Heavy Equipment Operator

As a heavy equipment operator, you will operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures, in surface mining and quarrying activities and in material handling work.

Does this sound like you?

You have mechanical aptitude and manual dexterity.

You're able to work with heavy parts and equipment.

You're comfortable with tools, equipment and machinery.

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See the trade in action

Typical responsibilities

Operate heavy equipment such as bulldozers and backhoes
Load and unload equipment
Monitor operations of vehicles and machinery
Ensure equipment, material, and the worksite are maintained and stored safely
Inspect, clean, lubricate and refill equipment
Complete required paperwork, reporting, and other documentation

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Common skills you need for the trades

Math

Math is used across the skilled trades. You may work with decimals, fractions, measurements, conversions, area and volume to plan work, calculate materials, monitor operations and troubleshoot.

Reading

Strong reading skills help you work safely and effectively on the job. You’ll use them to understand instructions, equipment manuals, safety information, drawings and other technical information.

Science

Basic science principles help you understand how things work and how materials behave. Across the trades, this can include concepts like electricity, heat, force, pressure and the properties of different materials.

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