How to Use Heavy Equipment

Getting certified to use heavy equipment can be the entry into a lucrative and interesting career.

Heavy Equipment describes a variety of construction and earth-moving equipment including but not limited to forklifts, backhoes, excavators, graders, rock trucks and bulldozers. This type of equipment is typically not used by homeowners but by professional contractors. The best way to learn to use all types of heavy equipment is to enroll in a heavy-equipment operators school. Not only will such a school teach the necessary basic skills, it will also often provide the certification needed to legally operate the equipment.

Instructions

1. Enroll in a heavy equipment operators school. There are many of these schools around the country, if you want to receive training to use a particular piece of equipment, make sure this training is covered in their programs. Some schools will offer a single comprehensive program, others will split their programs up into two or more levels. Make sure the school offers certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).

2. Complete the required course work. In addition to equipment operating, these courses may include power tools, safety, basic math, maintenance and first aid.

3. Get a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). This is done by taking the test required by your state through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and allows you to legally drive large vehicles such as dump trucks, buses and large trucks. Many heavy-equipment operators schools offer this training as well. While a CDL is not mandatory in order to operate all types of heavy equipment, it is necessary to have in order to transport that equipment on public roads.

Tips & Warnings

• Heavy equipment can be dangerous, so do not try to use any piece of equipment without the proper training.

References

• National Association of Heavy Equipment Training Schools

Resources

• ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Schools