New apprenticeship for transport and rigging

SC&RA member company Edwards Moving & Rigging, Shelbyville, KY, USA, has created an apprenticeship program for people interested in specialized transportation and rigging careers.

The three-year program includes 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours a year of classroom instruction.

The program kicked off June 18 with 10 apprentices, who will earn a wage while they work toward becoming an accomplished rigger, and eventually pilot car operators and escorts for OS/OD loads.

Participants will receive instruction in transporter configuration, hydraulics, rigging equipment and terminology, gantry systems, signaling and more.

“Edwards Moving & Rigging is the first company in Kentucky to provide an apprenticeship of this kind,” said Kentucky Labor Secretary Derrick Ramsey. “Apprenticeships provide a kind of forward-thinking solution that will help us prepare Kentucky for a skilled workforce. This is why I am proud to have Edwards Moving & Rigging join our ‘Kentucky Trained. Kentucky Built.’ network and I look forward to the success this program will bring to Shelby County.”

“Not only are we training the next generation of workers, we also are enhancing the current skillset of existing employees,” said Danny Cain, Safety/Risk Manager. “For people with no experience, this is a chance to earn while you learn,” said Cain, who reports that apprenticeship salaries are around $55,000.

Edwards plans to start a new group of 10 in the DOL-approved Specialized Transportation & Rigging Apprenticeship every six months. Selection is based on an application, interview, and recommendation process.

Edwards received grant money from TransPORTS, a project of the Louisiana Community & Technical College System, which provides financial assistance to companies interested in starting or expanding a registered apprenticeship program. “The TransPORTS grant and assistance with identifying rigging and transportation experts to conduct training for our apprentices was a big boost to getting our program off and running,” said Cain.

The company was recently featured on WLKY News Louisville. https://youtu.be/Blk-ZibOXik

Learn about other members of the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association in your area. Visit SCRAnet.org and click on Find a Member under the Membership tab. Contact members directly to find out about available entry level jobs, internships or apprenticeships.