Skid steers are small, upright, rigid-framed vehicles that are common on almost any construction site you visit. They get their name from the simple way they have maneuvered around, with the wheels on each side mechanically locked together. Usually having four wheels, to turn a skid steer, the operator changes the rotation speed of the wheels on one side or the other, causing the faster rotating side to skid around and turn the vehicle.

On sites short of space this maneuverability is incredibly useful, they can turn within their own length so are ideal for even the tightest of spaces. They are also popular because skid steers are so versatile, and for operators, that means that every day is a little different, making it a varied career that people enjoy. While the most common fitment for a skid steer is a front loader bucket. This can be used for loading as well as pushing or transporting material, but for operators, it’s a very different experience than with traditional front loaders. Skid steers are used not just on construction sites, but are found on farms as well, and are used in large numbers for landscape gardening applications too.

The agility itself makes this an interesting vehicle to operate, but the small size also means that the lift arms actually pivot behind the operator, and this itself is something an operator must get accustomed to. Loading buckets are not the only attachment in use though, and skid steers are often seen using augers for drilling, and trenchers and are even used with snow blower attachments for clearing roads of snow in winter. You will see skid steers being used to dig holes from the inside, using ramps to remove material from the excavation. This approach is often used when space is restricted, such as in projects that require excavation underneath a building, or areas where site space is significantly reduced for some reason.

A career as a skid steer operator has a lot of potential, with varied work to keep interest high and good pay and the best way to launch that career is through effective training. As with all heavy machinery, operating skid steers accurately and importantly, safely within a site environment takes skills and understanding.

Our professional training course teaches both in the classroom and on-site, providing a broad view of skid steer operation in a variety of conditions, with a particular focus on maintaining safety for the operator and other workers around the vehicle during its operation. That training when successfully completed opens the door to so many career options, and with the skid steer in so much demand across so many different industries and situations, it really is a career that can build for a lifetime.

When a heavy equipment operator can say they know how to run a skid steer loader, they are saying they can do a lot of amazing things in a small machine. The size and versatility of skid steer loaders make them very valuable on a construction or logging site because the loader can operate in a small space but do big, big jobs.

In order to do those big jobs, the operator needs to be able to understand exactly how the skid loader works and manipulate the controls without stalling. Some skid steer loaders have been designed to eliminate this problem but not all have done so. The skid steer loader can turn in its own footprint and maneuver in tight situations if the operator is experienced.

During training at ATS Heavy Equipment Operator Training School, there will be in-the-seat training in a variety of pieces of equipment and they will be challenging at first. The skid steer loader doesn’t maneuver like the bulldozer, for instance. It also isn’t at all like driving a dump truck. Each type of heavy equipment is slightly different to operate because it has been designed for specific tasks.

Skid steer loaders are able to be outfitted with a variety of tools on the arms:

• various buckets: dirt, utility, multi-purpose, grapple
• various forks: pallet, utility, industrial grapple
• angle blade
• auger
• broom
• cold planer
• hydraulic hammer
• landscape rake & tillers
•  material handling arm
• stump grinder
• trencher
• vibratory compactor

This versatility makes the skid steer loader one of those machines that challenge an operator because every type of tool will take a slightly different technique to perfect. But it also means the operator who can meet the challenge of the skid steer loader is somebody in demand on the work site.

Loaders are one of the more common types of heavy equipment found on construction sites. They are similar to a tractor with the bucket on the front with the engine at the back as a counter weight. Unlike excavators, most loaders are wheeled rather than tracked. There is more than one type of loader and some are capable of doing multiple jobs depending on the attachments used.

The loader described is often referred to as a front end loader. These are also known as bucket loaders or scoop loaders because they have a wide square bucket that tilts to capture the dirt or to dig out an area. The bucket is a removable attachment so you can also use it as a forklift or attach a clam shell type of bucket that opens to grab whatever you are working on in its jaws. Loaders of this type are also used for snow removal, dirt removal, farming, and on construction sites.

Other loaders include the little cousin of the front end loader, the skid loader. These come with wheels or tracks and are much smaller loader than front end loaders. One of the major differences between a front end loader and a skid loader is the positioning of the lift arms. On the skid loader they are behind the driver’s shoulders rather than forward of the cab.

Backhoe loader or more commonly referred to as simply backhoes combine two pieces of equipment into one. They have the traditional loader with the front end bucket. However, the rear of the vehicle has a hydraulic arm to which a bucket or ‘hoe’ is attached. The operators seat swivels so the operate can see what he or she is doing when operating the backhoe portion. When using the backhoe there are hydraulic stabilizers the operator can place on the ground in order to lift it off the ground and provide added traction and balance.

To operate any of these pieces of heavy equipment requires training. Basic training on a front end loader will provide most of the skills required to operate all variations. Some extra training may be required to operate a backhoe. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide all the training required to successfully heavy equipment like those described.