states as our main source of revenue our company is doing well. Our entire sales team is excited and everyone is fighting for the top position as salesmen of the month. As we get out there more and more the name Trucks9 will grow synonymously with the word trucking.
There are a few common problems that many Truckers come across with the motorists.
1. Peek-a-boo! - Now you see them, now you don’t. This peek-a-boo game is very troublesome to truckers. Large trucks have several blind spots which make it hard for the drivers to see other motorists who like to hang out there. The best thing that you can do is either pass the truck or stay a comfortable distance behind them. When in doubt, check for the trucker’s side view mirrors. If you can see them, then chances are that they might be able to see you too.
2. Brake this habit – Many of us at one point or another gets stuck behind a large truck. So the most logical step would be to change the lanes to pass the truck away. No problems with that … the problem lies in a vehicle cutting back into the truck’s lane right in front of them, then braking for a turn or just slowing down, period. What most motorists don’t take into account is that truckers need a lot of space in order to slow down, at least two to three times the amount of passenger vehicles.
3. Teaching a lesson - Some drivers of passenger vehicles like to try and “teach” truckers a good lesson. Several times drivers think that the big Trucks and Trailers are either going too rapidly or slow. So they’ll speed up to pass the trucker and then get back in the trucker’s lane and slow down. Many parents tell their kids, “Worry about yourself,” and it would be smart for other motorists to heed that advice. Leave it to the troopers and policemen to enforce the laws of the road.
4. Back up and try again - In this day and age of technology, people are more accustomed to instant results and hate waiting for anything. Unfortunately, when big trucks have to back into a space, it may take a few tries to succeed. Motorists should appreciate the fact that these trucks are bigger than they are and let the truckers do their job. Patience can be a virtue!
By exercising a little of that common sense, many accidents involving Heavy Duty Trucks and Passenger vehicles could be avoided. That old adage, “It is better to be Safe than Sorry,” certainly applies here!
Trucks9 offers Buying and Selling of new and used Trucks & Trailers like Dump Trucks, International Trucks, 18 wheeler Big Rigs on the website.
Tags: Big Rigs, Dump Truck, Heavy DUty Trucks, Trailers, Trucks
Dump trucks or production trucks are those that are used for transporting loose material such as sand, dirt, and gravel for construction. The typical dump truck is equipped with a hydraulically operated open box bed hinged at the rear, with the front being able to be lifted up to allow the contents to fall out on the ground at the site of delivery.
Dump trucks come in many different configurations with each one specified to accomplish a specific task in the construction chain.
Standard dump truck The standard dump truck is a full truck chassis with the dump body mounted onto the frame. The dump body is raised by a hydraulic ram lift that is mounted forward of the front bulkhead, normally between the
truck cab and the dump body.
The standard dump truck also has one front axle, and one or more rear axles which normally has dual wheels on each side. The common configurations for standard dump trucks include the six wheeler and ten wheeler.
Transfer dump truck For the amount of noise made when transferring, the transfer dump truck is easy to recognize. It’s a
standard dump truck that pulls a separate trailer which can be loaded with sand, asphalt, gravel, dirt, etc.
The B box or aggregate container on the trailer is powered by an electric motor and rides on wheels and rolls off of the trailer and into the main dump box. The biggest advantage with this configuration is to maximize payload capacity without having to sacrifice the maneuverability of the short and nimble dump truck standards.
Semi trailer end dump truck The semi end dump truck is a tractor trailer combination where the trailer itself contains the
hydraulic hoist. The average semi end dump truck has a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle semi trailer. The advantage to having a semi end dump truck is rapid unloading.
Semi trailer bottom dump truck A bottom dump truck is a 3 axle tractor that pulls a 2 axle trailer with a clam shell type dump gate in the belly of the trailer. The biggest advantage of a semi bottom dump truck is the ability to lay material in a wind row. This type of truck is also maneuverable in reverse as well, unlike the double and triple trailer configurations.
Double and triple trailer The double and triple bottom dump trucks consist of a 2 axle tractor pulling a semi axle semi trailer and an additional trailer. These types of dump trucks allow the driver to lay material in wind rows without having to leave the cab or stop the truck. The biggest disadvantage is the difficulty in going in reverse.
Side dump trucks Side dump trucks consist of a 3 axle trailer pulling a 2 axle semi trailer. It offers hydraulic rams
that tilt the dump body onto the side, which spills the material to the left or right side of the trailer. The biggest advantages with these types of dump trucks are that they allow rapid unloading and carry more weight than other dump trucks.
In addition to this, side dump trucks are almost impossible to tip over while dumping, unlike the semi end dump trucks which are very prone to being upset or tipped over. The length of these trucks impede maneuverability and limit versatility.
Off road dump trucks Off road trucks resemble heavy construction equipment more than they do highway dump trucks. They are used strictly for off road mining and heavy dirt hauling jobs, such as excavation work. They are very big in size, and perfect for those time when you need to dig out roads and need something to haul the massive amounts of dirt to another location.
Tags: Dump Truck
A school bus carrying autistic students to campus was hit by a Sacramento County dump truck this morning sending three children to the hospital.
The accident happened just after 8:00 this morning on Watt Avenue and Glentana Way.
The CHP says the dump truck was turning onto Watt Avenue when it hit the right-hand backside of the bus sending it spinning.
The bus ended up on its side and leaking some kind of fluid. Three children, 2 boys and a girl, were taken to UC Davis Medical Center as a precaution. The school bus driver, Vanessa Bush was also take to the hospital after complaining of pain on her left side. All have since been released from the hospital.
The bus was carrying students who attend Wilson C. Riles Middle School in Roseville.
The CHP says all Special Ed School buses are equipped with seatbelts, but the students are not required to wear them. It’s not know at this time if the student on this bus were using the seatbelts or not.
A Los Angeles jury has awarded $15.7 million to a security guard and retired cop who suffered severe brain injuries after he was hit by a city-operated dump truck when he was riding his motorcycle in Northridge, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The lawsuit was filed by Barry Bowman, a 62-year-old man who worked almost 30 years with the LAPD, who was employed as a security guard on film shoots at the time of the incident, the newspaper reports. Bowman’s attorney told the Times that the city, from the beginning, refused to settle with Bowman, never offering more than $50,000. Bowman suffered severe brain injury, short-term memory loss after the incident and still requires 24-hour care.
The important issue for the jury in this case was whether the dump truck operator, who was contracted by the city, was acting as a city employee when the accident occurred. The city’s attorneys argued that the truck driver was done with his work for the day and was “off site” when the crash happened. The city also said that the truck was going at 2 mph, but Bowman’s attorney said the truck was going at 14 mph, according to an article in the Los Angeles Daily News.
Obviously, jurors decided to believe Bowman’s account of the incident and more importantly, believed that the truck driver was still acting as an employee at the time of the incident. They gave Bowman about $4.7 million to cover medical costs and lost wages and $11 million for pain, suffering and emotions.
Every time an auto accident victim receives such a verdict, it is viewed by the general public as if someone hit the jackpot in Vegas. As personal injury attorneys who have represented people who have suffered severe brain injuries, we can tell you that this is no jackpot or pleasure trip. In fact, we’ve heard almost all clients who’ve suffered severe injuries tell us that they’d rather not have gone through the horror of an auto accident at all. Money never takes their pain away.
An accident changes people’s lives in ways someone who hasn’t been through one can never even imagine. It’s especially true in cases such as Bowman’s where the damage is life-long. This is a man who needs constant care, hired help to help him do everyday stuff.
The money he has been awarded would probably barely cover those expenses for the remainder of his life. The money will never bring his old life back. He’s never going to get on a motorcycle ever again. But the money will help him live the rest of his life with dignity and get the medical help and attention he badly needs.
