Operating Engineer at Jac Operating Engineers - Local 147

JAC Operating Engineers Local 147 sponsors this union JATC Operating Engineer Apprenticeship in Disputanta, VA. This joint apprenticeship committee program provides a structured, labor-backed training pathway for individuals seeking careers as professional heavy equipment operators in Virginia and the surrounding region.

The program spans four years and requires completion of 6,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices work on active construction sites operating equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, motor graders, and cranes. Classroom instruction covers safety compliance, preventive equipment maintenance, site grading, and the technical fundamentals of operating various machine types. Apprentices receive wages throughout the program, with pay rates typically advancing at set intervals.

Upon graduating, apprentices achieve journeyman status as Operating Engineers, a nationally recognized credential within the union construction sector. Local 147's affiliation provides members with access to union benefits, job referrals, and opportunities on a broad range of public and private construction projects across Virginia.