Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Heavy machine 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 machine operator skills. We ranked the top skills for heavy machine operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.2% of heavy machine operator resumes contained cranes as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a heavy machine operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 heavy machine operator skills for your resume and career

1. Cranes

Here's how heavy machine operators use cranes:

Operated steel fabrication machines, heavy duty forklifts, cutting torches and an overhead crane.
Inspected crane for defective parts and notifies supervisor of defects or malfunctions.

2. Preventative Maintenance

Here's how heavy machine operators use preventative maintenance:

Serviced and performed general and preventative maintenance on all equipment.
Completed preventative maintenance on various pieces of equipment.

3. CNC

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that usually uses computerized controls and machine tools to strip layers of material from a stock piece.

Here's how heavy machine operators use cnc:

Set up and ran specialty parts on a CNC Lathe-Maintained the area around the machine-Performed duties as assigned
Clean, Measure, and trim all precious metals Operate CNC Machinery Ensure precious metals are ready to go through processing

4. Grinders

Here's how heavy machine operators use grinders:

Operate loader for screening plants and other processing plants such as concrete crusher and tub grinders.

5. Troubleshoot

Troubleshooting is the process of analyzing and fixing any kind of problem in a system or a machine. Troubleshooting is the detailed yet quick search in the system for the main source of an issue and solving it.

Here's how heavy machine operators use troubleshoot:

Repaired and troubleshoot all complicated mechanical and electrical issues.
Program, set up, troubleshoot, and maintain machines used to stack products on a pallet and wrap them.

6. Load Trucks

Here's how heavy machine operators use load trucks:

Load and unload trucks, purchase different types of metal and maintain the machines and yard.
Load trains with the metal skids, and unload trucks of metal coils.

Choose from 10+ customizable heavy machine operator resume templates

Build a professional heavy machine operator resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your heavy machine operator resume.

7. Safety Standards

Here's how heavy machine operators use safety standards:

Operated all equipment according to safety standards
Ensured that all machinery was up to safety standards.

8. 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 machine operators use dump truck:

Assist customers with product advice, load materials into trailer, dump truck, semi, etc.
Lay water and sewer pipelines (commercial & residential)Heavy Machine Operator and Dump Truck DriverSnow plowing/removal

9. 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 machine operators use backhoe:

Operate heavy equipment such as a Backhoe tractor for leveling and shading the ground for pipelines on residential construction foundations.
Trained to operate heavy machinery including but not limited to pay loader, backhoe, D10,Bobcat and conveyor.

10. Bulldozers

Here's how heavy machine operators use bulldozers:

Used bulldozer to create sand mounds, which were then loaded with the front-end loader into large semi trucks.
Excavated roads, land, dug basements using heavy machines including bulldozers, scrapers, compactors, skid loaders.

11. Bobcat

A bobcat is a utility vehicle that can be used at farms to facilitate transportation and help perform different tasks.

Here's how heavy machine operators use bobcat:

Operate 400 ton off road trucks, Bulldozer, Front loader, Excavator and bobcat.
Operated crane, front end loader, skid steer, bobcat, and bulldozer.

12. End Loaders

Here's how heavy machine operators use end loaders:

Customized & tested various Tractors, Backhoes, End Loaders, Industrial Forklifts, & Bull Dozers.
Operated Heavy Machinery (Large Dozers, Large Trackhoes, Front end Loaders) Responsible for machine.

13. 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 machine operators use front end loader:

Front End loader: feeding cotton seed loads into dispenser, loading and unloading cotton seeds from the 18wheelers.
Operate multiple kinds of heavy equipment Skid steers, Excavators, Rollers, Tractors, Front End Loader.

14. Track Hoe

Here's how heavy machine operators use track hoe:

Promoted to operating mostly track hoes and bull dozers.
track hoe, bulldozer, Volvo truck, and pay loader.

15. Skid Steers

Here's how heavy machine operators use skid steers:

Operated skid steers, loaders, and tractors with different attachments.
unload Flat Bed trucks and Box trucks with lulls and skid steers.

5 Heavy Machine Operator resume examples

Build a professional heavy machine operator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 5+ resume templates to create your heavy machine operator resume.

Create my resume

Build a professional resume in minutes using this template.

What skills help Heavy Machine Operators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

List of heavy machine operator skills to add to your resume

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

Cranes
Preventative Maintenance
CNC
Grinders
Troubleshoot
Load Trucks
Safety Standards
Dump Truck
Backhoe
Bulldozers
Bobcat
End Loaders
Front End Loader
Track Hoe

Skid Steers
Routine Maintenance
DIG
CDL
Construction Sites
Construction Equipment
Water Truck
Assembly Line
Shovels
DOT
Excavations
DUG
Safety Procedures
Maintenance Checks

Safety Regulations
Hoists
Equipment Operators
Caterpillar
Water Lines
General Maintenance
Relevant Legislation
Snow Removal
Equipment Maintenance
Inventory Control
Safety Guidelines
Hand Signals

Updated January 8, 2025

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

Browse transportation jobs