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Heavy equipment operator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical heavy equipment operator skills. We ranked the top skills for heavy equipment operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.4% of heavy equipment operator resumes contained loaders as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a heavy equipment operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 heavy equipment operator skills for your resume and career

1. Loaders

Here's how heavy equipment operators use loaders:
  • Operated multiple types of soil stabilization front loaders maintaining excellent safety and operational results.
  • Operated track excavator and front end loaders for residential Foundation excavations.

2. Backhoe

A backhoe or also refers to as a back actor, is one of the heavy machine excavation equipment used for digging up big holes. It has an articulated arm hooked on the back of the loader that can carry big objects and transfer them from one place to another. It's like a bigger version of the shovel responsible for carrying, loading, and unloading bucket.

Here's how heavy equipment operators use backhoe:
  • Engaged in various duties in and around work site including operating Loader, Tracker hoe, backhoe, and Water Truck.
  • Operated heavy equipment including, but limited to, backhoe, excavators, bobcats, forklifts, trucks and wheel loaders.

3. CDL

Here's how heavy equipment operators use cdl:
  • Acted as a company CDL driver that safely loaded and unloaded and carried heavy construction equipment to and from job site.
  • Full knowledge of Blue prints, utility prep, Transportation of all equipment with CDL Class A, NT endorsement.

4. Asphalt

Here's how heavy equipment operators use asphalt:
  • Removed/replaced street sidewalks and asphalt for reconstruction of existing utilities on 20 projects.
  • Operated asphalt machine and maintained all equipment assigned for highway construction.

5. Safety Regulations

Here's how heavy equipment operators use safety regulations:
  • Followed safety regulations for myself and co-workers-Maintained equipment as in oil changes and quick fixes as needed-Performed other duties as assigned
  • Operated tractor-trailer/vehicle according to state and federal laws and observing all safety regulations established by the company and DMV regulations

6. Dump Truck

A Dump Truck is the name of a large vehicle intended for the transportation of large quantities of certain materials, often those used in construction projects, such as gravel and sand, and it might be used to clean up during or after said projects, such as construction waste and debris. Such vehicles require specific licensing and training on the part of the driver.

Here's how heavy equipment operators use dump truck:
  • Interpret blueprints, operate and preform daily checks on back-hoe/track-hoe/front-end loader/dump truck
  • Operated an articulated dump truck under state regulations.

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7. Load Trucks

Here's how heavy equipment operators use load trucks:
  • Operate loader to stockpile materials, load trucks with rock, clay or gravel, and feed crushing and screening plants.
  • Excavate the unused steel from pits, load trucks with steel re-bar, dumped hot steel into pits with dump truck.

8. Front End Loader

The front-end loader is a piece of heavy equipment, usually, a wheeled vehicle (sometimes on tracks) with a hydraulically operated excavator at the front to excavate and load materials such as dirt, earth, stone, sand, demolition debris, asphalt, etc. into another type of machine such as dump trucks, conveyor belt, etc. without pushing the material against the ground. The front of the loader has a large square-shaped bucket connected to the base by two hydraulic arms.

Here's how heavy equipment operators use front end loader:
  • Operated various equipment including tractors, backhoes, front end loaders, dump trucks, forklifts and front skid steer loaders.
  • Operated heavy equipment such as man lifts, sky tracks, front end loaders, track hoes, and industrial forklifts.

9. End Loaders

Here's how heavy equipment operators use end loaders:
  • Experienced in basic and complex maintenance of front-end loaders, skid loaders and backhoes including maintenance and repair of hydraulic systems.
  • Operated front end loaders with variety of attachments for gravel work and road maintenance as well as clip on snow blowers.

10. OSHA

Here's how heavy equipment operators use osha:
  • Reviewed/approved area assessment reports and corrective action plans assuring compliance with applicable OSHA and EPA regulatory guidance.
  • Operated heavy-duty construction equipment in compliance with OSHA and company safety operating procedures and policies.

11. Preventative Maintenance

Here's how heavy equipment operators use preventative maintenance:
  • Operated heavy equipment and performed daily preventative maintenance checks and services to ensure maximum performance and up-keep.
  • Performed preventative maintenance on site when weather conditions were other than favorable to continue heavy equipment operations.

12. Safety Standards

Here's how heavy equipment operators use safety standards:
  • Conducted daily walking inspections of mainline and secondary tracks and ensured structures complied with safety standards and construction specifications.
  • Completed all job assignments with limited direction and introduced productivity improvements and safety standards.

13. Bull Dozer

Here's how heavy equipment operators use bull dozer:
  • Major responsibilities included: Driving scraper and bull dozer
  • Load and unload heavy equipment such as backhoes and bull dozers onto a lowboy trailer and delivered to various construction sites.

14. Equipment Operation

Equipment operation is the process of managing and maintaining industrial equipment. This involves installing, maintaining, testing, modifying, operating, and managing the equipment's life cycle. Examples of specialized equipment include pressure vessels, industrial pipes, and rotating machinery. Engineering associations such as the EEMUA help companies to be well-versed in equipment operations.

Here's how heavy equipment operators use equipment operation:
  • Managed new and rehab pipeline construction projects, daily logs, negotiations, business development, heavy equipment operations
  • Perform a variety of skilled and semi-skilled tasks relocating engineering equipment operation, carpentry or maintenance mechanic work.

15. Good Time Management

Here's how heavy equipment operators use good time management:
  • Assist co- workers with completion of various tasks and use good time management.
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List of heavy equipment operator skills to add to your resume

Heavy equipment operator skills

The most important skills for a heavy equipment operator resume and required skills for a heavy equipment operator to have include:

  • Loaders
  • Backhoe
  • CDL
  • Asphalt
  • Safety Regulations
  • Dump Truck
  • Load Trucks
  • Front End Loader
  • End Loaders
  • OSHA
  • Preventative Maintenance
  • Safety Standards
  • Bull Dozer
  • Equipment Operation
  • Good Time Management
  • Scrapers
  • Bulldozers
  • Rollers
  • Routine Maintenance
  • Bobcat
  • Forklifts
  • Water Truck
  • Skid Steers
  • Track Hoe
  • MSHA
  • GPS
  • Shovels
  • Grade Stakes
  • Safety Procedures
  • Construction Sites
  • Tractor Trailer
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Construction Equipment
  • Maintenance Checks
  • Construction Projects
  • General Maintenance
  • Excavations
  • Wheel Loaders
  • Hoisting
  • Caterpillar
  • Booms
  • Water Lines
  • Road Construction
  • Haul Trucks
  • Snow Removal
  • Foot Controls
  • Property Damage
  • Skid Loader
  • D6

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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