Career Overview
Operate underground loading or moving machine to load or move coal, ore, or rock using shuttle or mine car or conveyors. Equipment may include power shovels, hoisting engines equipped with cable-drawn scraper or scoop, or machines equipped with gathering arms and conveyor.
Also Known As
- Load Haul Dump Operator (LHD Operator)
- Loader Operator
- Loading Machine Operator
- Shuttle Car Operator
Alternate Job Titles
- Buggy Driver
- Buggy Man
- Buggy Operator
- Buggy Runner
- Car Dropper
- Car Dumper
- Car Pincher
- Cart Driver
- Coal Hauler Operator
- Coke Loader
- Continuous Miner Operator
- Equipment Loader Operator
- Equipment Operator
- Front End Loader Operator
- Joy Loader
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Handle high voltage sources and hang electrical cables.
- Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
- Pry off loose material from roofs and move it into the paths of machines, using crowbars.
- Move trailing electrical cables clear of obstructions, using rubber safety gloves.
- Control conveyors that run the entire length of shuttle cars to distribute loads as loading progresses.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
- Examine roadway and clear obstructions from the path of travel.
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Control Precision
- Reaction Time
- Multilimb Coordination
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
- Manual Dexterity
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
- Rate Control
- Trunk Strength
- Perceptual Speed
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Stress Tolerance
- Attention to Detail
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
- Independence
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Windows
Tools & Equipment
- Bucket belt conveyors
- Cable drawn scrapers
- Cap lamps
- Channel lock pliers
- Claw hammers
- Cleaning scrapers
- Conveyor belt systems
- Crowbars
- Diesel shuttle cars
- Dust suppression systems
- Electric shuttle cars
- Electric switch controls
- Filter conveyor belts
- Gathering-arm machines
- Grease dispensing guns
Work Environment
- Exposed to Contaminants
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $48,310 |
| Median | $68,860 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $82,900 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 6,130
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $46,390
Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,550
Continuous Mining Machine Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $63,380
Hoist and Winch Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $52,310
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $58,070
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.