my son wants to go to heavy equipment school?

just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on this(I have been a heavy equipment operator for over 20 years in the coal and limestone strip mines)Guess I just have my doubts that they are worth the bang to the buck?

Start your son off the way you started off,Don't waist money on those schools

I have heard alot of good and bad things about heavy equipment operator schools. I am proud that I went to a school and learned what I did, I found out that my first supervisor put down the school that I went too but the company loved it that I received all types of training from leraning and shooting grades too blueprints and even learned how to bid jobs, well now I'm the supervisor over my old boss and run a site of my own just because I went to school and have the drive. But it will be your choice to what you want to do.

Don't do it I worked for one of these so called schools and they only want your money go to the union if you want to learn to operate

blublueyedguy in Conneautville, Pennsylvania said: just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on this(I have been a heavy equipment operator for over 20 years in the coal and limestone strip mines)Guess I just have my doubts that they are worth the bang to the buck?

contact the operating engineers in you are there iswork in Pa start the boy out on the right track.

blublueyedguy in Conneautville, Pennsylvania said: just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on this(I have been a heavy equipment operator for over 20 years in the coal and limestone strip mines)Guess I just have my doubts that they are worth the bang to the buck?

The difference in a good operator and a skilled operator is time and experience. I am a fourth generation operator,I learned to run a rubber tire backhoe before I could drive a car. alot of them schools are alright for basics but the cann't prepare you for snags you will hit on site. if he wants to learn to operate then set up something where you work. like get him hired as a laborer cause everyone starts out as a laborer,then on your lunch breaks start his training. Becuase your his dad and he knows you know what your doing he is more likely to listen to you better.And on top of that you can teach him tricks of the trade that he wouldn't learn in those schools.

just keep work'n

i went to one of the schools, they gave me the basic how to run the equipment, an thats it. i did get certifed, an some co. like zakery you have to be certifed.. it is very costly. i have found that you need your CDL A to get a job or it helps. i got out of school in july it is all most feb. an i still am looking for work.

blublueyedguy in Conneautville, Pennsylvania said: just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on this(I have been a heavy equipment operator for over 20 years in the coal and limestone strip mines)Guess I just have my doubts that they are worth the bang to the buck?

I have dealt with many operators who have gone to school to learn this. About all they know when they get out is how to move the levers and check the oil and are really lite in the checkbook afterwards. If you have been doing this for 20+ years you could teach him the same. He needs to hustle a job with a company that will let him learn on the job.

ATS OF VIRGINIA is a crock of dodo that school is terrible i attended and never found a job yet!!they don/t even show you how to do footers or nothing just turn dirt for 9grand for freaking nothing,too ride around and look stupid,the instructors are stupid too blue print reading and site reading!!i/m getting an class action suite against those guys mr ramone serrato and mr jeff at ats!!!

I went to the Heavy course at Fleming College.
I had a job within three days after graduating.
The thing about training schools is that they only show you the basics of operating equipment, and the safety/environmental aspects that go along with it.
If you are truly an operator you figure things out for yourself and progress by watching others, learning from your own mistakes.
I've been called "professional greaser" which is just silly, because like all green construction workers, I had never been on a JOB SITE before. So I had to learn fast, and I progressed fast as well.
You will have more of a chance to get on a machine if you can say you've learned it SOMEWHERE, rather than just hoping somebody will give you a shot on it someday.
I also got my truck driving lisense and have since worked with the GPS trimble system.
Don't be hard on the people who go to school to learn, they are just interested in the work-and yeah some people have it others don't.

Big Daddy:
These schools cant help those who dont want to be helped, and believe me there are many students that think buying a cousre will solve all their problems. running the Equipment is 25% of the equation, the other 75% is STUDENT ATTITUDE.
Maybe the schools could teach more life skills. How to get a job? How to keep a job? How to Market yourself? I finished Commercial Aviation school years ago, the lesson i learned is you better get out and shake that job tree, or you will be flipping burgers with an $60,000 education!!! Move where the jobs are, i Found many students want to work in their own back yard. You might be waiting for some time..GO OUT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN

blublueyedguy in Conneautville, Pennsylvania said: just wondered if anybody had any thoughts on this(I have been a heavy equipment operator for over 20 years in the coal and limestone strip mines)Guess I just have my doubts that they are worth the bang to the buck?

go to your local union hall check on the apprentice program. trade schools dont get respect.

go to your local union hall and find out about the apprentice program. trade schools dont get respect. ahc local 12