What Are the Different Types of Loader Operator Jobs?

Loader operator jobs range from working in a gravel pit and on highway construction to land clearing. Commonly used to load a product into a truck, the loader is a versatile piece of equipment. Coal mining, excavation and snow removal all offer possible loader operator jobs that can provide employment all year long. The most typical types of loader operator jobs involve the use of a company-owned loader, however, some operators own their loader and charge the companies to lease the loader and pay them to operate the machine. This scenario offers the most flexibility and chance of remaining working year-round for some operators.

Heavy-machinery operators are required to possess training certification while operating any type of heavy-equipment. This is also the case for those individuals seeking loader operator jobs. The training required to operate the front-end loaders is designed to create safe and alert operators and reduce the number of accidents on the job site. The requirements placed upon the loader operators are two-fold: the operators must be able to safely operate the loader and they must also take care to not damage the dump truck they are loading. Special skill is required to empty the large bucket of the loader into the back of an awaiting dump truck without damaging the truck.

Many loader operator jobs consist of various duties on a single job site. In mining and gravel pit situations, front-end loaders are used for numerous tasks throughout the site. Some of the many loader operator jobs involve loading the raw materials onto trucks to be taken to sorting machines. This separates the ores and gravel into sub categories, such as sand, pea-stone and gravel. Ore is typically placed in a separate pile and processed further at another location. Once separated, another loader operator loads trucks with the various sorted materials to be used at other job sites.

Occasionally, the loader operator is asked to perform more than one job. In some circumstances, a truck driver is asked to load the truck with a front-end loader upon arriving at a gravel pit or quarry. This is a rare happening, however, but in smaller operations, there are not always enough funds to pay a dedicated loader operator. Most loader operator jobs, however, are full-time — albeit, seasonal — in many areas of the world with cold weather ceasing many of the construction operations that require the large machines to operate.