Construction equipment operators run excavators, drive dump trucks, steer graders, direct asphalt pavers and roll rollers to build and repair roads. And that’s just a fragment of what they do. Equipment operators dig, lift, carry, smooth, level and pave using specialized equipment. With recent attention on rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, equipment operators play a central role.

Equipment operators use equipment of all varieties, whether it moves on tires or on tanklike tracks. They toil outside, day and night, in all kinds of weather and often work irregular hours. They create and maintain structures we depend on every day, like buildings, highways and bridges.

Billy Williams, associate training specialist at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, has operated heavy equipment for 40 years and knows how long learning the ins and outs of a piece of machinery can take. "It takes years and years of sitting in the seat and doing it the right way and correcting your mistakes to become a proficient operator," Williams says.

Even as advanced laser and GPS technologies become available to more construction companies, equipment operators are still very much needed. Because these technologies are expensive and operators may lack experience with them, companies usually offer on-the-job training. "A lot of times, they hire (inexperienced people) because they need someone to start out," Williams says.

But for most construction work today, you can still get the job done the old-school way, according to Williams, who also owns his own construction business.The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2.7% employment growth for equipment operators between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 11,600 jobs should open up.

To become an equipment operator, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. A driver’s license is also needed, but a commercial driver’s license is a plus. Math courses, auto mechanic courses and vocational training can give you an edge too. Vocational schools may specialize in particular brands or types of construction equipment, and they tend to offer a range of heavy equipment training.

Another way to learn the trade is through three- to four-year apprenticeships. These programs require workers to be at least 18, to be physically able to do the work, to have a valid driver’s license, and to possess a high school diploma or equivalent. The apprenticeship consists of hours in the classroom and paid on-the-job training. Some employer-sponsored apprenticeships negotiated with The International Union of Operating Engineers offer health insurance, pensions and access to union training programs. After training, individuals can work with less guidance.

Certain states require a license, which can call for a written test, to use equipment such as cranes and forklifts. Those looking to further specialize in other equipment or practices can enroll in certification courses. Williams teaches courses through the Heavy Equipment Program at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service in areas like work zone traffic control, and he provides instruction for operating backhoes, skid-steers, excavators and other machinery. Students can take courses that range from around one day to several weeks, depending on the subject, and earn a certificate upon completion. But that doesn’t mean they’re experts.

"They’re not going to be operators in 32 hours," Williams says. "My main objective is (to) teach the basics. I teach all the safety aspects, I teach the preventive maintenance, and then I teach the operation of it."

Work zone safety, excavation safety and confined space entry training are key to following proper operating procedures and safety practices. "We want to make sure everyone can go home at the end of the day and see their family," Williams says. "One little mistake could cost you your life or cost somebody else their life."

In terms of training, "The operator’s manual is the bible to that piece of equipment," Williams says. "Learn the basics of the equipment; read the operator’s manual; get familiar with the machine."