It is late at night and the snow is gently falling to the ground. By morning,
it will be piled up on streets, highways and sidewalks. Long before most people
get out of bed, heavy equipment operators will be out plowing the roads and
walkways.
"Bobcats are great for snow removal and getting in tight places," says
Valerie Vaughan-Griffiths. She is a heavy equipment supervisor.
Although snow piles up over the winter, plowing isn't the best way for
a heavy equipment operator to earn a living.
"In the winter, some operators go in for snow removal, if they have their
own equipment," says Ron O'Connor. He is a heavy equipment operator in Idaho.
"But many just work spring, summer, fall and take the winter off. That's because
snow removal just isn't on the same pay scale."
"This is seasonal work, and that can make it quite difficult," agrees Rick
Steen. He is a heavy equipment operator. "You can turn to snow removal, but
there's no doubt the seasonality makes it hard."
So what do heavy equipment operators do in the spring, summer and fall?
They dig holes, load and unload trucks, push dirt and grade roads.
"You work real hard during the other three seasons," says O'Connor. Often,
heavy equipment operators will work long hours in their machines to get as
much work done as quickly as possible.
"Just putting in the hours can be really hard," says O'Connor. "Some machines
have limits on how many hours you are allowed to operate them. But [with]
others, you can go until you are just too tired."
Although heavy equipment operators often log many hours during long summer
days, O'Connor says it can be pleasant. "It's enjoyable to be outside in the
fresh air and sunshine," he says. "Of course, that's when the weather is nice.
When the weather is bad, it's harder to want to go out."
There is a great variety of heavy equipment. An operator could be operating
an excavator or a crane at an urban construction site. Or they might be operating
a backhoe digging drainage trenches alongside fields.
But whether they are driving skidders on logging blocks or using a Bobcat
to scoop up manure in a barn, heavy equipment operators often learn their
trade on the job.
"You start out as a construction worker, and then in a while they might
turn you loose on the bigger machines," says O'Connor. "You just hope that
you can pick up the skills because if you make a mistake, you're done."
But O'Connor says learning to drive heavy equipment such as a backhoe or
bulldozer isn't difficult. "It's amazing how quick you can pick it up with
a little bit of practice."
Learning to finesse your driving skills takes longer. "It's challenging
to operate a machine and do a proper job," says Steen. In some instances,
it can take an operator years to gain full control over their equipment.
"Anybody can dig a hole and fill it in, but it takes much more than that
to do a job well," adds Steen. "Some operators get so good at what they do,
they can remove and grade soil within a quarter of an inch of what's required."
You might think that being perched in a comfy seat in a climate-controlled
cab would be easy work. But it can be hard on the body. "You need a fair amount
of physical strength to do this job," says Vaughan-Griffiths. "You might not
think it at first, but it can be really hard on your back.
"Bobcats are notorious for hurting your back," she adds.
"You have to reach for the foot pedals and you get bumped around a lot. It's
put a few people out."
Heavy equipment operators work in a great variety of fields, including
logging, mining and in public works departments. However, the number of women
running the machines is still small.
"There are a few," says Vaughan-Griffiths. "But I'm not sure that it's
something many actually want to get into. But if they have the strength and
the desire, they can do it. It can be an enjoyable job for anyone."