Heavy equipment operator job listings will go through an unsettled period in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. For some construction businesses, everything has come to a standstill as they try to assess the damage done to work in progress. Hundreds, if not thousands, of heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, and crane operators are going to be needed to help with clean-up efforts, repairs, and with the demolition and rebuilding of buildings badly damaged. There are a lot of roads that are going to need work on as well.

Right now, heavy equipment job listings are fairly light, although that follows a rather heavy list of job opportunities last listed last weekend. There is plenty going on in the south and west in states that were not affected by Hurricane Sandy, however, there will be operators from these areas who will be called in to help with the cleanup. Opportunities listed over the last two weeks include:

Heavy Equipment Operators
Southern States
Operators required for forestry projects in southern states.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Palo Alto, CA
Heavy Equipment Operator in the Public Works Maintenance Operations-Street Division. Operates may be required to operate one or more types of heavy equipment.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Mountain Pass, CA
Operates designated machine or equipment. Observes and follow all safety rules and procedures. Performs other duties and activities as directed. Typically requires 2-5 years of related experience and certification.

Equipment Operator
Mendota, CA
Operate and maintain front-end loaders and other material handling equipment such as conveyors, reclaimers, disc screens, and truck dumpers.

Heavy Equipment Operator
Cedar Rapids, IA
Operate motor grader, dump truck, and other equipment. May also be required to operate low-boy and heavy equipment such as a bulldozer, motor graders, front-end loaders, and excavators; plows snow; sanding equipment; drive trucks; and unskilled labor when not operating.

For more information on these or any job vacancies that arrive, please refer to our dedicated jobs website. For more information on careers in heavy equipment operations, truck driving, or crane operations, please refer to our training website.

It probably doesn’t surprise readers to learn that over 200,000 women currently work as truck drivers. What is probably not known is that there are more than 100,000 women working as heavy equipment operators. It’s not just the older women who are looking for something to do once the kids have leave home either; there are a lot of young women who are also undertaking training in these fields.

So why are they entering what has in the past been considered a non-traditional career for women? Money is one lure as is the freedom that heavy equipment operators and truck drivers experience. There’s also the lure of power – not the kind of power that politicians crave; rather, it’s the power of the equipment. Being in control of a bulldozer that is pushing around tons of dirt each day is an incredible feeling for those who are new to this type of work.

Every woman will have her own reasons for considering a career as a heavy equipment operator. If you’re a woman and considering training to become a heavy equipment operator, I’m sure you will have your reasons – and for many, it’s a combination of those three – money, freedom and power. It’s the one area where anyone from any walk of life can work successfully in if they have had the right sort of training.

Heavy equipment operator training lays the foundation that opens doors to entry level work. Once you’re on the job, you can start to build on those skills. Modern equipment is easy to operate, and physical strength is no longer a requirement.

When it come to looking for work, you’ll be surprised how many employers readily hire women. They have a reputation for the meticulous, especially when it comes to attention detail, following plans, and completing the required paperwork that often comes with each job. If you’re a woman looking for a different career, consider joining the growing army of women truck drivers and heavy equipment operators.