CAREER TRAINING RESOURCES

YES, stunt driving semi tractors is a thing. It is always cool to see a driver jumping semi trucks. July 23-25, 2015 was Evel Knievel Days (it’s an extreme sports festival) in his hometown of Butte, Montana. In front of hundreds of cheering onlookers, Gregg Godfrey shattered his 2008 world record by jumping his semi-truck 166 feet in the air. His 2008 record was a 50-foot jump, which was broken in 2014 with a 83.7 foot jump… Oh, and that one just happened to include an attached trailer…. And, just because he could… he ended this world record shattering jump by kindly parallel parking his rig. (which most people can’t pull off on a normal day, with parallel park assist!) World Record Semi Truck Jump! YouTube video by Colton Moore  

A photo posted by Evel Knievel (@official_evel_knievel) on Jul 25, 2015 at 12:35am PDT

 

A post at Laboratory Network outlines how material scientists in Argonne, IL’s Argonne National Laboratory have developed a way to weld components made of high-temperature superconductors. The bond that results from this welding technique is strong enough to preserve uniform electrical flow across the joints and can be used for current leads, fault current limiters, energy storage devices, high-energy-density motors, and high-current wire or cable. Discovered in the 1980s, superconductors are known for losing electrical resistance when cooled with liquid nitrogen. However, superconductors do hold the potential for generating more efficient magnetic fields and transmitting electricity without losing resistance. Thus far researchers have been unable to grow large high-performance superconducting structures that are able to uniformly carry current, and they have found it difficult to join smaller sections together without interfering with electrical flow. The hope by researchers is that a new welding process may overcome this limitation. The new welding process will bond pieces of yttrium-doped barium-cooper-oxide (YBCO) using layers of thulium-doped barium-copper-oxide (TmBCO). The melting point of TmBCO is about 20 degrees Celsius cooler than YBCO. The materials are then heated to a temperature about mid-way between the two melting points. The YBCO “seeds” the liquefied TmBCO, while the joint cools, which provides a template at the TmBCO interface as it cools. This leads to a weld that preserves the YBCO crystal structure to a mechanically-strong weld that carries high current. While superconductors are materials that lose resistance to electrical current at reduced temperatures, the first of those identified were made of metals that became superconductive when they were brought near absolute zero (-270 degrees Celsius). The high-temperature superconductors found in the ‘80s lost its resistance at temperatures that allow the use of refrigerants such as liquid nitrogen. YCBO, on the other hand, becomes superconductive at -181 degrees Celsius. If you are interested in more information on this topic, you should read the original article by clicking here. Independent Welding Distributors Coop hires new hard goods product manager In hiring news in the welding industry, the Indianapolis, Indiana-based Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative (IWDC), a cooperative of independent welding distributors, has named Sean Norton their new hard goods product manager. In this role, Norton will be responsible for driving the growth of key programs, vendor partner brands, and the Weld mark brand, according to an article in The Fabricator. The IWDC was formed in 1994 to leverage the strengths of independent welding distributors across North America. The company’s heritage dates back to 1948, when the IWDA was founded. That company served the industry for many years before becoming the IWDC in 1994 as a larger cooperative that had additional means to serve the industry. Member companies look to the IWD for industrial, specialty, and medical gases, along with related equipment, hard goods, and consumables. The distributors use their national sphere of influence to aid in purchasing and marketing programs. The IDC features a footprint of more than $2 billion in retail sales over more than 260 locations. Before coming to the IWDC, Norton spent 15 years at ESAB Victor as district manager for Victor Technologies, mostly working in the Midwest. He now joins the welding cooperative as hard goods product manager, a move that will give him additional responsibilities in the industry while allowing him to increase profitability for the company. For more on the Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative (IWDC), you my visit their web site here. The Fabricator is a publication of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, Intl., which works with welding and fabricators, providing industry news and updates designed to serve people who work in the welding and fabrication industries. For more about The Fabricator and the welding industry it serves, visit their website by clicking this link.

EDITORS NOTE: Advanced Career Institute has discontinued our School Bus Driving Program. We still offer our Commercial Bus Driver Program at select campuses. Being a good bus driver is more than just having safe driving habits. The safety and operation of a bus are crucial, but customer services and the enjoyment of interacting with others are also aspects of the bus driving career. If you are someone who enjoys interacting with other people and has good customer service skills, you might enjoy a career as a professional bus driver. “To truly enjoy being a bus driver, it helps to be a ‘people person,’” US News said. Being a good bus driver is about having safe driving habits, but it is also a career where communication skills can come in handy. “Relating to people is one of the best components of this profession,” US News added in an article about the bus driving profession. “And having this skill also helps drivers manage the mosaic of personalities and commuting problems they may encounter daily. In other words, the impatient and short-fused need not apply.” For those who drive school buses, there is also an added responsibility for looking out for children and that can mean addressing a variety of issues while on a route. Gaining professional training as a bus driver also means having the opportunity to work in a variety of places. Bus drivers are needed in commercial operations, public transit systems, and school districts. The Advanced Career Institute’s bus driving program offers the type of CDL training that a variety of companies and schools are looking for. Work as a bus driver can be found in numerous industries, which means your training will come in handy for years to come. Schools are particularly in need of bus drivers as over 25 million students ride on school buses each day, and school buses are considered the safest way to travel to and from school. “The school bus industry has a long history of safely and reliably transporting children to and from school each day,” John McKinney, Vice President of Operations at International Truck and Engine Corporation and member of ASBC, said in a press release. “Importantly, however, school buses are also the most economical and environmentally-friendly way to transport students too.” The Advanced Career Institute is considered one of the best places to launch a career in the motorcoach industry as instructors focus on the safe bus driving practices employers are looking for. The growing demand for bus drivers and the shortage of qualified drivers have led some companies to hire drivers that lack professional training. The shortage of drivers is a challenge for many carriers but is an advantage for those looking for work in this industry, especially those with professional training from Advanced Career Institute’s bus driver training program. The Advanced Career Institute’s school bus driver training program and commercial bus driver training program introduce the students to the procedures and skills found in the school bus and commercial bus driving industry while preparing each individual to obtain a Class B bus CDL with school bus certification and endorsements. Students of the bus driver training program are often able to find multiple jobs offers to wait for them and can feel comfortable in the fact that they have a skill set that will make them valuable for many years to come. Working as a professional bus driver can be a very rewarding career, and depending on what type of company or school you work for, it is also a profession that offers flexibility and good pay. The bus industry is growing as more Americans are utilizing public transit, and cities across the country are investing in new buses. Not only has increased public transit ridership resulted in a demand for more bus drivers, but so has the growth of school bus routes and motorcoach companies. If you are looking for a unique career that offers flexibility, good pay, and a chance to work around other people, then becoming a professional bus driver might be the right career for you, and Advanced can help you launch that new career with the type of skills and experience today’s employers are looking for.

There are many reasons to consider a new career as a professional truck driver. The commercial truck industry plays an important role in the national economy which should give drivers a sense of accomplishment. In a column published by Tire Review, Bob Costello, president of the American Trucking Associations wrote about the important role the trucking sector is playing in today’s economy. “There is no industry more essential to the health and welfare of the U.S. economy than the trucking industry,” Costello wrote. “America’s trucks move the vast majority of America’s freight – from farm to factory to warehouse to retailer to home, trucks dominate freight transportation.” Costello added that “When looking at the industry, it is important to appreciate its size. Acc­ording to the Department of Transportation, there are more than one million interstate motor carriers – including for-hire, private fleets and owner-operators. And those carriers moved 9.7 billion tons of freight in 2013 – nearly 70 percent of all the tonnage moved by trucks.” With trucks playing such an important role in the national economy, becoming a professional truck driver could be a great way for you to enter a profession that allows you to make a difference and feel good about the work you are doing. “Every grocery store, shopping center, car dealership, book­store or pharmacy gets their goods via truck,” Costello wrote. “And in today’s on-demand economy, every time a person clicks the checkout button on an online retailer, another bit of freight is put on the back of a truck. Trucking is a $681 billion industry; more than 81 percent of all freight-related dollars were paid to the trucking industry. With more than 3.2 million drivers – and 7 million employees overall – trucking really is the lifeblood of the U.S. economy.” The size and growth of the trucking industry is another reason why this is a great career opportunity. The truck industry continues to grow and there is a need for thousands of more CDL trained commercial truck drivers. In fact, the demand for more drivers is so great that many truck carriers are looking for ways to entice more drivers through higher pay and tuition reimbursement for CDL programs. “Con-way Truckload is rolling out a new tuition reimbursement program to entice new drivers to work for the company after attending a professional driving school,” reports TruckingInfo.com. “The program will contribute up to $4000 to students attending or enrolling in a professional driving school to earn a commercial driver’s license. A full-time position at Con-way will be offered upon graduation and a driver must work for Con-way for a year to receive the full amount.” Demand for trucking services continues to grow across the country. However, truck carriers are struggling to find enough qualified driver to meet that demand and its forcing trucking carriers to look for creative ways to encourage more individuals to consider a career as a commercial truck driver. “Professional truck drivers are essential to our nation’s economy and with the current driver shortage, we’re looking for more ways to help bring new professionals into the industry,” said Bert Johnson, vice president of human resources at Con-way. In its article, TruckingInfo.com reported that “Conway will make monthly payments on a student’s loan for the first 12 months of employment with the company. After the year is up, the rest of the reimbursement will be paid in a lump sum. The new program replaces Con-way’s previous tuition assistance program that gave $2,000 reimbursements.” As truck carriers continue to look for thousands of new truck drivers, now is the perfect time to launch a new trucking career. The CDL training program at Advanced puts students at the top of the list for some of the best truck driving jobs in the country and is helping hundreds of jobseekers launch a new career in one of America’s fastest growing employment fields. The quality of education at Advanced can help many students graduate from the CDL training program with multiple job offers and opportunities. This is a great time to consider a new career as a professional truck driver, especially as the industry continues to grow and truck carriers increase their incentives for new drivers.

There are many reasons to become a professional welder. This growing career field offers many opportunities for those applicants with the right training and skills. Here are five reasons why you should consider a career in welding.

1. Growing Demand

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) estimates that an additional 14 million welders will be needed by 2020. This means now is a perfect time to receive professional training and enter this growing career field. In addition, there are hundreds of current welders expected to retire in the coming years. Because of this and the improving economy, now is the ideal time for a jobseeker to consider a new career as a professional welder.

2. Employers Need Qualified Applicants

Despite the demand for more welders, many employers are struggling to find enough qualified applicants. Employers are looking for applicants who understand the technology used in today’s welding field. They also look for candidates with a strong understanding of how to read blueprints and practice proper safety procedures. The NAM said that a recent poll of manufacturers shows that 81 percent say they cannot find enough skilled workers. This is because a growing number of welding applicants are scoring below proficient in the areas of math and science. Many employers are turning away applicants because many lack the training and skills that are needed in this profession. That give students of Advanced an advantage when it comes to finding work in the welding field.

3. The Training You Need is Available at ACI

Advanced offers a great professional welding training program, helping students launch a new career in this growing industry. Advanced Career Institute’s welding program is designed to prepare each student to obtain a welder certification. Students will also receive training in a variety of skills including construction site safety, blueprint and site plan reading, principles of metallurgy, construction math and welding tool usage. Learn more about our welder training program.

4. Work in a Variety of Industries and Places

Professional welders can find work in a variety of industries and sectors, including general construction, the energy sector and manufacturing. Welders are in-demand in the booming natural gas sector, bridge construction and in factories. It is important for welders to have a strong training foundation to use in a variety of fields.

5. A Career for Women

The welding profession is not only for men. According to the United States Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, the number of female welders in the U.S. has increased by over 2 percent over the past decade. Labor officials say this points to a trend of more women getting into the welding industry. Welding is a great career choice for women. More and more are building long lasting careers in this growing field. As you can see, there are many reasons to consider a new career in welding. Now is the perfect time to enter this growing career field. Manufacturers and employees in every part of the country are seeking out qualified welders who have professional training. Advanced Career Institute is leading the way in helping a new generation of professional welders learn the skills today’s employers demand. Looking for a new, challenging career that allows you to work with your hands in a variety of environments? There are many reasons to choose this career field, but any one of these 5 listed are reason enough to seek our professional welding training at ACI. Contact us to become a welder today!

EDITORS NOTE: Advanced Career Institute has discontinued our School Bus Driving Program. We still offer our Commercial Bus Driver Program at select campuses. Buses are an environmentally friendly form of travel, at least when compared to other transit modes. The bus industry, which is growing and has a demand for professionally trained drivers, is considered a cleaner form of travel when compared to cars, trains, and airplanes. The American Bus Association Foundation and The Union of Concerned Scientists have reported that buses and motor coaches are the most environmentally friendly form of transportation. According to a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a couple riding a bus will cut their carbon emissions by almost half when compared with driving even a hybrid car. “And if they take the motorcoach rather than flying, they will cut their emissions by 55 to 75 percent, depending on the distance they travel,” says the ABA. Other environment statistics from the ABA show that: • Buses provide 207 passenger miles per gallon of fuel, compared to 92 passenger MPG for commuter rail, 44 passenger MPG for domestic airlines, and 27 MPG for single passenger automobiles. • Each bus has the potential to take as many as 55 cars off of the road, reducing congestion, saving fuel, and significantly cutting emissions. • The motorcoach industry is growing, providing some 700 million passenger trips annually. The FAA says in 2011, the airlines provided 732 million passenger trips. In contrast, long-distance passenger rail carried 30.2 million passengers in 2012. • According to DePaul University of Chicago, intercity bus service grew by 7.5 percent between the end of 2011 and 2012—the highest rate of growth in four years. Conventional bus lines expanded by 1.4%, in part due to Greyhound and Peter Pan’s new express services. • Daily departures on express bus carriers surged in 2012, up by 30.6%, and for the first time, they exceeded more than 1,000 daily scheduled operations. Because buses are considered one of the cleanest forms of travel, they are growing in popularity as a form of transportation for public transit departments and businesses. “The motorcoach industry is committed to continuing to be the most environmentally friendly form of transportation,” said ABA President and CEO Peter J. Pantuso. “Our ABA member companies every day provide high-quality, safe transportation to hundreds of thousands of people. Our members are leaders when it comes to improving the environment because they know that improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions make their companies better. We are proud of the work our industry is doing and will continue to do.” Because of this environmentally friendly form of travel, the bus industry is in need of thousands of drivers who have professional training. The Advanced Career Institute’s commercial bus training program can help a person start a new career as a bus driver in an industry that is not only growing but helping to lead the way in environmentally friendly travel.