Pile Driver Carpentry Apprenticeship

Did you know?*

Many construction equipment operators acquire their skills on the job, but formal apprenticeship programs provide more comprehensive training.
Job opportunities are expected to be very good.
Hourly pay is relatively high, but operators of some types of equipment cannot work in inclement weather, so total annual earnings may be reduced.

*Statistics retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What Does a Pile Driver Do?

Pile Drivers lay out, cut, splice and drive wood, metal or concrete piling including sheet piling, I-beams, H-beams, pilecap and all welding to piling that is embedded into the ground for purposes of supporting a load or compacting soil.

Pile Drivers construct all types of cofferdams and drive steel, wood and concrete piles into soil. They set, drive, brace and anchor steel, concrete and wood sheet piling. They handle hydraulic jacks when used in the driving of piling. They bore, bolt, rod and anchor all docks. They cut off piles, build cribs and places same and makes all wood sheet piling. Pile Drivers also perform the pointing and heading of all wood piles, the pulling of all piling of any type including wood sheet piling and all steel sheet piling. They place and sink all caissons and construct all basic foundation supports such as augured in place piling, drilled caissons and cast-in-place piling. They place and remove all casings, permanent or temporary, required to install piling or caissons and place and man all pile testing equipment except those engineering instruments for measuring reactions. They may also place reinforcing and concrete as required to complete a piling or caisson.

Tasks:

Study blueprints and diagrams to determine dimensions of structure or form to be constructed.
Measure materials or distances, using square, measuring tape, or rule to lay out work.
Cut or saw boards, timbers, or plywood to required size, using handsaw, power saw, or woodworking machine.
Assemble and fasten material together to construct wood or metal framework of structure, using bolts, nails, or screws.
Anchor and brace forms and other structures in place, using nails, bolts, anchor rods, steel cables, planks, wedges, and timbers.
Mark cutting lines on materials, using pencil and scriber.
Erect forms, framework, scaffolds, hoists, roof supports, or chutes, using hand tools, plumb rule, and level.
Install rough door and window frames, subflooring, fixtures, or temporary supports in structures undergoing construction or repair.
Examine structural timbers and supports to detect decay, and replace timbers as required, using hand tools, nuts, and bolts.
Bore boltholes in timber, masonry or concrete walls, using power drill.
Driving & Extraction of Piling and Pile Driving Equipment: includes sheeting and sheet piling, cofferdam and caisson work, cribbing, as well as all types of piling. Also includes care, maintenance and setup of hammers, leads, rigs, motors, pumps and other equipment necessary to do the work of a piledrive.
Arc Welding and Oxy-Acetylene Torchwork.
Concrete form construction: Pile caps, piers, footings, break walls, bridge construction, etc.
Heavy Timer Construction: docks and wharfs, piers, bumpers.
Miscellaneous: demolition, safety, diving, signaling, scaffolding, or any other manipulative process not listed or implied elsewhere.

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What Are the Working Conditions?

Carpenters may work indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions requiring prolonged standing, climbing, kneeling, squatting and lifting heavy carpentry materials. Working conditions vary with each job and may include working on ladders and scaffolding. Carpenters are occasionally exposed to fumes and dust. Ongoing safety training is provided to avoid job site accidents. Extensive traveling may be required.

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How is the Training Structured?

4 year training program
6,240 hours on-the-job training
400 hours paid related instruction
250 hours (maximum) unpaid related instruction
Apprentice must, during their first two years, complete Red Cross First Aid and CPR training courses.
Apprentice must in his/her final year complete the Transition-To-Trainer course.
Apprentice shall be taught the use, care and effective handling of all tools and apparatus commonly used in connection with the trade of carpentry.
Apprentice shall be given a thorough knowledge of all different kinds of material commonly used in connection with the trade and use of each kind in construction.
Apprentices receive classroom instruction in safety, first aid, blueprint reading, freehand sketching, basic mathematics and different carpentry techniques.

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What are the Application Requirements?

Applicants must be at least 17 years of age
High school diploma or equivalent
Meet required norms on aptitude test (if required)
Physically able to perform trade
Valid driver's license or reliable transportation

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What Skills Should I Possess?

Building and construction knowledge- knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
Design knowledge- knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mathematics- arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Mechanical- knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Engineering and technology- knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Active listening- giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Equipment selection- determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Coordination- adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Reading comprehension- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Installation- Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
Critical thinking- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Management of Personnel Resources- Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Repairing- Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Speaking- talking to others to convey information effectively.
Problem sensitivity- the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Arm-hand steadiness- the ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Deductive reasoning: the ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information ordering- the ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations.)
Manual Dexterity- the ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Near vision- the ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension- the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Trunk strength- the ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Inductive Reasoning- the ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Depth perception- the ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

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Who Should I Contact In My Area?

Choose your area: Northeast | Northwest | Southeast | Southwest

Northeast

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Burt Harding Ben Stahlecker
Central Wisconsin Area Carpentry JAC	500 32nd St N Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 Phone: (715) 422-5375 Fax: (715) 422-5377	Ben Stahlecker
Fox Valley/Lakeshore Area Carpentry JAC	N2218 Bodde Rd Kaukauna, WI 54130 Phone: (920) 766-1515 Fax: (920) 766-7050	Lisa Perkofski
Green Bay Area Carpentry JAC	N2218 Bodde Rd Kaukauna, WI 54130 Phone: (920) 766-1515 Fax: (920) 766-7050	Burt Harding
Wausau Area Carpenters JAC	1630 County XX Rothschild, WI 54474 Phone: (715) 355-0800 Fax: (715) 355-0807	Ben Stahlecker

Northwest

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Kathy O'Sullivan
Central Wisconsin Area Carpentry JAC	500 32nd St N Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 Phone: (715) 422-5375 Fax: (715) 422-5377	Ben Stahlecker
Eau Claire Area Carpentry JAC	mailing address: 2302 West Cameron St. Eau Claire, WI 54703	Travis Ludvigson
Wausau Area Carpenters JAC	1630 County XX Rothschild, WI 54474 Phone: (715) 355-0800 Fax: (715) 355-0807	Ben Stahlecker

Southeast

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Sandy Brietzman Sandy Destree
Lakeshore Area Carpentry Advisory Committee	1290 North Ave. Cleveland, WI 53015-1414 Phone: (920) 693-1279 Fax: (920) 693-3508	Sandra Destree
Madison Area Carpentry JAC	5202 Monument Ln Madison, WI 53704 Phone: (608) 241-0960 Fax: (608) 241-0930	Debbie Schanke
Southeast WI Area Carpentry JAC	N25 W23055 Paul Rd, Suite 3 Pewaukee, WI 53072 Phone: (262) 574-6995 Fax: (262) 574-6994	Bob Scheldroup

Southwest

Committee Name	Contact This Committee:	OR Contact Your BAS Representative:
ABC of Wisconsin	5330 Wall St. Madison, WI 53718 Phone: (608) 244-6056 Fax: (608) 244-2401	Kathy O'Sullivan Mary Harrington
La Crosse Area Carpentry JAC	2421 Larson St. La Crosse, WI 54603 Phone: (608) 788-6240 Fax: (608) 788-6250	Kathy O'Sullivan
Madison Area Carpentry JAC	5202 Monument Ln Madison, WI 53704 Phone: (608) 241-0960 Fax: (608) 241-0930	Debbie Schanke

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Additional Resources

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains information on all occupations. For more information on the Carpentry trade in the United States, visit:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos255.htm

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Sources: Bureau of Apprenticeship Standards Position Descriptions,
Apprenticeship in Wisconsin Handbook