Heavy Equipment Operator

Heavy equipment operators control equipment by moving levers or foot pedals, operating switches or turning dials. Their job titles generally reflect the types of machines they operate (for example, bulldozer operator, grader operator). However, one operator may operate several types of equipment.

Bulldozer operators operate crawler-tractors equipped with large blades across the front for moving obstacles or rippers on the back for tearing up terrain. They clear and level land on construction, mining and forestry sites, and push other equipment to provide traction and assistance when needed. They also may smooth and perfect final land grades in jobsite finishing work.

Backhoe operators use a variety of attachments to dig trenches, load heavy materials, vibrate and break rock or concrete, backfill excavations and scoop and dump materials. There are two types of backhoes: rubber tired and track (often called excavators).

Front-end loader operators operate mobile machines with buckets on the front for picking up heavy loads of earth, rock, sand, gravel or snow and dumping it into piles, excavations or trucks.

Grader operators spread and level earth, sand, gravel and rock, and plow snow in the winter by controlling the height and angle of grader blades. To level surfaces to a specified grade, they make successive passes over the working area, watching reference stakes, level gauges or the hand signals of other workers.

Paver operators operate asphalt paving machines that lay down asphalt for roads, driveways and parking lots with the aid of stakes and level gauges.

Power shovel operators manipulate a boom or crane that supports a dipper handle with a large dipper. The dipper is used to scoop up dirt, rock and coal, and drop it into trucks or piles.

Scraper operators scrape, load and haul earth on mining or construction sites. They level work sites; haul soil for roads and rights-of-way; haul coal and ore at mining sites; and build berms, human-made lakes and large stockpiles.

Other heavy duty equipment operators manipulate the controls of machines unique to particular industries (for example, tree harvesters and skidders in forestry or trench excavators in pipeline construction). The work of still other heavy equipment operators is described in the occupational profiles Crane and Hoisting Equipment Operator and Surface Mining Equipment Operator.

Heavy equipment operators work outdoors in almost any kind of weather, although they may work in air conditioned and dust controlled cabs. For most, work is seasonal. Considerable overtime may be required at peak times and layoffs can be expected in the slower months. At oil sands mining sites, shift work often is required, with 12-hour shifts being common among some employers. Employment may be on a project by project basis and operators may have to travel and be away from home frequently.

The working environment often is noisy, dusty and dirty and, occasionally, equipment operators may be required to work in dangerous locations or confined spaces. Operators of excavating and grading equipment sit for long periods of time on vibrating or bouncing machinery. To avoid accidental injury, operators must be very safety conscious and follow the signals of ground crew members.

Heavy equipment operators may be required to routinely lift items weighing up to 10 kilograms.

Heavy equipment operators need the following characteristics:

• excellent physical condition
• good vision and awareness of depth
• excellent eye, hand and foot co-ordination and fast reflexes
• mechanical ability
• the ability to work well in a team or on their own
• good communication skills in English.

They should enjoy operating machinery, taking a methodical approach to their work and trouble shooting problems.

Below-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

Heavy equipment operators may work for:

• general contractors that build highways, dams and airports, or install sewer or other utilities
• residential and commercial infrastructure projects
• municipal streets and sidewalks and bridge projects
• asphalt paving companies
• pipeline companies
• logging companies
• oil and mining companies
• landscaping companies
• demolition companies
• waste management companies.

Most positions are seasonal (spring to fall). Some employers require fitness and hearing tests prior to employment and perform routine drug testing of their employees.

Experienced operators may move into related positions such as safety officer or trainer, or advance to supervisory positions.

Heavy equipment operators are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7521: Heavy equipment operators (except crane) occupational group. In Alberta, 82% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (PDF)
• Construction (PDF)
• Manufacturing (PDF)

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 19,400 Albertans are employed in the Heavy equipment operators (except crane) occupational group. This group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0.4% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 78 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As heavy equipment operators form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for heavy equipment operators.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association website: www.arhca.ab.ca

Calgary Construction Association website: www.cca.cc

Construction Sector Council website: www.csc-ca.org

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.