Heavy equipment is a category of machinery, which includes bulldozers, cranes, excavators, forklifts, and many others. Because of the large size and great strength of these machines, Heavy Equipment Operators must be well trained and highly skilled.

Definition Of A Heavy Equipment Operator:
Heavy Equipment Operators not only operate but also maintain, repair, and adjust the very expensive, oddly delicate, giant machines of construction. They might work at construction sites, travel refuse-collection routes, or move freight, but their jobs do not end there. They must keep constant track of the condition of their machines and report any problems to their supervisor.

Required Skills For A Heavy Equipment Operator:
Heavy Equipment Operators typically need to have Commercial Drivers Licenses, and most operators are also required to have earned high-school diplomas or the equivalent. They should also have experience driving trucks and using smaller construction machinery to demonstrate awareness of the way construction works. Along with those, they should possess the following:

Knowledge of:
Operation and maintenance of the different pieces of equipment
Hazards, safety rules, and precautions for
Traffic laws
Ability to:

Operate all the various equipment
Lift heavy weights
Balance
Judge distances
Some states require special licenses for operating different pieces of equipment. For example, Wisconsin requires a certified landfill operator license within six months after a person has been hired (www.co.dane.wi.us). Community colleges and vocational schools do offer certificates or Associate's Degrees, both of which make Operators more competitive. Apprenticeships, which can last as long as three years, also open Operators up to better opportunities because they train in a wider variety of machines.

Heavy Equipment Operator Job Outlook and Salary Information:
The job growth outlook for Heavy Equipment Operators, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), is about as fast as average because of increased need to replace existing structures, especially bridges.

Generally, construction workers are hourly employees. The national average salary for Heavy Equipment Operators, according to www.salary.com, is $43,873. However I know that experienced, finish grading operators can make upwards of $100,000.

For more information, please visit the following sites:

Education Portal

Machine Control Technology, Inc

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Construction Equipment Operators

ATS Heavy Equipment Schools

National Heavy Equipment Operators School