Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle (11 page)

Carpentry is the largest sector of the building trades, and in 2006 there were 1.5million carpenters employed around the country. About 32 percent worked in the construction of buildings, and the same percentage was self-employed. Employment is expected to increase by 10 percent by 2016, whichmeans another 150, 000 jobs.The increase is expected largely based on the crumbling infrastructure in the United States and the need for new bridges, roads, and tunnels. Some jobs are expected to become available because of retiring workers.

CONSTRUCTION: HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIANS AND MECHANICS

Working construction is one of themost physically demanding things you can do. It’s about hard hats and hard work. (And you wondered if people would think you were a slacker? ) But thanks to modern equipment andmachinery that does the heavy lifting for you, there are plenty of opportunities for those of us who aren’t looking to haul hundreds of pounds at once.

Have you seen the television show
L. A.HardHats
? I can’t get enough of it.On theNational Geographic Channel it chronicles the construction of major metropolitan area buildings. It’s so cool to watch these buildings get put together, particularly when you see that it all starts from nothing. We’ll give you a sense of two different categories of construction workers, although there are indeed more. First we look at heavy vehicle and equipment technicians and mechanics. The next section addresses laborers.

The Work

Heavy vehicles are essential to many industrial projects, from construction to railroads. Various types of equipment move materials, till land, lift beams, and dig earth to pave the way for development and production. Heavy equipment technicians andmechanics repair andmain-tain these pieces of equipment.They work on engines, hydraulic systems, transmissions, and electrical systems. Farm machinery, cranes, bulldozers, and railcars are also considered heavy equipment and require specialized technicians and operators.

Technicians have to be able to run diagnostic tests on the computer components of these machines and discern what is broken and how it should be repaired.Handheld tools are used in repairs, as are computers. Advances in technology mean that computers are responsible for operating at least some components of the machines, so technicians must have a thorough knowledge of codes and the skills to fix electrical malfunctions, as well as be able to use standard hand tools, grinding machines, flame-cutting equipment, andmore. It is common for technicians in large shops to specialize in one or two types of repair, such as engines, transmission work, electrical systems, or suspension systems. Technicians in smaller operations typically perform multiple functions. Techniciansmay also specialize in types of equipment, focusing only on bulldozers, cranes, or excavators, for example.

Work Setting

Repair work on heavy vehicles is often done indoors, and service technicians are usually required to lift heavy (and sometimes greasy) parts and tools. Minor cuts, burns, and bruises are common, but serious accidents are typically avoided thanks to safety regulations.Technicians usu-allywork inwell-lit, ventilated areas, andmany employers provide shower facilities and locker rooms when necessary. Technicians tend to find the most jobs working for large construction companies, equipment wholesalers, or government entities.

Training and Certification

Although industry experts recommend a formal diesel or heavy equipment mechanic training program after high school, many people receive training on the job. Employers tend to look for people with mechanical aptitudewho are knowledgeable about engines, electrical systems, computers, and hydraulics. High school courses in automobile repair, physics, chemistry, and mathematics provide a great foundation for getting into this line of work. When it comes to education, those who have formal postsecondary training in heavy vehicle and mobile equipment have a major advantage over those who do not.

Many employers will send their technicians to training sessions run by heavy equipmentmanufacturers, which often provide intensive instruction on a specific type of machinery. Industry certification can help workers advance faster.Certification fromtheNational Institute forAutomotive Service Excellence (ASE) is the recognized industry credential for heavy vehicle andmobile equipment service technicians.Certification is available for what is called master of medium or heavy truck technicians as well as in repair specialties such as brakes, electrical systems, or suspension and steering. Techniciansmust pass awritten examination and have at least two years of experience to earn this certification.

The Numbers

Heavy vehicle technicians and mechanics held about 188, 000 jobs in 2006. Approximately 131, 000 of those were mobile heavy equipment mechanics, 31, 000 were farm equipment mechanics, and 27, 000 were railcar repairers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in this area is expected to grow by about 10 percent through 2016 with the addition of more than 35, 000 jobs.

Median hourly earnings formobile heavy equipmentmechanics were $19.44 in May 2006. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $12.64 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $28.18. About 23 percent of people in this industry are union members.

CONSTRUCTION: LABORER

The Work

When it comes to working at a construction site, most laborers learn on the job, but formal apprenticeship programs do exist and can provide the most thorough preparation. Laborers who have specialized skills or are willing to relocate close to new construction projects will have an advantage over other applicants. As a laborer, there is almost always room to advance and become more specialized, assuming you are a hard worker. Starting off in one job does not mean you’ll be doing the same thing in five years or even five months.

Construction laborers can be found on almost all construction sites performing a wide range of tasks from the very easy to the potentially hazardous. These men and women make the small jobs happen so that the big projects are completed. Laborers typically work at building, highway, and heavy construction sites as well as on residential and commercial projects and demolition sites. Many of the jobs require physical strength, training, and experience. Other jobs require little skill and can be learned in a short amount of time.Road work and construction work entail somany different aspects, and as a laborer you will have an opportunity to try onmany hats and test thewaters ofmany different jobswith-out having to commit to a lifetime of the same thing.

Construction laborers clean and prepare construction sites. They remove trees and debris, monitor pumps or compressors, and build forms for pouring concrete.They load, unload, identify, and distribute building materials on a job site. They build and disassemble scaffolding, and they often assist others such as carpenters, plasterers, andmasons.Theymay dig trenches; install sewer, water, or stormdrainpipes; and place concrete and asphalt on roads. There are no shortages of jobs, and rarely is the work monotonous.

Work Setting

You have to be prepared for physically demanding work that requires multiple tools and equipment. Some computer knowledge is helpful as well, since you’re bound to come across technology on these jobs. To be effective you should also be familiar or have an interest in becoming familiar with the jobs that the other workers are doing on the site.

Construction laborers oftenwork as part of a teamand should be able to get along with others, especially under pressure. Some laborers work nights and weekends, particularly on highway projects.

Training and Certification