Moving mountains may sound impossible, but material moving machine operators do it all the time, one load of earth at a time. They use machinery to move heavy materials around building sites, warehouses, ships and mines. Material moving machine operators use a variety of equipment in different settings. Most of these operators drive forklifts moving materials around warehouses, storage yards, or worksites. They may operate conveyor belts to pick up merchandise, and move it to and from large warehouses, building sites and vehicles. Many operators work for underground and surface mining companies digging mines to extract coal, ore and other materials. They load material onto shuttles or conveyors running from a mine to the surface. Some operate platforms and cages that raise workers and materials up to elevated construction sites or lower them down into mines and quarries. In construction, these machine operators clear space for buildings with excavators, and operate cranes to load and unload building materials. Cranes are also used at ports to move cargo, and at iron and steel mills. Dredge operators shift large quantities of sand and gravel from the bottom of rivers, lakes and other waterways so that ships and boats can move freely. Safe equipment operation is a top priority in this field; injury and illness rates are higher than most occupations. Workers wear gloves, hardhats, or respirators as needed. Most material moving machine operators work full time— sometimes with overnight shifts— and overtime is common. Although there are typically no formal education requirements, a high school education may be preferred for some positions, and is often required for crane operators, excavating machine operators, and dredge operators. Some states and cities require licensure for crane operators.
Related Careers: Highway Maintenance Workers, Paving Equipment Operators, Logging Equipment Operators, Crane and Towering Operators, Earth Drillers Except Oil and Gas, Oil and Gas Derrick Operators, Underground Mining Loading Machine Operators, Dredge Operators, Conveyor Operators and Tenders, Rail Engineers, Donkey Operators and Hostlers & Mine Shuttle Car Operators
Sources: Minnesota CAREERwise & CareerOneStop
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Operate excavation equipment.
- Inspect material-moving equipment to detect problems.
- Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
- Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Clean facilities or work areas.
- Move materials, equipment, or supplies.
- Shovel materials.
- Maintain material moving equipment in good working condition.
- Measure product or material dimensions.
- Verify information or specifications.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Working with a group or team.
- Exposure to whole body vibration.
- Frequent decision-making.
- Working outdoors exposed to weather.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
- The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
- A work pace that is determined by the speed of equipment.
Tools & Technology used by Heavy Equipment Operators
Source: Minnesota CAREERwise
Most Important Skills for Heavy Equipment Operators
- Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
- Maintaining Equipment—Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
- Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
- Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Most Important Knowledge Areas for Heavy Equipment Operators
- Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
- 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.
- Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Design—Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
- Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
- English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Transportation—Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:
- 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.
- Enterprising—Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Source: Minnesota CAREERwise
| Wages Per Hour For Heavy Equipment Operators (MN) | ||
Low$24.85 |
Median$37.19 |
High$45.82 |
Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.
Source: Minnesota DEED Occupational Employment Statistics Tool
Demand
This career is seeing flat compared to other careers. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.
Source: Minnesota CAREERwise
This career is best for those with at least a high school degree, but most professionals attend some college. This job does not require a license, or any certifications.
Visit the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for more information about this career, as well as links to education and training programs in Minnesota.
View the local post-secondary education options for this career from Central Lakes College.
Spotlight on Central Lakes College
- Why consider CLC?
- Virtual Campus Tours: Brainerd Campus, Staples Campus
- Learn more about the CLC Honors Program.
- Attend CLC, and you may never need to buy a textbook.
If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at CLC.
Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:
- Accounting
- Algebra I and II
- Automobile and Diesel Mechanics
- Business English
- Chemistry
- Industrial Technology
- Manufacturing System
- Metalworking
- Physics
- Pre-Calculus
- Transportation Technology
- Trigonometry
Source: Minnesota CAREERwise
Explore these 360 degree views of the truck yard and inside a cab at Anderson Brothers.
Industry Partner
Visit the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for more information about this career, as well as links to education and training programs in Minnesota.
CLC’s Ultimate Sandbox
Videos
Heavy Equipment & Truck Careers (MN State Transportation Center of Excellence)
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Diesel, Equipment & Truck Play List (MN State Transportation Center of Excellence)