Heavy Equipment Operator

The Collins Career Technical Center in Ohio offers a Heavy Equipment Operator program for individuals interested in becoming heavy equipment operators. This program trains students to operate, maintain, and repair heavy equipment, such as bulldozers and excavators. The curriculum covers equipment safety, site preparation, digging and grading techniques, and more. The program is full-time and typically takes nine months to complete. Upon completing the program, students will have the skills and knowledge necessary to work in the heavy equipment operating industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $48,290 in May 2021. Job growth for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to be about average for all occupations. However, this information is not specific to heavy equipment operators, and wages and job growth may vary for this particular occupation.

The Heavy Equipment Operators Program will focus on the operation of various heavy equipment and other critical components of heavy equipment operation in the construction industry. Classroom training will use a curriculum from the National Center for Education and Research (NCCER), earning NCCER Certifications. The classroom will also use CAT Simulator Training, Applied Technical Math, and Applied Communication. This program will also offer a unique lab setting on property throughout Lawrence County, performing actual site preparation.

Construction equipment operators typically do the following:

• Clean and maintain equipment, making basic repairs as necessary
• Report malfunctioning equipment to supervisors
• Move levers, push pedals, or turn valves to drive and maneuver equipment
• Coordinate machine actions with crew members using hand or audio signals

Construction equipment operators use machinery to move building supplies, earth, and other heavy materials at construction sites and mines. They operate equipment that clears and grades land to prepare it for the construction of roads, bridges, buildings, aircraft runways, dams, and other structures.