Heavy equipment training is a specialized field of education that deals with training people in the use of heavy equipment like bulldozers, backhoes, forklifts and excavators. In fact, people wrongly assume that a heavy equipment operator does not need much training to operate heavy equipment, this is not true. The truth is, each heavy equipment operator has to go through a series of specialized courses to get certified to operate heavy equipment. As a matter of fact, even equipment that people consider ?safe? to operate like fork lifts, require specialized training and certification. Just like a driving test, a heavy equipment operator has to clear both written and practical tests before he is certified to operate heavy equipment.



A person can choose from a variety of training institutes before he applies for certification with major organizations like NCCER (National Centre for Construction Education & Research). Only after being certified by organizations like NCCER can an individual begin to operate heavy equipment. Different companies, recognise certifications from different organizations and centres. However one of the major organizations for heavy equipment certification is NCCER. Usually companies have a list of training institutes they recognize as certified centres for heavy equipment operator training; as a matter of fact there are only a handful of institutes like Associated Training Services Inc. that are certified as an eligible training provider under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

Contrary to popular belief there is no ?one size fits all? course available for heavy equipment training, there are three major training courses available for heavy equipment training.

Heavy Equipment Operation Level I

This is the primary level of heavy equipment operator training; Level I is a foundation course for further courses. An operator learns basic safety requirements, the rules and regulations that need to be followed under US law. Once the level I course is complete a person is eligible to operate dump trucks, tractors, loaders, and backhoes.

Heavy Equipment Operation Level II

Only people that have cleared the level I course, or have cleared an equivalent course are eligible for level II training. Level II training includes, a refresher of all Level I courses, earth moving training, and civil blue print reading. Basically designed for more commercial construction oriented equipment, an operator clearing Level II training is eligible to operate bulldozers, rollers, forklifts and scrapers. Separate courses that allow operators to be certified in fork lift operation are also available; currently these courses are not as widely accepted.

Heavy Equipment Operation Level III

Once an operator has cleared levels I and II courses, he can then apply for an advanced certification by clearing level III. The level III course is the most comprehensive in terms of real world training and involves training an operator in real world concepts like advanced safety procedures, industrial and leadership training, real world project planning and project completion skills. People that finish level III training are certified to operate complex heavy equipment like excavators. Heavy equipment operators that have cleared level III training are highly sought after not just for their operating skills, but also for their leadership and management skills.

Irrespective of the course you choose, there is no way to be directly certified to use more advanced equipment like excavators. Remember, even if you are being offered a course that allows you to take a shortcut and get certified for using heavy equipment, chances are the course will not be recognised by most construction companies, and you will end up with a certification that no organization recognizes. It is always a good idea to work your way up to complex heavy equipment training, so that you are completely aware of the safety and legal aspects involved. Also make sure that the courses you sign up for are certified by the NCCER, as major construction companies recognize and prefer operators that have been trained using NCCER curriculum.