Explore unit group

Version:
NOC 2006 Version 1.0

7421 – Heavy Equipment Operators (Except Crane)

Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work. They are employed by construction companies, heavy equipment contractors, public works departments and pipeline, logging, cargo-handling and other companies.

Profile

Index of titles Example job titles

  • Aerial tram operator
  • Apprentice heavy equipment operator
  • Asphalt batch plant operator
  • Asphalt plant operator
  • Asphalt roller operator
  • Asphalt spreader operator
  • Asphalt street paver operator
  • Asphalt-grooving machine operator
  • Asphalt-paving machine operator
  • Asphalt-paving screed operator
  • Backhoe operator
  • Bituminous paver operator - heavy equipment
  • Bobcat operator
  • Boom-conveyor operator
  • Bucketwheel operator
  • Bucketwheel-excavator operator
  • Buggy-operator skinner
  • Buggy-scraper operator
  • Bulldozer driver
  • Bulldozer operator
  • Cat operator
  • Cat skinner
  • Caterpillar car operator
  • Caterpillar operator
  • Concrete spreader operator - heavy equipment
  • Concrete-grooving machine operator
  • Concrete-paving machine operator
  • Construction equipment operator
  • Continuous bucket excavator operator
  • Crawler tractor operator
  • Ditcher operator - construction
  • Ditching machine operator
  • Dozer operator
  • Dredge operator
  • Dredge runner
  • Earth-moving equipment operator
  • Electrical equipment operator - shovel
  • Elevating grader operator
  • Elevating scraper operator
  • Equipment operator, heavy-duty
  • Excavating machine operator
  • Excavator operator
  • Field engineer equipment operator - military
  • Front end loader operator
  • Gradall operator
  • Grader operator
  • Groove-cutting machine operator
  • Grooving machine operator - heavy equipment
  • Hammer operator, pile driving
  • Heater-planer operator
  • Heavy construction-equipment operator
  • Heavy equipment operator
  • Heavy equipment operator apprentice
  • Heavy-duty equipment operator
  • Heavy-duty equipment operator apprentice
  • Ho-ram operator
  • Horizontal earth-boring machine operator
  • Hydraulic excavator operator
  • Industrial backhoe operator
  • Loader operator - construction
  • Mining shovel operator (except underground)
  • Mobile support equipment operator (heavy equipment) - military
  • Mole operator
  • Mucker operator - construction
  • Mucking machine operator - construction
  • Operating engineer, heavy equipment
  • Operator, asphalt plant
  • Operator, heavy construction-equipment
  • Operator, pile-driving hammer
  • Operator, side boom tractor
  • Paver operator
  • Payloader operator
  • Peat-moss-cutting machine operator
  • Peat-moss-gathering machine operator
  • Pile driver winch operator
  • Pile-driving hammer operator
  • Pipelayer operator
  • Power grader operator
  • Power shovel operator
  • Pulvimixer operator
  • Ripper operator - heavy equipment
  • Road grader operator
  • Road mixer operator
  • Road planer operator
  • Road roller operator
  • Roller operator
  • Rotary trencher operator
  • Scarifier operator
  • Scraper operator
  • Screed operator, asphalt paving
  • Shield operator
  • Shovel operator - heavy equipment
  • Side boom operator - pipeline construction
  • Side boom tractor operator
  • Snow-grooming machine operator
  • Spreader operator - heavy equipment
  • Stacker operator - heavy equipment
  • Street paver operator
  • Street paver, asphalt operator
  • Stripping shovel operator
  • Structural hydraulic jack erector
  • Surface mining equipment operator
  • Track-loader operator
  • Tractor operator - construction
  • Tractor-excavator operator
  • Trench-digging machine operator
  • Trenching machine operator
  • Tunnelling machine operator
  • Vibratory road roller operator
  • Vibratory roller operator
  • Backhoe operator
  • Bulldozer operator
  • Excavator operator
  • Gradall operator
  • Grader operator
  • Heavy equipment operator
  • Heavy equipment operator apprentice
  • Loader operator - construction
  • Side boom tractor operator
  • Surface mining equipment operator

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Heavy equipment operators perform some or all of the following duties:
    • Operate heavy equipment such as backhoes, bulldozers, loaders and graders to excavate, move, load and grade earth, rock, gravel or other materials during construction and related activities
    • Operate bulldozers or other heavy equipment to clear brush and stumps prior to logging activities and to build roads at logging and surface mining sites
    • Operate heavy equipment with pile driver head to drive piling into earth to provide support for buildings, bridges or other structures
    • Operate heavy dredging equipment to deepen waterways or reclaim earth fill
    • Operate heavy paving and surfacing equipment to lay, spread or compact concrete, asphalt and other surface materials during highway and road construction
    • Operate power shovels to excavate rock, ore or other materials from open-pit mines, strip mines, quarries or construction pits
    • Operate heavy equipment to move, load and unload cargo
    • Conduct pre-operational checks on equipment and clean, lubricate and refill equipment.

Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is required.
  • Completion of a one- to two-year apprenticeship program or Some high school, college or industry courses in heavy equipment operating combined with on-the-job training are required.
  • Trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
  • Internal company certification may be required by some employers.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Exclusions

  • Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews (7217)
  • Crane Operators (7371)
  • Logging Machinery Operators (8241)
  • Forklift and industrial truck operators (in 7452 Material Handlers)
  • Underground Production and Development Miners (8231)

Breakdown summary

Broad occupational category
7 – Trades, Transport and Equipment Operators and Related Occupations
Skill level
C – Occupations usually require secondary school and/or occupation-specific training.
Major group
74 – Intermediate Occupations in Transport, Equipment Operation, Installation and Maintenance
Minor group
742 – Heavy Equipment Operators
Version
NOC 2006 Version 1.0