Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

What Does a Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Do?

Operate one or several types of power construction equipment, such as motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, compressors, pumps, derricks, shovels, tractors, or front-end loaders to excavate, move, and grade earth, erect structures, or pour concrete or other hard surface pavement. May repair and maintain equipment in addition to other duties.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Learn and follow safety regulations.
• 2Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
• 3Start engines, move throttles, switches, or levers, or depress pedals to operate machines, such as bulldozers, trench excavators, road graders, or backhoes.
• 4Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.
• 5Align machines, cutterheads, or depth gauge makers with reference stakes and guidelines or ground or position equipment, following hand signals of other workers.
• 6Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to beginning work.
• 7Signal operators to guide movement of tractor-drawn machines.
• 8Repair and maintain equipment, making emergency adjustments or assisting with major repairs as necessary.

Required Skills

• Maintenance record software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Windows
• Work record software

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators Salary