New...need advise....

Most dump Truck outfits around here in the midwest have never really required any or much experience from my understanding. Unless maybe you are talking about a T/T dump bucket? This may or may not be the normal I don't know for sure. I would say ask around talk to some of the drivers or operators and get a feel for your area they should be able to help guide you in the right direction.

 

Your best bet is to go to a heavy construction equipment school. There are a few and what I've seen the better are the National Association of Heavy Equipment Training. But I'm only going over what their website says.

The problem with your path is you'd only be learning how to operate a small backhoe on a farm tractor base, ie; Case 580 and so forth. There's alot of people that can do that but if you really want to operate the good stuff then you need to learn all the principles behind moving dirt or whatever. Believe me I'd much rather spend 8 or 10 hours on a D-8 than a small backhoe. Or running a push-pull double engine scraper.

What I've seen the cost may be a little higher than truck school but you come out with alot more knowledge than any CDL school. You also have a good base to start with to where you can move up and become the boss alot easier than truck driving. You can do your own search and find schools that might be close to you. But whatever it takes it's a much smarter way to go than driving a truck.

 

Its very hard to get a heavy equipment job after just coming out of school.I when to a school in April of 2006 for heavy equipment,150 hour training course which couse me over $4500,well make a long story short,I was never able to get hire as a heavy equipment opeator.I applyed at lease 20 companies no one wanted to give me a brake.This was 4 years ago when they where building houses left and right,now forget it,it may be even harder.

 

You might want to look into a grant or loan. When looking for a job you have to go where the equipment is. You can't really look at housing areas after the grade work is done, you have to get there before they break ground. One of the best places is the state. They have all the big stuff and do alot of work. No matter what you do the best place to start is with the union hall. I don't know if it changes with states but where I looked they had three levels A,B, and C. C level is where you'd be. B is where they call the hall and ask by name and A level is where you work all the time.

It's like any other job that's hard to start out with except this field pays off better in the long run if you stick with it. I know it's hard to put in time with no pay. When I got out of the service I could have gone right to the B list but for my type of equipment (big stuff) but the jobs were hard to get. One type that is in demand is a crane operator. You start out as a oiler and work up. The B level paid almost $30 an hour back in 1990 but for me hauling gasoline paid more because what matters is the W-2 at the end of the year.

Try you best to get on with equipment. It's far better than driving a truck and taking home $300 a week or less.