what kind of license do I need to operate heavy equipments?

There are tech schools around that have heavy equipment operator training - another place to look is your local operating engineer's union.

 

Don't know about heavy equipment, but if you have an OSHA certification card for forklifts, you can go along ways in trucking. Some places will let you unload your rig, IF you have that cert, which means less time sitting at the dock.

 

I looked into it when I was looking into career paths.

To be an equipment operator, you have to be certified in the vehicle prior to operating it. Unless you're in training as we speak on the machine.

Like Medium-large bulldozer, you have to have 80hrs operating time. and a written examination on both maintenance procedures, nomenclature, etc. to have an Operators License and be rated to operate medium-large bulldozers.

Operators License is universal. that just means you took a 20hr class on safety and general operations and general training in "grading".

every piece of machine in its class has a basic level cert. and then an advanced cert.

Cranes are seperate from regular heavy equipment, because you have to get a license on each individual crane. TCCC.

And another license to be able to make annual inspections for crane certifications.

But that is what I've been told when I had inquired about it. In a 3 year apprenticeship. You'll gain all licenses and certs outside of Crane Operations. Because Crane Operators are a "special class" of equipment operators. requires 550hrs of behind the joystick time with a journeyman crane operator to be rated for a single crane. and 300hrs of safety training regarding how the elements will effect the cable and structure of the crane during operation and stuff like that.

This is all second hand knowledge bare in mind. But this is what I was told when I asked about Heavy Equipment Operator stuff.

Also Crane Operators make $30 an hour starting. ending a $65 an hour. According to the Journeyman, you have to be an Journeyman Equipment Operator for a minimum of 2 years prior to being considered to become an apprentice crane operator.

 

Some additional info, if you have any issues being in a Union, making a career in Heavy Equipment Operation, or Repair, will be impossible.

Non-Union company's (in the West, WA, ID, Or, CA, UT, AR, NV) require X years in journeyman experience as an Equipment Operator, or Equipment Repairman for consideration.

Training schools outside of the Apprenticeships, are nothing but schools to help you get an Apprenticeship. Majority of them according to the Journeyman I spoke with, aren't worth a fraction of the price they charge. Because they don't go into enough training for actual certification for the class of machine.

Also, according to him, Job Corps has the best training program in the country for Heavy Equipment Operations, and Heavy Equipment Repairman. Most of the programs are in the Eastern US though.

Also, according to the Journeyman, even though there are very high wages as EOs, ultimately, you'll max your annual pay around $40,000-62,000 annually. Some Journeyman will only pull in $34,000 a year. Simply because of the lack of work available in some regions. (only able to work a few months out of an entire year. Crane Operators see less work, but because of the high wages, they pull in just the same amount of money annually as Heavy Equipment Operator, only with MUCH less work over the year, but as stated before, you have to have 2 years Journey level experience as an EO to be considered for Crane Operator Apprenticeship. AKA 5 years [10,000hrs] experience)

Journeyman I spoke with made $53,000 last year because he only got roughly 7 months worth of work. The Apprentice assigned to him, (that he's training) pulled in $38,468 because he only got 7 months work as well. (he has to log a total of 6,000hrs to make Journeyman, so it takes longer than 3 years time to make Journeyman) in a lot of ways he said it kinda sucks, simply because the everyday is a 12hr day. (you'll never work a day that isn't 12hrs long as an Operator) and sometimes the "unemployment" time can be excruciatingly boring.

 

Operated heavy equipment for the past 5 years and never went to any school, never got any license.. /shrug

 

I operate heavy equipment and depending on where you live and who you are working for will determine if you need a license or not. I have done some big commercial jobs and had to go through the soil safety OSHA courses. Mainly because I was responsible for other peoples lives who were in the trench boxes. My class A is all I need to haul the equipment to and from the job. You can also start off small like I did doing something liking digging pools or working at a landfill. This will get your foot in the door and a little experience running some different equipment. You could also find a private dirt pit or someone selling materials like rock, dirt, mulch etc... It really doesn't pay that much though being an equipment operator. It is fun at times though. Especially if you are in a landfill just crushing garbage! Good luck to you.

 

Chompi, if you don't mind me asking, are you IUOE?

 

just get a job at a constuction company that has the equipment you would like learn on. after you pay your dues let your intentions known they'll give you chance if they like ya

 

I had a friend in the business teach me the basics on a dozer. I worked for an excavating company driving a dump, moving equipment and loaded my own dirt/stumps with backhoes, track loaders and track hoes. I never had to have any special training. Stuff like that takes time, observation and experience.
That's Tennessee though. I'm sure each state has individual requirements.

I think driving a truck and a forklift all fall under equipment operator. You do one, you can do them all. It's all eye/hand coordination.

Chompi, I ran rolloff before for our county. They use to run our landfill then. I got to play on the compactor some. Alot of fun crushing stuff.