Employment Readiness
Where to Find Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs
Did you know there is still a high demand for heavy equipment operators? Heavy equipment operation could be your next career step if you're a reliable worker who picks up new skills quickly. Here are three industries that need people like you and may offer a path to a permanent position.
The Agriculture Industry
Thanks to corporate agricultural businesses, a lot more machines are being used to get produce from the farm to our grocery stores. That means there’s a lot more equipment to operate and maintain. That's why farms are great resources for heavy equipment operator jobs. Tractors, harvesters, and even hydraulic pumps are just a few of the farming machinery operators work with. Traveling to farms to operate equipment for planting, harvesting, and maintenance comes with this type of heavy equipment operator job.
What does work on a farm look like for heavy equipment operators? Just like farmers, their workloads vary according to seasons. Depending on the crop, spring, summer, or fall can be busy seasons. You may get plenty of overtime opportunities to boost earnings with longer shifts and seven-day schedules. On the other hand, the workweeks tend to be shorter during the colder months, giving you more family time. Many farms work with staffing agencies to find reliable operators, giving you a chance to demonstrate your work ethic before they make permanent hiring decisions.
The Construction Industry
Another popular industry for heavy equipment operators is construction. These workers are responsible for operating bulldozers, running excavators, managing crane operations, and performing routine equipment checks on a construction site. Heavy equipment mechanics may also be asked to maintain logs of all their repairs.
With this type of heavy equipment operator job, working a full-time schedule with consistent weekly pay is very common, perfect for building toward long-term financial stability. Employers in this industry value workers who show up consistently, know how to work safely, and take pride in quality work.
The Transportation Industry
Transportation businesses also look for hardworking and reliable heavy equipment operators. A freight railroad company would need heavy equipment operators to handle front loaders, excavators, and skid steers. A trucking company, on the other hand, will hire these workers to handle trucks and trailers. Like other heavy equipment operators, they work full-time schedules with opportunities for steady employment.
Each work assignment in these industries and more can teach you how to operate new heavy equipment and safety protocols. That experience can help you build a resume that opens doors to better opportunities. Many operators start as temporary workers through staffing agencies and transition into permanent roles once they prove their value to employers.
