Starting your career in construction? The machines around you might look intimidating, but mastering key equipment will set you apart and boost your earning potential. Below, we reveal four pieces of machinery every construction worker should learn to operate to open the door to better jobs and higher pay.
Excavators
Excavators as the workhorses of earthmoving. These tracked machines perform many tasks, most notably digging foundations, trenches, and utility lines. They feature a hydraulic arm and bucket combination that operators can manipulate to control digging depth and angle.
Bulldozers
Bulldozers push, pull, and grade massive amounts of earth. The wide blade moves dirt efficiently across large areas, which is why projects tend to employ bulldozers for site preparation and road building. Moreover, today’s dozers often include GPS systems that help operators achieve exact grades automatically.
Operating a dozer requires understanding soil conditions and proper blade techniques. You’ll learn to read the ground and adjust your approach based on moisture, slope, and soil type.
Skid Steer Loaders
You’ll encounter skid steers on almost every job site. These compact, versatile machines excel at moving materials in tight spaces where larger equipment can’t reach. Their zero-turn radius makes them perfect for working around buildings and in confined areas.
Skid steers accept dozens of attachments—from buckets and forks to augers and brush cutters. You’ll want to learn how to employ each attachment effectively, always following proper skid steer safety protocols to avoid onsite accidents. For instance, wear your seatbelt, keep the cab door closed, and maintain three points of contact when entering or exiting an area.
Backhoe Loaders
Backhoe loaders combine a front loader bucket with a rear-mounted digging arm. This dual functionality is particularly useful on smaller job sites. You can load trucks with the front bucket, then swing around to dig trenches with the backhoe.
Many construction companies use backhoes as their primary utility machine. Learning to operate both ends efficiently takes practice, but the versatility makes you valuable on diverse projects.
Every construction worker should learn to operate this machinery, so if you’re pursuing a career in construction, now is the perfect moment to start learning. Be proactive about getting certified for many different machines in the trade program you attend. If you aren’t able to learn in training, request on-the-job training from your eventual employer. Each machine you master increases your value and job security in this growing industry.
