Operates construction and earth moving equipment as identified on the Equipment Operator Class A and B Lists.

This classification is distinguished from Equipment Operator 2 by the absence of regular assignment to operate Class C equipment.

Operates road equipment used in construction, snow removal, and similar maintenance activities; 

Operates small bulldozer and other earth moving equipment in clearing and leveling land, making ditches, making roadbeds; 

Operates loaders, backhoes and loading booms to lift, move or place material or supplies; 

Operates dump trucks with trailers for the hauling of equipment and materials to the job site; 

Greases, oils, services, and makes minor repairs to equipment; keeps equipment in good working order; makes emergency adjustments; assists mechanic in making major repairs; 

Maintains records of equipment use and fuel and oil consumption; 

Leads work of crew assigned to the project; 

May perform a variety of cleanup and/or maintenance work during periods of severe inclement weather or during breaks in projects; 

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: rules of safe operation of equipment; state motor vehicle laws; methods, tools and materials used in servicing and maintaining equipment. 

Ability to: operate construction equipment in safe and skillful manner; make adjustments and emergency repairs to equipment; follow oral and written instructions; keep maintenance and operations records.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification.  It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Two years of experience in operation of construction and earth moving equipment.  An unrestricted motor vehicle operator’s license with a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) may be required. 

Note:    Individual agencies will designate the need for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with specific endorsements.  Candidates selected for CDL Positions will be tested for use of controlled substance and alcohol misuse as required by the 1991 Federal Onmibus Transportation Employee Testing Act.

Revise class; adopted September 1, 1968.
Revise class. Revises minimum qualifications; adopted August 1, 1976.
Revise class. Revises definition, minimum qualifications, adds distinguishing characteristics; adopted October 15, 1982.
Revise class. Revises class code (formerly 7332); adopted August 10, 1984.
Deletes Special Pay Provisions; adopted October 12, 1984.
Establishes Equipment List; adopted October 12, 1984.
Revise class. Revises title (formerly Equipment Operator 2), definition, distinguishing characteristics, minimum qualifications, deletes equipment list, general revision; adopted October 11, 1996.
Revise class. Revises title, class code (formerly 71180 Equipment Operator A), distinguishing characteristics, general revision; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.
Revised class title (formerly Equipment Operator), definition, and distinguishing characteristics; adopted August 11, 2011, effective August 12, 2011.
Revised A, B, and C lists effective February 7, 2014

Class A, B, C, and History:

The equipment list attached is not part of the Job Specifications adopted by the Office of Financial Management, State Human Resources. They can be modified by the Office of Financial Management, State Human Resources by agreement with any of the user agencies.  

Equipment Operator 1
Class A

Truck with or without trailer (28,000 to 54,000 Gross Vehicle/Combination Weight).  Examples:  5 to 12 yard Dump Trucks with or without snowplow and/or sanding equipment.  Includes stakeside, flatbed or 1,000 to 2,499 gallon tank on truck. 

1. Crawler tractors having less than 80 net flywheel horsepower.  Examples:  John Deere (JD) 450, Caterpillar (CAT) D-4, Case 850D or smaller.
2. Track loaders less than 70 net flywheel horsepower.  Examples:  JD 455, CAT 931C, Case 455C or smaller.
3. Wheel loaders less than 80 net flywheel horsepower.  Examples:  JD 344E, CAT 910F, Case W-11B or smaller.
4. All wheel or truck mounted hydraulic or cable cranes with 10,000 lbs. or less rated lift capacity.
5. Track or wheel mounted excavators under 15,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight. Examples:  Mini excavators.
6. Rubber tired loader/backhoe combination less than 50 net flywheel horsepower or less.  Example:  Ford 4500.
7. Mower/brushcutters, tractor mounted, 110 net flywheel horsepower or less.
8. Motorized compactor/roller, single or double drum.
9.  All Miscellaneous type equipment such as: sawmills, logskidders, snow cats, under 100 net flywheel horsepower, and stump grinders.  

Note:  All references to Gross Vehicle Weight and Gross Combination Weight relate to allowable highway G.V.W. or G.C.W.

Heavy Equipment Operator 1 or 2 
Class B

1. Trucks or semi-tractor (5th wheel)/trailer combinations more than 54,000 Gross Combination Weight.
2. Wheel or truck mounted hydraulic or cable cranes between 10,000 and 20,000 lbs. rated lift capacity.  Examples:  Track, wheel, or truck mounted.
3. Track loaders more than 70 net flywheel horsepower.  Examples:  JD 555G, CAT 935C, Case 855 or larger.
4. Wheel loaders more than 80 net flywheel horsepower.  Examples:  JD 444E, CAT 918F, Case W-14C or larger.
5. Crawler tractors having 80 or more net flywheel horsepower.  Examples:  JD 650, CAT D-4H, Case 1050E or larger.
6. Tracked or wheel mounted excavators under 26,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight.  Examples:  JD80, 110, CAT311 or smaller.
7. Snow cats having 100 or more net flywheel horsepower.
8. All motorized graders.
9. All motorized scrapers.
10. Rubber tired loader/backhoe combination 51 net flywheel horsepower or more.  Examples:  JD 310, CAT 416B, Case 580 or larger.
11. Rotary snow plow with 7 ft. cut or wider.
12. Wagon drills.

Equipment Operator 2
Class C

 Semi-tractor/trailer low boy combination (5th wheel) or “Pup Trailer” exceeding 80,000 Gross Combination Weight.

1. Wheel or truck mounted hydraulic or cable cranes with greater than 20,000 lbs. rated lift capacity.
2. Track or wheel mounted excavators over 26,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight.  Examples:  JD120, 160,200, Cat312, 315,320 or larger.
3. All vessels 40 ft. and above. 

Note: All references to Gross Vehicle Weight or Gross Combination Weight relate to allowable highway Gross Vehicle Weight or Gross Combination Weight. 

List History:

Equipment List established; effective October 12, 1984
Revised October 11, 1996
Revised January 14, 1997
Revised October 23, 2000
Revised July, 1, 2006
Revised class title (formerly Equipment Operator), definition, and distinguishing characteristics; adopted August 11, 2011, effective August 12, 2011.
Revised February 4, 2014

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.