I was wandering how many qualified operators are out of work and what companies that are in dire need of operators , how are you addressing the problem ? We have been keeping multiple guys in training and have a failure rate of about 65-70% in turn costing the company thousands in wasted labor costs ? What is a acceptable timetable for training ? I think 90 days if you can get them out 4-5 days per week . What is a acceptable pay rate for a operator in training ? And what do we need to do as a industry to promote a apprenticeship program ? 

As a veteran of 30 years in this business I've seen a lot of guys come and go. Although the pay is good the hours and the bullshit aren't . Your average Joe won't put up with it. That being said training depends on the person training and the person receiving it. How much time is feasible as far as cost goes. And what you are willing to do.

R

topgun,

I am 25+ years in the business and veteran to veteran , what do you think can be done about the hours and the bullshit ? I told a rookie the other day I wish I could tell customers we work from 630 am - 5pm but then he would not be making many hours.

Unfortunately that's the business,  but honesty and fairness from both employee and employer goes along way in building a relationship and building confidence to form a lasting working relationship. Most of today's generation want quick and easy and if that doesn't work the leave. I agree it's tough to find and retain good help 

It's crazy now days, when I started I was a laborer and learned from the bottom up. But with the demand for operators so high you just can't do that anymore.  I just know when I finally got on a pump I appreciated a lot more..  than a lot of the trainees I train.. and we give them 90 days and for most that's enough. .  Good luck beast !!

hard to find people who really care about their job.  been under a few booms and at the end of line of +5 exp operators teaching rookie others bad/lazy things.

to have proper dunage, proper safty straps and clamp pins does not happen.  oh and double ended hoses, love choping em.  carry my own skill saw now.

i at first got so fucking mad.  if not for the fact of going to jail, i would have knock out a few operator to take the remote.  i have made one operator not pump anymore.  i would wake up in pain because of shit hoses that are old, kinky spots and bents and shit boom ops who like to talk instead of watch their boom and the hose man at the end.  

and then there are the operators who just have no feel for a pump and boom.  these guys i do not get mad at.  work with em as best we can so i dont get hurt.

so after 7 months, now even i have stoped caring.  no strap, maybe today is the day that hose gives and i get a mud shower.  pins, who needs em.  no dunage/setup stupid,  see if i can guess which way the boom would fall.

not blaming anyone now. it is what it is in the world of concrete.  its the same with placers, finishers and mixers.  to stick with concrete one must have to be fucked.  as for training pump ops, if a trainee has feelings, i suggest not to chose concrete pumping as a source of income.  IMO qualified now means a heart beat and drivers liecence. if they dont have the right attitude after day 4 in a busy week, day 91 will be no different.

great operators are out there.  its not because they have 20+ years, not because they know it all, not cause they are smooth with the boom.  its because they care.

when the day comes and im under my own colors, i know who i'll be calling for help and hope they call me.

WELL SAID TO THE OPERATORS WHO CARES VERY FEW NEED MORE THAT CARE AND GIVES A DAMN

I am about as honest and fair as they come , pay a man a good wage for days work , now it seems I am paying above average wage for a below average days work , I believe in showing up early , being polite and helpful to your customer , and always trying to make the man and crew placing the concrete day as easy as possible , taking care of my equipment , greasing during the day and when job is complete , washing the pump and truck where it is presentable to go on the job the next day , and finishing by doing a complete inspection of my pump so I hopefully will not have any surprises the next morning at 1 am when I show up to do my pretrip , how hard is this for guys that are making a honest living , some in the six figure range ?

If they are not doing their job properly,fire them and park the truck.I know you cant find competent operators,so what are you suppose to do?Just make the most of what you have and dont fret the situation.Out of 100 people in this busuness,whether they are batch men,drivers, finishers or lever pullers,even salesman,there may be 2 that are real technicians as I call it.Most people nowadays have been trained by the wrong person......Do the best you can....let it go

i have just the opposite problem, i do everything you but am having a hard time making hours, and i am a cco certified crane op. thinking about making a change but don't know if i want to stay pumping or not and would like to stay in the union as i have been with my company  and in the union for 15 years.

I would like to comment on this subject. I am starting to train pump operators. It should take minimum 1 month to 3 month. I am using combination of acpa training programand my routine thats has worked for me for years. With my Thirty years of experience of running concrete pumps I think I can teach new operators also am up to date on newer equipment coming out. If they want to learn i can teach. Read my profile for more info.

Well it's has been slow but i am on third one with little advertisement. It seems to be for small companys that can't find a qualified operator. I would like to expand to larger companys with safety and training. That includes concrete placement companys. I am also getting versed in ASME B 30.27 standard in has everything that i have learned thoughout the years of pumping. Some guys a easyer to train than others i am finding out.