Take a look at any construction site in the country and chances are that you will see at least one excavator. Easily recognizable, the excavator is identified by its tracked body and long, jointed boom, and large bucket at the front, but the reason that it is found everywhere is that it can be used in so many ways. Of course, as the name suggests, the main use of an excavator on any site is to remove material, and digging trenches, holes, and foundations. The flexible boom means they usually load the material directly onto trucks for disposal, but such is the flexibility of the design, they are frequently used for so many more tasks as well.

Use of an Excavator and its industries

For instance, you will often find excavators being used in forestry works as well, where they can be used for moving felled trees and other tasks, and they are also a common site on mining sites, where they are used as general equipment to dig, lift and move material around. The flexibility of the design really does come into its own away from the construction site and allows the excavator to take on so many different tasks.

It’s not just building things either, you can often find excavators on demolition sites, where they are used to pull down buildings and other construction. They are often used to perform the duties of a small crane, lifting and moving heavy objects around the site. You can find excavators almost anywhere construction is being done, and on very small construction sites, you find mini-excavators! It really has become the go-to heavy machine for so many different tasks, you even find excavators being used for dredging rivers and marinas.

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This is one of the reasons that so many people love being excavator operators, the flexibility of the machine itself means that you can find yourself in almost any situation as an operator, it’s a heavy machinery job that will never get boring. Wherever you go, there will always be a need for excavators and the skilled operators who drive them, and whether you are working on a new highway or demolishing an old factory, every day is different when you operate an excavator.

For many, this combination of in-demand skills and varied work makes being an excavator operator the perfect career, and with year-round opportunities and good rates, it is easy to see why. There are many career opportunities in heavy machinery, but very few that can match the excavator for variety and job satisfaction wherever you are in the country.

Mention heavy equipment and most people will think of bulldozers, graders and excavators. However, there is much smaller equipment in use every day that also wears the heavy equipment label. This group of heavy equipment machinery includes mini-trenchers, mini-loaders like the skid steer loader and mini excavators. Whilst these smaller machines are easier to operate that than their larger counterparts, operators still require training.

Heavy equipment safety is almost the same no matter how large or small the machinery is. Understanding soils, reading site plans, and working as part of an overall team is also identical irrespective of the machinery’s size. Operators will tell you that operating those little guys can be a lot of fun and certainly makes for an interesting break away from the larger equipment.

Who uses these smaller machines? They are actually used a lot in construction and have become a popular tool for landscape gardening. Excavators, backhoes and loaders can do all the muscle work, however, as a project comes close to completion, it can be difficult squeezing those larger machines around buildings. That’s where those little guys are so important – they can fit down a standard driveway and can actually complete a lot of work in a short space of time. They are also economical when it comes to adding the finishing touches.

If you are interested in a career as an operator of smaller heavy equipment, you will still need to complete a heavy equipment training program. On completion, you will be well prepared for work operating heavy equipment of all sizes.

I doubt there will ever come a time when the brute force of a large bulldozer, or the finesse of a grader, or an excavator’s precision is no longer required. However, there is no doubt that mini heavy equipment is gaining in popularity. There are plenty of reasons for this – they are cheaper to buy so trained operators can become owner-operators quickly and with ease, and the smaller-sized equipment can squeeze into areas that the larger heavy equipment can’t.

While smaller equipment like bobcats and mini excavators have been popular with landscapers for many years, we are now seeing large construction companies including them in their workforce. Mini heavy equipment vehicles can be easily loaded and transported quickly, they can get in and get a job done reasonably quickly, and the amount of work they can do often belies their size. A mini excavator can have a rather large bucket fitted and lift a fair amount of dirt out of a trench for its size.

Mini loaders, while much smaller that their bigger relatives, can fill a truck quickly because of their nimble abilities. They can zip around quite quickly and still lift a fair amount of dirt with each load. So when it comes to a work-load-to-size comparison, mini heavy equipment is starting to come out in front, or at least give a bold showing.

This leaves new recruits to the industry in a quandary – do they specialize in mini heavy equipment or head towards the larger, more traditional vehicles? That’s a personal choice that is up to you. What is important is that you give yourself that choice. By undertaking your training through an accredited well respected heavy equipment training school, you will receive instruction and experience on a range of equipment. This will prepare you for the workplace and put you in a position to make a choice. If you attend a training school that only provides instruction and experience on a piece of machinery, your options will be limited to that piece of machinery.

When seeking a heavy equipment training school, make your first question count – ask them what equipment you are going to be trained on. If they don’t offer you are good range, walk away and find another heavy equipment training school.