Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get email news alerts on heavy construction equipment manufacturers

Set up a separate email account to get email alerts, RSS feeds and industry newsletters that will send you news as it happens, the latest trend pieces and information about what the major industry players are up to. Check this email daily so you don't miss out on important news.

I recommend: Stay up to speed on construction equipment product announcements and other news with ForConstructionPros.com or Construction.com. Find recent news articles, blogs and other vital information at Machinery Junction. Participate in blogs or receive newsletters and articles directly that will keep you updated with the latest news about used heavy construction machinery from the Machinery Blog.

Join heavy construction equipment groups

Association with other professionals in the same field will provide you with an inside track to news, often before it hits the press. Get involved with your trade association and take advantage of the networking opportunities to develop relationships as well as the group's newsletters and communication vehicles.

I recommend: The Association of Equipment Manufacturers keeps members updated with the latest news and trend articles to help them stay on top of the issues. Keep up with news affecting the industry through the news feeds offered to members of the American Institute of Steel Construction.

Read about the latest heavy machinery equipment trends

Take time to read in-depth reports and magazines that cover the industry further than the headlines. Often the best information that can help drive your own business decisions comes from investigative reporting and research articles that take a deeper look into industry issues.

I recommend: AEC Online is a great source to watch all the changes and breaking news that’s affecting the industry daily. Subscribe to Construction Equipment, the magazine that reports on in-depth studies and features that affect the industry.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Encourage your staff to read publications and websites that can bring even more news about heavy construction equipment management. Make it fun by giving a prize to the team member who comes up with the best news tidbit each month.

1. Does renting or buying new or used heavy construction machinery make the most sense for my company?
2. Is my staff trained to operate this type and brand of heavy construction equipment?
3. Do I need my supplier not only to provide, but also service my fleet of heavy construction machines?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Do a cost comparison of rented, new and used heavy construction machinery

When you calculate the cost of renting versus owning your heavy construction equipment, you'll need to take into consideration rental fees, maintenance costs and man hours wasted on failed equipment. Heavy construction equipment management via rental may make sense for those companies that need specialized equipment for a specific job.

I recommend: RSC Equipment Rental has a handy calculator to help you determine the lost man hours you suffer when owned equipment breaks and the time it takes to manage and service a fleet. Machinery Stock is a free new and used heavy construction equipment advertising website for dealers and has a great advanced search tool that enables you to select things like price range, horsepower and year.

Get training for your employees from the right heavy equipment school

Now that you've decided what equipment you need and the acquisition method, you need to get your staff trained to operate the equipment. The right heavy equipment operator training school is one that teaches your staff to operate the brand of equipment safely and effectively, minimizing the possibility of personal injury and equipment damage.

I recommend: The National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools has a training program for both crane operators and heavy equipment operators, including backhoe and skid steer training with certified instructors. National Training, Inc is an accredited school and its program, National Heavy Equipment Operators School, is part home study and part on campus, enabling the majority of the training to be done while your employees work full-time. The resident training includes a three week training session in Orange Park, Florida.

Provide service for your heavy construction machines

Don't forget about the service your new fleet of heavy machinery equipment needs. Even general maintenance tasks need to be done by a specialist. You may want to hire a construction equipment specialist to do the maintenance tasks if you've purchased a large fleet, but if your construction business is small, see if you can work out a service agreement with the dealer.

I recommend: At BuyerZone.com you can get free equipment leasing and financing quotes from multiple companies at once, some of which come with service agreements. Deere & Company, makers of John Deere products, offer a complete planned maintenance program with their products plus online support as well.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You should always buy your heavy machinery equipment in person, especially if the equipment is used. It's nice to search online retailers to find what products are available, but make sure you choose a local supplier to make your actual purchases.
• •  Keep up with regular maintenance on your equipment, otherwise you may be in for costly engine repairs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for training from heavy equipment operator schools

While you are job hunting, or doing your regular industry news updates research, keep an eye out for the trends that are leading the industry to point you to the training that you need to meet the demands of the times. Consider the requirements of the jobs you might like to pursue and find out what certificates or training you can get to make yourself a desirable candidate.

I recommend: Online and training center courses are widely available through the ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools. Look for a complete training schedule to become fully certified with the Heavy Equipment Operator Training Course. Construction equipment makers like Caterpillar offer their own training courses.

Join heavy construction equipment associations for training

Most trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for their members. Some groups can guide you to special certification courses that will help you advance your career while offering events and meetings at which you can meet other professionals and find out about other training options.

I recommend: The International Union of Operating Engineers runs extensive heavy equipment training and apprenticeship programs for members. Look to the Associated Equipment Distributors Foundation for a slew of training and professional development opportunities. Get the training and certifications you need to get a good job through the National Association of Heavy Equipment Schools.

Find a training mentor for heavy construction machines

Whether you can relate to a good manager who might take you on for mentoring, or you seek out a professional in a trade group or other professional association, follow the advice when you're pointed to special training opportunities. Often a designation or degree can make all the difference when you are looking to advance.

I recommend: Mainstream is a great site for leads to a variety of specialty courses in heavy construction machinery that could help you advance in your career. O’Brien Training can get you started with rookie training and help you keep updated with other courses as you advance.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Talk to your employer about paying for heavy equipment operator school as well as reimbursing you for fees in trade associations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Earthmover

An earthmover is the term given to any piece of heavy construction equipment that is used to move or dig dirt or earth. These machines include bulldozers, backhoes, and other earth moving machines. The term earthmover is a more general term that describes the function of the equipment rather than naming the actual piece of equipment.

I recommend: The Free Dictionary offers a definition for the term earthmover when referring to heavy construction equipment.

Bulldozer

A bulldozer is a piece of heavy construction equipment that has a metal blade for pushing large amounts of dirt, sand, or debris for construction purposes. Most dozers have tracks.

I recommend: Read more about bulldozers and their operation from Amazines.

Cat skinner

The term cat skinner is frequently used to describe a person who operators a dozer. The word 'cat' derived from the Caterpillar Tractor, which is a dozer manufacturer.

I recommend: Scroll down to the Cat Skinner heading to find a meaning and history of the term cat skinner from Vannatta Bros.

Articulated truck

Articulated trucks are used in construction work for carrying large loads over rough terrain. Articulated trucks are equipped with a drive system that represent the number of wheels and axles it has. Most are six wheels on three axles.

I recommend: Wise Geek features details about the term articulated truck.

Skidder

In the world of heavy construction equipment, the word skidder may have two different meanings. Some use the term skidder to refer to the person in charge of the construction team making a skid road. In other cases, the word skidder describes the engine that hauls cable for skidding logs.

I recommend: Think Exist offers several definitions for the term skidder.

Excavators

Excavators are most commonly known as the digging piece of equipment at a construction site. Excavators are found in a variety of sizes and styles. Most excavators have a backhoe and a cab for the operator.

I recommend: Read reviews of mini excavators at Equipment Review Network.