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Heavy machinery 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 machinery operator skills. We ranked the top skills for heavy machinery operators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.3% of heavy machinery operator resumes contained dump truck as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a heavy machinery operator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 heavy machinery operator skills for your resume and career

1. 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 machinery operators use dump truck:

Operated machinery on landscaping jobs from mini-excavators to skid steers to dump trucks.
Experienced in A-40 Series dump trucks, hauling miscellaneous materials.

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 machinery operators use backhoe:

Operated and maintained heavy equipment: backhoe, skid steer, mulcher, bulldozer, and tractor.
Operate a Caterpillar D8 (plow/dozer), backhoe, and front end loaders.

3. Load Trucks

Here's how heavy machinery operators use load trucks:

Use Skid Steer Loader to feed materials onto the baler, load trucks, transport materials etc.
Operated heavy machinery daily, used transits to make grade, load and unload trucks.

4. 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 machinery operators use front end loader:

Operate a various equipment to include rubber tire front end loaders, backhoes, off road trucks, water trucks.
Worked 6 months on a ground crew performing heavy manual laborPromoted to heavy machinery operator (front end loader)

5. CDL

Here's how heavy machinery operators use cdl:

Operate heavy machinery, run fiber optic cables, assist with crew where needed, CDL driving for certain assignments
Truck Driver Operator CDL class B license.

6. 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 machinery operators use bobcat:

Operated and maintained wheel and track loaders, excavators, bobcats and tractors.
Operated backhoes, bobcats, loaders, forklifts, excavators, and sweepers.

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7. End Loaders

Here's how heavy machinery operators use end loaders:

Applied safe practice regulations while having the responsibility of operating heavy machinery of Hi-Low's and front-end loaders.
Operated and monitored equipment included in the waste-water treatment process including operating front end loaders.

8. Inspect Machines

Here's how heavy machinery operators use inspect machines:

Operate and inspect machines Operate 740A Rear-end dump, Roller, Water truck and Frontend loader to maintain roads and job site

9. Assembly Line

Assembly line is a process used in industries to ensure the production of products in a cost effective manner by dividing up the responsibilities of each labor. Assembly lines enabled industries to hire more workers, therefore providing more employment opportunities to labors. This is possible because in this process the burden of all the tasks related to production are not laid on a single person, they are divided into small baby steps for each labor.

Here's how heavy machinery operators use assembly line:

Produced car parts * Worked on an assembly line * Operated press machines * Attended nightly meeting and gave input
Earned recognition for producing equally impressive results both independently and as a team member within assembly line setting.

10. Bulldozers

Here's how heavy machinery operators use bulldozers:

Operated light machinery including bulldozers and maintainers
Start engines, move throttle switch and levers, such as bulldozers, road graders and backhoes and related machines.

11. Steer Loader

Here's how heavy machinery operators use steer loader:

Operated heavy machinery such as excavators and skid steer loaders.

12. Machine Operation

Here's how heavy machinery operators use machine operation:

Trained on and trained others in all aspects of machine operations and procedures safely and effectively.
Observed machine operation to detect workpiece defects on machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.

13. 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 machinery operators use cnc:

Operated CNC lathe along with several other pieces of machinery equipment.
Programmed CNC machine for component placement and trigonometry assessment of circuitry board.

14. Caterpillar

Here's how heavy machinery operators use caterpillar:

Worked at Caterpillar through American Staffing as a heavy equipment operator.
Complete minor maintenance actions as required on Caterpillar Loading equipment.

15. Perform Routine Maintenance

Here's how heavy machinery operators use perform routine maintenance:

Complete daily safety inspections on equipment and perform routine maintenance as scheduled.
Perform routine maintenance and equipment checks

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List of heavy machinery operator skills to add to your resume

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

Dump Truck
Backhoe
Load Trucks
Front End Loader
CDL
Bobcat
End Loaders
Inspect Machines
Assembly Line
Bulldozers

Steer Loader
Machine Operation
CNC
Caterpillar
Perform Routine Maintenance
Construction Equipment
Safety Regulations
General Maintenance
Manual Labor
Safety Procedures

Product Specifications
Routine Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance
Farm Equipment
Booms
Water Truck
Construction Projects
Snow Removal

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

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