Thursday, September 29, 2011

Enrolling at HCA: Your next BIG step

HCA offers multiple programs for the training of heavy equipment operation. The FREE brochure can tell you all about the programs offered and help you take the next step of applying to attend the courses. You will also get a taste of the knowledge, skills, and certification that are all a part of the HCA trainng program.

Here are the easy steps to enrollment at HCA:

  • Go through an enrollment interview - this will make sure you are eligible for enrollment and will get you in contact with an enrollment counselor as soon as possible
  • Admission - When your application has been reviewed in full, you will be contacted by the admissions department from HCA to discuss your options
  • Tuition and Charges - After you have been accepted for admission at HCA, you will have the chance to work with the Admissions Director to discuss and work on all of your financial options. HCA does offer a financial assistance programs for those who qualify. There are also other scholarships out there you can apply for
  • Plan Program Schedule - Next, you will be assisted in creating your personal schedule for the courses including your start date. You will also have the chance to figure out living arrangements at this time as well.
  • Start Classes - After doing all of the tedious tasks to get accepted into classes, figure out finances and setting a schedule, you are ready to begin training for you future!

At HCA, you will be setting yourself up for success in your career and life. Contact HCA today to get started on this process.

Monday, September 26, 2011

How Heavy Construction Academy Can Prepare You For A Career

It is clear that in the construction/heavy equipment industry, employers are more interested in operators who are multi-skilled. The more varying skills a candidate has, the better a candidate they are for a job opening. Many operators tend to hone in on just one piece of heavy machinery; whether it be a bulldozer, and excavator, or a loader.

Nowadays, employers are looking for operators who can handle all three of these. Many times, a commercial driver’s license also comes in handy (that can be obtained through the state testing).  The third thing an employer may be looking for is someone who can also operate a crane. At Heavy Construction Academy, all of this is possible. With a set of programs that meet all of these recommendations, it is hard to find another training program that is as good.

It is important to keep all of these things in mind because it is a matter of success in your future. You can choose a one-faceted program and possibly find a good position or you can go with the multi-faceted training and be set for life. Not only will you find great opportunities after training with Heavy Construction Academy, but you will set yourself up for success. With such a wide range of knowledge there is always room to dream about having your own business someday as well. As the multi-skilled operator is more appealing to the hiring employers now, it will only be more so in the future. It is important to make a training choice that will set you up for the best future. Training at Heavy Construction Academy will meet these needs and set you up for success.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Follow These Heavy Equipment Guidelines

Heavy Equipment Operation is not an industry that leaves much room for horsing around on the job. If certain jobs and operations are not carried out properly, it can mean someone’s well being, and even life, can be at stake.

It is important to follow these key guidelines when working in this field:

  • It is NEVER OK to operate heavy machinery under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Even over-the-counter medications can cause drowsiness and impair an operator’s ability to stay alert. Make sure you read all labels before taking ANY medication before performing these important jobs.
  • ALWAYS be sure to read all manuals thoroughly. These were created for that purpose and will help you to carry out the job with the most efficiency. They will include important information, safety tips, and guidelines.
  • ALWAYS wear protective clothing and equipment, such as goggles, gloves, ear plugs, and boots. Anything hanging down such as hair or string from clothing should be restrained. 
  • Every piece of equipment has its own specific rules for refueling. Be sure to know these before doing so and BE SURE to turn the engine OFF before refueling.
  • Each piece of equipment has a safety guard specific to itself. Be sure to use these cages and shields at all times.
  • As these job sites can be rather noisy, it is vital that every worker know the proper hand signs to signal their turning and driving. These are very important in the safety of all involved.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

What You'll Learn At Heavy Construction Academy

Whether you are a person looking to join the forces of construction or you already have a position and are ready to learn more, Heavy Construction Academy (HCA) will prepare you better than any other training.

You may need to upgrade your certification, which can be done at HCA as well. The programs that are available will provide you with experience, knowledge, and the certification you need. The entire course is based on classroom knowledge and hands on experience.

In the courses, you will learn the skills needed by actually taking part in both of our programs, which also give you hands on experience, and you’ll learn the skills you need by actually operating heavy equipment. By practicing on actual equipment like bulldozers, cranes, backhoes, tractors, and more, you’ll leave Heavy Construction Academy certified, and also with an understanding of how to operate a variety of equipment.

There are a variety of teaching styles used at Heavy Construction Academy. Whether visual, audio, or hands on, you will learn. The professors are not only knowledgeable, but they also are professionals in the field.

In the Heavy Equipment programs, you’ll learn skills that include:


  • Operations of the machines
  • Safety Precautions 
  • Heavy Equipment Program 


You’ll learn about the following pieces of equipment:


  • Front End Loader
  • Skid Steer
  • Backhoe
  • Tractor
  • Off Road Dump Truck
  • Roller Compactor
  • Bull Dozer
  • Motor Grader


Saturday, September 17, 2011

Heavy Construction Academy Offers Free Workshops

That’s right! Every 3 weeks on Fridays, HCA is offering a FREE workshop so that prospective students or those interested can see what operator training is all about. There are many opportunities available for you as a heavy equipment operator in today’s work force and the demand for workers is rising. If you are looking for a change in your career or have yet to choose a direction in life, check out HCA’s ‘Operator 101’ workshop.

The things you can expect to do/ see at this free event are:

  • Tour the campus
  • Meet the faculty and staff
  • Experience what HCA training is like on a day to day basis
  • Operate heavy equipment

An important factor to consider when choosing a training program is the kind of variety it offers. It is important that you choose a course than includes classroom teachings and hands on experience. This is the kind of training that employers are looking for in an employee.  Even at HCA’s free workshop, you will experience the best of both of these worlds.

When you arrive at the workshop, you will receive morning refreshments and then have classroom learning time. After lunch (which is provided as well) you will have the opportunity to learn about operating equipment hands on! You will even get a try on the heavy machinery with the supervision of skilled training staff. The equipment you can expect to see includes a front end loader, backhoe, and excavator.

As this workshop is very beneficial and free of charge, it is important to book your spot as soon as possible. With many chanced to come, check your calendar and be sure to come and check out the training HCA has to offer.

Monday, September 12, 2011

The Importance Of Time Management In Heavy Equipment

Time management skills in any position or career are key to making you a great employee. As a heavy equipment operator, it is not only you that is losing work if you are slacking, but the machine as well. In the construction business, employees are held to a tight schedule in order to make the most of their time and money. This is very important to keep in mind as an operator because keeping with the schedule given to you is an important part of keeping your job.

Typically, in a construction schedule, a machine and its operator will have a set time to do something and when finished they will moved to a different job while another machine and operator come along to complete the next phase of the job. There is not typically down time between the machines doing work at a specific site. This will cut down on time wasted and money spent for no reason.

Loaders and dump trucks are considered support heavy equipment. These will be worked into the schedule as well. For certain jobs, other machines will come as well. All of these different machines are given a time slot to get their job done so that it is efficiently and correctly done. It is important to stick to the schedule in order to get paid correctly and have the site ready for the owner.

It is important as an operator to know what your schedule is before arriving. You must keep it handy whether in your head or written somewhere. Even though you are just one piece, it is a team effort to have a construction site done. Also, when you do a good job you keep your job. When you repeatedly have a hard time sticking to your schedule, you may not keep your job.

Heavy equipment training can provide the skills to get a job done on time. You will have the hands on experience needed to have you ready for the real thing. If you are looking for a change or are moving in the direction of being an operator, choose a training program that will work with and for you.

Friday, September 9, 2011

HCA offers career services to all students

What does it mean when a training course offers career services? It is a branch of the office taking the initiative to make sure students can find a position in the field that they have chosen. At Northeast Heavy Construction Academy, this type of service is available. Students complete their training course, receive certification, and are pointed in the right direction to obtain a position. They not only help the students learn how to find a job but actually place them if there are positions available that they know of.  
This part of the program is for free to students and not just for the year they graduate. If a student is in need of a position many years later, the school is willing to help them land a position if able. Skills for finding a job are of course covered in the initial training program. This includes writing a resume, searching for open positions, and going through an interview. HCA likes to be up to date on any open positions and refer their students old and new to them. Upon graduation, students receive a physical packet of information on positions in their specific area and how to get started in getting a job. Students are asked to report their hiring back to the school so that they can update the database and know that the schooling was a success.
When employers are happy with graduates of any school, they are more likely to contact the facility for more workers when they have open positions. This is vital for the training programs. HCA is a great training facility for heavy equipment operating and they have a high percentage of graduates working in the construction field.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Who is Northeast Heavy Construction Academy?


Every year, the construction industry experiences more and more deadly accidents involving heavy construction equipment. Due to the rise in these accidents, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has increased the regulations on the construction industry and on heavy equipment operation. In order to begin a career in operating heavy equipment, you now must have certification and formal training. That’s why the Heavy Construction Academy comes in: they’re more than qualified to prepare you for a career in operating heavy equipment, and after graduating from HCA, you’ll have all of the skills and knowledge required to begin a successful career in the construction industry. 

At HCA, you’ll find that even the faculty brings years of experience to the table, as they’re all experienced and skilled professionals who worked for years in the industry. They teach according to the “Hear It, See It, Do It” method: not only instructing students, but demonstrating their skills and then allowing the students to have hands on experience and try everything for themselves. In a state of the art facility, classroom instruction is combined with field practice that is extremely useful once students graduate and are looking for employment in the construction industry. 

An education from the Heavy Construction Academy is recognized by industry leaders as being the most thorough training that is available in the country, and employers from all over the country contact HCA in order to find skilled, trained students to work for their company. After training at HCA, students have all the knowledge they need to become certified Heavy Equipment Operators, and they then not only have certification to show to prospective employers, they also have formal training which gives them an advantage over other applicants. 

The job outlook for Heavy Equipment Operators, according to the U.S. government, is expected to continuously grow over the next few years, so there’s never been a better time to get training, receive certification, and have HCA on your side when looking for employment. When you enroll in HCA, you’ll automatically receive the benefit of their Career Services Program, which not only provides students tools they need to search for jobs and land jobs by helping them with their resume, interview skills, and job finding tools, but the program also works with employers across the country to find both new and past graduates careers, with some graduates working in the field within only days of graduating.

Contact HCA today to find out how formal training in Heavy Equipment Operation will benefit you, and to find out when you can get started working towards the career you deserve.