The more training a heavy equipment operator receives, the more projects he can work on and the more money he can make. The most valuable operator on any site is going to be the person with the most experience with the most types of equipment. This is definitely an important aspect of choosing a heavy equipment school. Many schools teach the basic bulldozer and crane work, but for an operator to really get ahead, the chosen school must go above and beyond the basics. Skid steer training is training that can be invaluable to a heavy equipment operator due to the skid steer’s various uses.

The skid steer loader is a very useful machine on any work site because of the many attachments that can truly make it fit almost any job. Its main attachment is a bucket that can be used to push, carry and load materials into a truck or other piece of equipment. But, the additional attachments that can be added on are nearly limitless in their possibilities. Some of the attachments that can be added on are augers, backhoes, snow blowers, lawn mowers and even wood chipper machines. These numerous uses really make the skid steer a necessity no matter what the construction project might be.

Skid steer training is an additional specialty a heavy equipment operator can add to his or her arsenal that can set him apart from the competition. The more training and experience a heavy equipment operator has to offer a company, the more likely he will be hired by a top tier company.

Skid steer loaders are one of the most versatile pieces of equipment in use. Once thought of more as a landscaping tool, they are starting to make their presence felt in construction. The skid steer loader is probably the one piece of heavy equipment that proves that size doesn’t matter, or that smaller can be better.

As you can see from this picture, skid steer loaders are not simply loaders. This machine has been fitted with a breaker designed a little like a large jackhammer. Its job is to break up any hard surface. This includes rock, concrete and packed earth. There are so many different types of attachments that it would take ten blog posts just to cover the more common types.

The list of attachments for a skid steer loader include

• Backhoe and mini backhoe
• Auger
• Bucket
• Crane boom
• Grading rake
• Post hole digger
• Trencher
• and Grappler

How To Have A Happy And Long Career As A Skid Steer Loader

This second picture shows a skid steer loader fitted with a grappler. You can see how easy it can move large objects like rocks away from a work area.

Skid steer loader training is more than just learning how to drive the loader component. You need to learn how to change attachments and how these attachments operate. There are also maintenance issues with each attachment in use. Most training programs cover the basics of attachments, the balance of your training being done on the job.

If you’re interested in a career operating a skid steer loader then the best advice I can offer is to find employment after your training that will expose you to a variety of attachments. Developing skills in the operation of a variety of skid steer attachments will make your future employment more attractive. Having operators that are multi-skilled is becoming important in our modern work forces. If you can promote yourself as a multi-skilled skid steer loader operator, you will have a long and happy career.