Getting into the plant operating industry?

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niner
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Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #1 by niner » Wed Jul 18, 2012 1:06 pm

I'm not sure if this is the right board to post this in or not?

Anyway, I have always had an interest in most things that dig or shift dirt so I was wondering how you got into the plant game? Im not really sure about the sort of questios I want to ask but hopefully with a few replies you will coax them out of me!

In a nutshell, I am due to retire from the Army after 22 years in 5 years time, I know a lot can happen between now and then but Im trying to plan ahead and get myself squared away.

On retirement at 42 yrs old ;) I would like to get into the plant op scene. Im not sure whether you can pick and choose your machine but I would like to go down the wheel loader route.

Ive not really had any previous wheel loader experience appart from operating the Army JCB410 and the Volvo BM 4400, both with pallet forks. I was also an instructor on these 2 bits of kit but that was some time ago.

While at another camp in 2001-2004 they bought a civilian JCB minidigger so I did my civilian qualification on that up to a 5 ton excavator, so although Im not an expert I know the basics.

So I think my question is how do I start, whare do I start and can I specialise on lets say, wheel loaders or is it a slow progression up the ranks?

Cheers in advance,

Martin.


Jeremy Rowland
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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #2 by Jeremy Rowland » Wed Jul 18, 2012 1:46 pm

Martin I would of thought that the army would have been a place to get your ticket for machinery like this, so in your position I would look at getting what I could from the army before looking in civvie street, just my thoughts on the matter. :think:

Jeremy


Martyn Henley
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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #3 by Martyn Henley » Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:26 pm

Yes Martyn, i agree with Jeremy here, get everything you can get from the army ..in fact get transferred to the Royal Engineers, that should get you your tickets and experience

Martyn

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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #4 by niner » Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:05 pm

Too late in my career to transfer into the Engineers, and anyway, the Plant ops are moving up to lossiemouth in Scotland, not for me thanks!

I can get a lot from the Army in the form of resetlement about a year before I get out, I cant gain any civilian qualifications until then.

Is it hard for a newly qualified operator to get work?


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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #5 by Jeremy Rowland » Wed Jul 18, 2012 7:26 pm

niner wrote:Too late in my career to transfer into the Engineers, and anyway, the Plant ops are moving up to lossiemouth in Scotland, not for me thanks!

I can get a lot from the Army in the form of resetlement about a year before I get out, I cant gain any civilian qualifications until then.

Is it hard for a newly qualified operator to get work?



Mate I would say its hard to get work full stop its more a case of who you know rather than what you know, but I would still explore all the posibilities.

Jeremy

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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #6 by RichardJW~ » Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:28 pm

Niner,

Not sure if you're up for more travel - or risk - but there's firms out there who hire folks for work in the less salibrious parts of the world

http://www.labourdesk.com/disciplines.html

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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #7 by niner » Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:13 pm

I've done my fair share of working in the desert, and more to come too I'm sure!

Looks good though!


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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #8 by bigkit » Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:19 pm

Wainscott Barracks at Chatham is where much of the plant training is done. :)

Its in the guiness book of records for the most dug over bit of earth in the world! :shock: I've been there several times, great place to learn and the kit is pretty good but as for life skills out in the wild the boys dig too wide a trench for the average groundworker! :lol:

Niner, you've got to get in with a bloke labouring or something around a machine. Take in what it does and learn from the wrong end! When the bloke pops out for a fag jump in. In small bites the brain can handle the input. Sit in it for an hour and the head will be in overload!!!! :o (especially with someone watching :x )

Great job, nestle in somewhere where you can learn at your own pace. :thumbup:


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Re: Getting into the plant operating industry?

Post #9 by pritch_106 » Sun Jul 22, 2012 9:15 pm

Martyn Henley wrote:Yes Martyn, i agree with Jeremy here, get everything you can get from the army ..in fact get transferred to the Royal Engineers, that should get you your tickets and experience

Martyn


Im 22 and ive just got out of the royal engineers. Only did six years lol, nowhere near the same as 22 but ive just done a course for articulated dump trucks. My mum and dad do the same thing, Thats my way into plant operating.

Pritch
VOLVO FTW!!!


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