Learning new skills can make you more marketable if you want to advance your heavy equipment operator career. Part of your job as a heavy equipment operator is to be aware of the changes in your industry. 

If you want to be employed by the top companies, you need to improve your capabilities and get the necessary experience and knowledge. So how do you move ahead? 

The answer is simple: You start by staying proactive about your career development.

Benefits of having a heavy equipment operator 

A heavy equipment operator is a construction worker who is specifically tasked with the safe and efficient operations of heavy machinery, such as loaders, dump trucks, backhoes, excavators, motor graders and more. Here are three benefits they offer:

1. Significant expertise — Operators of heavy equipment are trained professionals with a lot of experience who have gone through rigorous training programs.

2. Improved safety — Heavy equipment operators are very familiar with the various types of machinery they use daily, including how it works, what issues can arise, and how to correct them quickly; this reduces the potential for accidents or other unsafe practices.

3. Increased productivity — By hiring an experienced operator who knows how to use the machinery effectively, your company will be able to complete projects in a timely fashion while maintaining high quality standards. Most operators also learn how to perform maintenance on their machines, increasing productivity.

4 ways to be more marketable as a heavy equipment operator

As a heavy equipment operator, you may have already gone through an apprenticeship program and learned how to operate multiple pieces of equipment. But suppose you want to stay on top of your game and continue working as an operator? In that case, you must pursue continuing education opportunities. 

Here are some ways that you can become a more marketable heavy equipment operator:

• Make sure that your certifications are current — All certifications expire after varying periods and must be renewed to remain valid. Suppose you want to continue working as a heavy equipment operator. In that case, you must keep your certifications up to date by renewing them before they expire.

• Maintain a solid safety record — Have a good safety record on and off the job site. Employers want safe workers who will not put themselves or others at risk.

• Take advantage of training/certification opportunities — Earning certifications in specialties like crane operation, confined space entry or forklift operation can make you more appealing to potential employers. Train on different kinds of heavy equipment. You’ll be more attractive as a worker when you can operate multiple types of machines (e.g., backhoes, bulldozers, graders, front-end loaders).

• Work on your soft skills — Having excellent communication skills, being a team player, and having good time management skills will help you get hired and succeed on the job.

The key to making yourself more marketable is developing your skill set and increasing your knowledge base. Remember that the industry changes; what is cutting edge today will probably be replaced with something better tomorrow. To stay relevant, you need to keep on top of new tech and trends as they appear and learn as much about them as possible. 

Where can I turn for tried and trusted heavy equipment operator training?

You’ve decided to boost your marketability by doing more heavy equipment operator training. But where can you find training that’s thorough, high quality and meets industry standards? That’s easy. Get in touch with Basin Safety.

Our Basin Safety team offers a wide range of heavy equipment training programs. The programs we’ve built are comprehensive and intended to help make you a better, safer and more marketable equipment operator.  

Contact us today at Basin Safety for more information about all our work site and safety training programs and equipment services.