Heavy Equipment operators can earn up to $27 per hour, and this wage is 1.6 times more than the average median salary available to other workers. Therefore, many people decide to operate heavy machinery so that they can earn handsomely without any degree. This article will tell you what a heavy equipment operator does in his roles and responsibilities. Besides, you will get an idea about hefty equipment operator salary and job description. If you are interested in becoming an operator, you must know all about the required job and experience to land a load operator job easily.

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Who is a Heavy Equipment Operator?

As the name of this title explains it all, the person on this job needs to operate heavy equipment. There are a variety of equipment used in construction and other industries such as Fork/Lift, Excavator, Peat-Moss-Gathering Machine, Pipelayer, Front End Loader, Asphalt Roller, and many others. So, a person needs to operate one or more heavy-duty equipment. 

What're the Requirements for Becoming a Heavy Equipment Operator?

You should know all about the requirements to become an operator.

1. As far as qualifications are concerned, you must possess a high school diploma or equivalent certificate. A person must have one year of experience in operating equipment for which he wants to apply for a job.  
2. In many cases, a person has a diploma but no experience. In that scenario, a person can get training on the job. Many employers are ready to offer training when a person possesses a commercial driver's license, which is another requirement for this job. 
3. An employer usually prefers a person who has complete knowledge and understanding of heavy equipment operations. In case a person doesn't have a license, you must show your willingness to pass a driving test to acquire that license. Besides, it's vital to get familiar with all commercial safety standards.
4. Another most essential requirement for a load operator job is physical fitness. A person must have a strong vision and physical ability to lift more than fifty pounds. 

Heavy Equipment Operator Skills & Competencies

Typically, an employer readily hires a candidate with formal training and license. But if you want to increase your chances of getting hired quickly, you should have specific skills to efficiently perform this job.

As you are operating and guiding heavy-duty machinery, the most critical skill requires coordination of hand and foot movements. 

Another must-have skill is operation monitoring. On your job, you need to read dials, indicators, control panels, etc. Thereby, you should know how to operate all these guage and change settings accordingly.

An operator has to work closely with other workers. Therefore, an employer would like a person possessing interpersonal skills. You need to collaborate on a project quite often on construction sites; thereby, you must have excellent teamwork skills. 

Problem-solving skill is another typical requirement for the job. Problems are common denominators of this specific job, so the best candidate for the job is one who knows how to detect the issues and fix them. 

A load operator often needs to make critical decisions, so one must possess excellent decision-making skills and have necessary thinking skills. You can't take action readily; it's essential to look into the matter, evaluate all possible solutions and then opt for the best solution, which works best in the current scenario and is also cost-effective.

What Does a Heavy Equipment Operator Do?

It's time to have an exact look at all roles and responsibilities involved in this particular job. One needs to explore job outlook to understand better how an average workday will look like. What duties one needs to perform regularly, thereby deciding whether this particular job is a right fit for him or not. 

Heavy Equipment Operator Roles and Responsibilities:

Here are typical responsibilities that an operator will handle as an everyday task.

Operating the Equipment: He needs to maneuver heavy equipment in a precise manner. The primary duty is to ensure that all the material is placed and removed via this heavy-duty equipment. For example, an excavator operator will start a machine and then load cement in the bucket from one place and drop it on the construction area. 

Safe Loading/Off-loading: Another critical part of a job is accurate loading and off-loading of material that could be rocks, debris, cement, bricks, etc. He will perform that loading/unloading via heavy equipment. 

Following The rules: During this job role, a person needs to follow all the safety rules and regulations. Every company and state has its safety codes. A load operator must know the latest codes so that he performs his duties while staying within rules and regulations. 

Communication: An operator needs to communicate with his coworkers and inform them about their tasks and roles. He must tell them there are specifications of the project and how to comply with a project's provided guidelines.

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Reporting: Every workplace has sure dangers and risks, so accidents and injuries are common scenarios. If an accident and injury happen at the workplace, an operator will readily inform the line managers. 

Repair/Replacement: The operator's duty isn't' just to maneuver the machinery but to ensure that this machinery is working correctly and all its parts are in good condition. If there is a need for replacement, upgrade, or repair, he needs to inform the line manager about that quickly. So that company can make changes accordingly. If he doesn't notify authorities about repair or replacement, the machine won't work properly and will stop. The project won't complete in a timely manner. A monthly report of malfunctioning to the construction manager is a must.

Suggestion/Feedback: Another duty of the operator is to provide suggestions on refining workflow. If a project can possibly be completed on time through some practical methods, an operator must tell the line manager what actions can make a big difference. 

Safety and maintenance checks: One of the most critical tasks is to perform regular checks on machinery to work correctly and safely. If something is out of order and may cause an injury and accident, it's crucial to inform the construction manager about it. 

Safe Shut down: There are specific procedures for start-up and shut down. At the beginning of work, a person needs to assemble all equipment and look out for ground wires. Once work is done, the operator has to check whether all equipment is shut down properly. 

Cleaning Operation: Another common task of heavy-duty equipment operators is to ensure that all the sites are cleaned from debris and other hazardous material. He can ask his coworker to clean and organize the space before starting any project correctly. 

Shopping: Machines run on oil or gas, so another duty of an operator is to purchase oil and gas so that the whole work operation is up and running.

Job Growth

You have got a clear picture of what a heavy equipment operator does; now the next thing to know is the scope of this job over the years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this job will grow about 12 percent from 2016 to 2026. That means if you start specialized equipment handling and operating training now, you can easily find a job in the construction sector. It's better to become a pile-driver operator because this operator's wage is better than other load operators, while this job outlook is about 15 percent during the same period.

Workplace Information

This is an outdoor job where you spend most of the time operating specific equipment. You must be a tough person because you will have to continue working on a project during adverse conditions. Before you start pursuing this career, you better know that sometimes you have to handle this role in extreme weather conditions, tight spaces, or extreme heights.

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You can find jobs in local government, specialty trade contractors, and construction firms. Another thing to know about your workplace is the extent of the danger, which is more than working indoors. There is a high risk of injuries due to slips, falls, trips, etc.

Working Hours

You can find both full-time and part-time job opportunities. In most cases, you will have to work full time. It's not a 9to5 job as people work overnight and late-night shifts as well. Sometimes, you might have to work during the weekend.

Heavy Equipment Operator Salary

In case you are interested in a high-paying job in the construction sector as an operator, you should become a pile-driver operator. The median annual salary of an operator is usually $22 or $45000. Some operators get paid more than $22, while some get an hourly rate of $20. 

Wrap up

Finally, you have grasped a whole idea of what a heavy equipment operator does. In case you are interested in this job role, you better clear a picture of it by looking into its job outlook, working environment, and duties. If you are a physically fit person with excellent vision, you can consider working on this job as it requires physical strength. To increase your chances of getting a job, you need to get specialized training in operating more than one piece of equipment. Besides, work on your work ethics and become familiar with safety rules and regulations of handling heavy equipment. Employers will give extra weight to a candidate with critical thinking and troubleshooting skills.