Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator

Other Titles

Equipment Operator, Heavy Equipment Operator, Loader Operator, Machine Operator, Motor Grader Operator, Operator

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.

Learn and follow safety regulations.

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

Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.

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

Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments, such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.

Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.

Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.

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

Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.

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.

Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.

Keep records of material or equipment usage or problems encountered.

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

Operate tractors or bulldozers to perform such tasks as clearing land, mixing sludge, trimming backfills, or building roadways or parking lots.

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

Connect hydraulic hoses, belts, mechanical linkages, or power takeoff shafts to tractors.

Operate equipment to demolish or remove debris from streets, roads, or parking lots.

Operate loaders to pull out stumps, rip asphalt or concrete, rough-grade properties, bury refuse, or perform general cleanup.

Select and fasten bulldozer blades or other attachments to tractors, using hitches.

Push other equipment when extra traction or assistance is required.

Test atmosphere for adequate oxygen or explosive conditions when working in confined spaces.

Drive tractor-trailer trucks to move equipment from site to site.

Talk to clients and study instructions, plans, or diagrams to establish work requirements.

Operate compactors, scrapers, or rollers to level, compact, or cover refuse at disposal grounds.

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

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

Compile cost estimates for jobs.

Perform specialized work, using equipment such as pile drivers, dredging rigs, drillers, or concrete pumpers.

Operation and Control→ Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring→ Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Equipment Maintenance→ Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Troubleshooting→ Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

Update job related knowledge or skills.

Position construction or extraction equipment.

Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.

Monitor construction operations.

Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.

Operate equipment or vehicles to clear construction sites or move materials.

Move construction or extraction materials to locations where they are needed.

Load or unload materials used in construction or extraction.

Test air quality at work sites.

Signal equipment operators to indicate proper equipment positioning.

Record operational or environmental data.

Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.

Install equipment attachments or components.

Maintain construction tools or equipment.

Remove debris or vegetation from work sites.

Communicate with clients about products, procedures, and policies.

Review blueprints or specifications to determine work requirements.

Compact materials to create level bases.

Operate road-surfacing equipment.

Operate pumps or compressors.

Assist skilled construction or extraction personnel.

Select construction equipment.

Estimate construction project costs.

Control Precision→ The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Depth Perception→ The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Multilimb Coordination→ The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Far Vision→ The ability to see details at a distance.

Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Rate Control→ The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.

Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Reaction Time→ The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Perceptual Speed→ The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Response Orientation→ The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures).It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.

Selective Attention→ The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Time Sharing→ The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).

Building and Construction→ Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Mechanical→ Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Electronic mail software -- e.g., Zoho Mail; Microsoft Outlook

Facilities management software -- Maintenance record software

Office suite software -- e.g., Google Workspace; Microsoft Office; Apache OpenOffice

Operating system software -- e.g., Linux; Apple OS; Microsoft Windows

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Google Sheets; Microsoft Excel; LibreOffice Calc

Time accounting software -- Work record software

Adjustable wrenches

Agricultural rollers→ Cultipackers

Agricultural tractors→ 20-ton tractors; Tractors

Air compressors

Articulating boom lift→ Cherry pickers; Hydraulic telescoping boom utility trucks

Asphalt finishers→ Road finishing machines

Axes

Backhoe boom or boom sections→ Backhoe attachments

Backhoes

Bituminous material distributors→ Asphalt spreader boxes; Oiling equipment

Blades or tooth or other cutting edges→ Blade attachments; Industrial scrapers

Blow torch→ Cutting torches

Cargo trucks→ Dempster dumpers; Flatbed trucks

Chip Spreaders

Compactors→ Asphalt compactors

Conventional truck cranes→ 5-ton truck cranes; Truck cranes

Conveyor rails→ Monorails

Curbing machines→ Curb pavers; Gutter pavers

Demolition equipment kits→ Demolition machines

Derricks

Desktop computers

Ditchers

Draglines

Drain or pipe cleaning equipment→ Basin machines; Sewer rodding machines

Dredgers→ Aquatic weed harvesters; Dredges

Drilling machines→ Drill presses

Dump trucks→ Belly dumpers; Heavy dump trucks; Single axle dump trucks; Tandem axle dump trucks

Ear plugs

Earthmoving buckets or its parts or accessories→ Bucket attachments

Edgers→ Groovers

Elevating scrapers→ Box scrapers

Extendable conveyors→ Extender conveyors

Flatbed trailers→ Truck trailers

Forestry saws→ Treecutters

Forklifts

Front end loaders→ End loaders; Tracked loaders

Gas generators→ Truck-mounted generators

Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus→ Gas welders

Graders→ Motor graders; Tilt graders

Hammers

Harrows

Hazardous material protective apparel→ Chemical-resistant clothing

Hoists→ Silent hoists; Tugger hoists

Hydraulic truck cranes→ 8-ton hydraulic cranes; Hydraulic boom trucks; Hydraulic cranes

Jacks→ Hydraulic jacks

Joint cleaning or refacing machines→ Shot blasters

Kettle exchangers→ Aeroil propane kettles

Land drilling rigs→ Churn drills; Vertical drills

Levels

Lifts→ Ross carriers; Travel lifts

Light trucks or sport utility vehicles→ Pickup trucks

Loading equipment→ Barrier movers

Manlift or personnel lift→ Manlifts

Measuring wheels for distance→ Measuring wheels

Metal detectors→ Utility locators

Milling machines

Mobile excavators→ Mini excavators

Mobile phones→ Cell phones

Mowers→ Verticutters

Paint sprayers→ Mainline paint stripers

Paving breakers→ Pavement breakers; Robotic concrete busters

Personal computers

Pick or place robots→ Robotic machines

Picks

Pneumatic hammer→ Jackhammers

Post hole digger→ Post hole diggers; Two-man augers

Power drills

Power grinders→ Grinders

Power sanders

Power saws→ Chain saws; Circular saws; Concrete saws

Protective gloves→ Safety gloves

Pulled scrapers→ Scrapers; Turn-a-pulls

Respirators

Road pavers→ Asphalt pavers; Laydown machines

Rollers

Rollers for lawn or sports grounds→ Turf quakers

Rulers

Safety boots

Safety glasses

Saws

Screwdrivers

Scrubbing machines→ Mechanical sweepers; Multipurpose vacuum catch basin cleaners; Sweepers

Seeder attachment→ Seeders

Shielded metal arc welding or stick welding machine→ Shielded arc welding tools

Shovels

Skid steer loaders→ Skid steer machines; Skip loaders

Snow blowers

Snowplow attachments→ Snowplows

Sprayers→ Runway deicers

Tampers

Tape measures

Telescoping boom lift→ Telescopic forklifts

Threading dies→ Pipe threaders

Track bulldozers→ Angle dozers; Crawler dozers

Track cranes→ Roustabout cranes

Track excavators→ Heavy duty excavators; Tracked hydraulic excavators

Track loaders→ Belt loaders

Trenching machines→ Trenchers

Two way radios

Vacuum pumps

Vibratory plates→ Vibratory compactors

Water pumps

Water trucks→ Road watering equipment; Tankers

Weeders→ Weedeaters

Wheel bulldozers→ Bulldozers

Wheel excavators→ Rubber-tired excavators

Wheel loaders→ Scoopmobiles

Winches

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative→ Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.