Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

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Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Careers / Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

Summary Description


	Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Angle Dozer Operator

2.	Back Hoe Operator

3.	Backhoe Operator

4.	Blade Grader Operator

5.	Blade Operator

6.	Bulldozer Engineer

7.	Bulldozer Operator

8.	Bulldozer/Loader/Compactor/Scraper

9.	Bush Hog Operator

10.	Cable Engineer

11.	Car Runner

12.	Carrier Operator

13.	Catshovel Driver

14.	Clamshell Engineer

15.	Crane Engineer

16.	Derrick Engineer

17.	Digging Machine Operator

18.	Dirt Supervisor

19.	Ditcher Operator

20.	Ditching Machine Engineer

21.	Ditching Machine Operating Engineer

22.	Ditching Machine Operator

23.	Dozer Operator

24.	Dragline Engineer

25.	Dump Attendant

26.	Elevating Grader Operator

27.	Engineering Equipment Operator

28.	Equipment Driver

29.	Equipment Operating Engineer

30.	Equipment Operator

31.	Equipment Operator/Laborer

32.	Equipment Operator/Laborer/Supervisor

33.	Excavating Machine Operator

34.	Excavator Operator

35.	Field Foreman

36.	Field Mechanic/Site Lead

37.	Forklift Operator

38.	Form Grader Operator

39.	Gang Mower Operator

40.	Gradall Operator

41.	Grader

42.	Grader Operator

43.	Grader Patrol

44.	Grading Machine Operator

45.	Heater Planer Operator

46.	Heavy Equipment Operating Engineer

47.	Heavy Equipment Operator

48.	Heavy Equipment Operator/Paver

49.	Heavy Machinery Operator

50.	Heavy Road Construction Equipment Operator

51.	Hoe Runner

52.	Hoisting Engineer

53.	Hydraulic Hammer Operator

54.	Land Leveler

55.	Landfill Grader

56.	Lift Slab Operator

57.	Loader Operator

58.	Loader Operator/Ground Leader

59.	Loading Machine Operator

60.	Locomotive Crane Engineer

61.	Machine Operator

62.	Maintainer Operator

63.	Maintenance Operator

64.	Motor Grader Operator

65.	Muck Operator

66.	Mucker Operator

67.	Mucking Machine Operator

68.	Operating Engineer

69.	Operating Engineer Apprentice

70.	Operator

71.	Operator and Truck Driver

72.	Operator Engineer

73.	Operator/Assistant Foreman

74.	Power Grader Operator

75.	Power Shovel Engineer

76.	Road Equipment Operator

77.	Road Grader

78.	Road Grader Operator

79.	Road Hogger Operator

80.	Road Machine Operator

81.	Road Machine Runner

82.	Road Roller Engineer

83.	Roller

84.	Roller man

85.	Roller Operator

86.	Rooter Operator

87.	Rotary Soil Stabilizer

88.	Sander

89.	Sanitary Landfill Operator

90.	Scarifier Operator

91.	Scrap Drop Engineer

92.	Scraper Operator

93.	Shovel Engineer

94.	Slab Lifting Engineer

95.	Stabilizer Operator

96.	Steam Shovel Engineer

97.	Steam Shovel Operating Engineer

98.	Steam Shovel Operator

99.	Steam Shovel Runner

100.	Street Roller Engineer

101.	Track Hoe Operator

102.	Utility Tractor Operator

Job Tasks

	Learn and follow safety regulations. Update job related knowledge or skills.

	Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects. Position construction or extraction equipment.

	Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work. Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.

	Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met. Monitor construction operations.

	Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms. Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.

	Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes. Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.

	Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members. Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed. Position construction or extraction equipment.

	Load and move dirt, rocks, equipment, or other materials, using trucks, crawler tractors, power cranes, shovels, graders, or related equipment. Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.

	Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability. Monitor construction operations.

	Test atmosphere for adequate oxygen or explosive conditions when working in confined spaces. Test air quality at work sites.

	Drive and maneuver equipment equipped with blades in successive passes over working areas to remove topsoil, vegetation, or rocks or to distribute and level earth or terrain. Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.

	Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines. Signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.

	Keep records of material or equipment usage or problems encountered. Record operational or environmental data.

	Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers. Position construction or extraction equipment.

	Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots. Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.

	Drive tractor-trailer trucks to move equipment from site to site. Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.

	Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary. Maintain construction tools or equipment.

	Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors. Install equipment attachments or components.

	Operate equipment to demolish or remove debris or to remove snow from streets, roads, or parking lots. Remove debris or vegetation from work sites.

	Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, or diagrams to establish work requirements. Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements. Communicate with clients about products, procedures, and policies.

	Operate compactors, scrapers, or rollers to level, compact, or cover refuse at disposal grounds. Compact materials to create level bases.

	Operate loaders to pull out stumps, rip asphalt or concrete, rough-grade properties, bury refuse, or perform general cleanup. Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.

	Operate road watering, oiling, or rolling equipment, or street sealing equipment, such as chip spreaders. Operate road-surfacing equipment.

	Turn valves to control air or water output of compressors or pumps. Operate pumps or compressors.

	Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors, using hitches. Select construction equipment. Install equipment attachments or components.

	Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required. Assist skilled construction or extraction personnel.

	Compile cost estimates for jobs. Estimate construction project costs.

	Perform specialized work, using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete pumpers. Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.

	Operate conveyors to remove grit and debris from digesters.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment — Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment — Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment — Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment — Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Construction Equipment Operators
	Construction equipment operators drive, maneuver, or control the heavy machinery used to construct roads, bridges, buildings, and other structures.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Construction Equipment Operators
	Construction equipment operators work in nearly all weather conditions. Workers often get dirty, greasy, muddy, or dusty. The vast majority of operators work full time, and some operators have irregular hours. Some construction projects, especially road building, are done at night.

	Read More >>

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