Building a Career in Earthmoving

A career in earthmoving can be very rewarding. It is a highly skilled trade that requires both physical strength and stamina, keen attention to detail, as well a strong understanding of the latest earthmoving equipment and technology. You get to work outdoors, operate heavy machinery, and be a part of exciting construction projects.

If you’re interested in this line of work, there are a few things you should know before getting started. In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of what earthmoving is, the skills you need to succeed, and how to get started in this career.

What is earthmoving?

Earthmoving is the process of moving large volumes of earth, rock, or other materials. This can be done using heavy machineries such as excavators, loaders, bulldozers, and dump trucks. Earthmoving is an important part of many construction projects, such as building roads, railways, bridges, and dams.

What does an earthmover do?

An earthmover is responsible for operating heavy machinery to excavate, grade, and level land. This can include anything from small construction projects to large-scale mining operations. Earthmovers typically work on a construction crew with other tradesmen such as carpenters, electricians, and plumbers. 

Some of the day-to-day tasks that you can expect from a career in earthmoving:

• Operating machinery for civil construction excavator operations
• Monitoring plant operations such as skid steer loader and front-end loader operations
• Understanding complex construction machine controls and safely performing repairs

Skills you need to succeed

To be successful in earthmoving, you need to have problem-solving skills, a strong understanding of how your machinery works, as well as proficiency in basic mechanical repairs. You will often be working with complex machines and will need to be able to troubleshoot and repair common problems that arise on your own equipment between jobs. It’s also important to have good communication skills so that you can effectively communicate with your team members to resolve these issues. 

You also need to be able to think on your feet and be familiar with the latest earthmoving equipment and technology to adapt to changing conditions on the worksite. With advances in GPS technology, many machines now come equipped with GPS systems that help operators navigate the worksite and avoid obstacles. As such, it’s important that you have experience operating GPS-equipped machinery.

An earthmover must also be able to operate their machinery safely and efficiently. This requires not only physical strength and stamina but also keen attention to detail and knowledge of the machine’s capabilities and limitations. Earthmovers must be able to read and interpret blueprints and plans to properly execute the project at hand. 

Lastly, due to the nature of the work, earthmovers must be comfortable working long hours in sometimes challenging weather conditions. Many construction projects have tight deadlines that require workers to put in overtime hours to complete the job on time. Additionally, working outdoors in hot or cold weather can be taxing on your body if you’re not used to it. 

Getting started in your earthmoving career

If you’re interested in this line of work, it’s important that you have the physical strength and stamina required to operate heavy machinery safely and efficiently. If you think you have what it takes to build a career in this field, then be sure to invest in the proper training and education needed to succeed.

Training and education required for a career in earthmoving

There are a few different ways to get started in your career in earthmoving. One option is to complete an apprenticeship, which will give you the opportunity to learn the skills you need while working under the supervision of experienced tradespeople. Another option is to take earthmoving courses — a certificate in civil construction, which will give you the theoretical knowledge you need to work as an earthmover.

Most employers prefer candidates who have completed an apprenticeship or certificate program from a building school like BAA. 

Ready to kick start your career in earthmoving?

A career in earthmoving can be both rewarding and challenging. You get to work outdoors, operate heavy machinery, and be a part of large scale construction projects in some instances. If you think you have what it takes to build a career in earthmoving, BAA’s RII30820 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations will help you get there.

In this course, we will deliver training with a mixture of both theory and practical elements to provide you with industry knowledge and skills needed to work in civil construction. Upon successful completion of this nationally recognised course, you will be able to undertake a range of manual tasks and operate machinery on construction sites.

Thinking about doing a RII30820 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations with Builders Academy? Find out if you’re eligible by giving us a call on 1300 LEGEND or requesting a call back today.