Trucks & Excavation Equipment

Course Description

ETP1150C — Trucks & Excavation Equipment is a 3-credit combined lecture/laboratory course in the Engineering Technologies > Energy Power Technology taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course provides students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills required to safely operate, inspect, and perform preventive maintenance on trucks and excavation equipment used in the construction, utilities, and infrastructure industries. Instruction integrates classroom theory with practical, in-the-seat operating experience on heavy machinery including dump trucks, hydraulic excavators, bulldozers, backhoe loaders, and related earth-moving equipment. Emphasis is placed on OSHA jobsite safety regulations, pre-operational inspection procedures, basic hydraulic and drivetrain systems, earthmoving techniques, and equipment maintenance practices aligned with NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations standards.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe the major types, components, and functional systems of trucks and excavation equipment used in construction and utilities work.
• Perform pre-start inspection, startup, and shutdown procedures for on-road and off-road trucks and hydraulic excavators in accordance with manufacturer and OSHA/MSHA guidelines.
• Demonstrate safe operating practices on the jobsite, including use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hazard recognition, and OSHA 10 General Industry / Construction safety principles.
• Apply basic preventive maintenance procedures, including fluid checks, lubrication, filter inspection, and minor adjustments on heavy equipment.
• Operate dump trucks (on-road and off-road) including loading, maneuvering, and dumping procedures under supervised conditions.
• Operate a hydraulic excavator to perform basic digging, trenching, and material-handling tasks.
• Describe the principles of hydraulic systems and power-train systems as applied to excavation equipment.
• Interpret basic site plans, grade stakes, and cut/fill requirements relevant to excavation and earthmoving tasks.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional resources and course sequencing, students may also:

• Operate a bulldozer (dozer) for clearing, grading, and pushing tasks.
• Operate a backhoe loader for excavation and material-handling operations.
• Use laser survey technology and grade-checking instruments on a simulated or live work site.
• Apply basic excavation math including area, volume, and cut/fill calculations.
• Classify soil types and explain how soil conditions affect equipment selection and performance.
• Demonstrate understanding of CDL (Commercial Driver's License) requirements for operating trucks that transport heavy equipment to and from job sites.
• Operate heavy equipment simulators to reinforce controls and movement technique before live equipment time.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Orientation to Heavy Equipment: Industry terminology, operator responsibilities, career pathways, and professional conduct on a work site.
• Jobsite Safety: OSHA and MSHA requirements, personal protective equipment (PPE), hazard awareness, HAZCOM, and safe equipment operations. Includes OSHA 10 content where applicable.
• Pre-Operational Inspection: Systematic walk-around inspection procedures, fluid levels, structural integrity checks, and documentation requirements for trucks and excavators.
• Heavy Equipment Systems Overview: Functional operation of diesel engines, hydraulic systems, undercarriage systems, and power-train components common to trucks and excavation equipment.
• On-Road Dump Trucks: Types, components, uses, inspection, startup/shutdown, normal and emergency operation, and loading/dumping procedures for highway-capable dump trucks.
• Off-Road Dump Trucks: Types, components, uses, safety guidelines, pre-start inspection, preventive maintenance, and basic driving and dumping maneuvers for off-road haul trucks.
• Hydraulic Excavators: Types, components, safety guidelines, pre-start inspection, startup/shutdown, and common work activities including digging, trenching, and material placement.
• Preventive Maintenance: Operator-level maintenance schedules, lubrication points, fluid and filter inspection, and equipment cleanliness practices.
• Introduction to Earthmoving: Planning and executing earthmoving activities, site preparation, excavation sequences, and coordination with other equipment and crew members.
• Reading Site Plans and Grade Stakes: Interpretation of construction drawings, grade stakes, and elevation marks relevant to excavation and grading work.

Optional Topics

• Dozers (Bulldozers): Types, components, safety, inspection, startup/operation, and common dozing activities including clearing, rough grading, and backfilling.
• Backhoe Loaders: Operational techniques, safety requirements, and use in excavation and loading tasks.
• Wheel Loaders and Skid Steers: Loader types, safety, operator maintenance, and use in excavation, grading, and demolition work.
• Excavation Math: Calculating areas and volumes of geometric shapes; cut and fill quantity estimation for jobsite planning.
• Soils Classification: Soil classification systems; shrink and swell factors; effect of soil conditions on equipment selection and productivity.
• Scrapers: Types, safe operating practices, and use in site preparation and mass earthmoving.
• Compaction Equipment: Types and operation of vibratory rollers and compactors used in conjunction with excavation and grading.
• CDL Requirements Overview: Commercial Driver's License classes, regulatory framework (FMCSA), and implications for truck operators who haul equipment on public highways.
• Simulator-Based Training: Use of heavy equipment simulators for excavator, dozer, wheel loader, and backhoe to build control proficiency before live equipment operation.
• Laser Survey Technology: Basic use of laser levels and grade-control technology in earthmoving and excavation contexts.

Resources & Tools

• NCCER Curriculum: Heavy Equipment Operations Trainee Guide, Level 1 (ISBN 978-0-13-663897-X) and Level 2 (ISBN 978-0-13-340251-3) — primary textbooks aligned to NCCER competency standards used across Florida training programs.
• OSHA Publications: OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety course materials and relevant OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Excavations) standards.
• Equipment Operator Manuals: Manufacturer-supplied pre-start inspection checklists and operator manuals for classroom and lab reference.
• Site Plans & Civil Drawings: Sample construction site plans and grading drawings for reading and interpretation exercises.
• Heavy Equipment Simulators: Cab-style simulators (where available) for excavator, bulldozer, wheel loader, and backhoe loader familiarization.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Hard hat, high-visibility vest, steel-toed boots, and safety glasses — required for all laboratory and field sessions.
• Florida SCNS Reference: Florida Statewide Course Numbering System, flscns.fldoe.org — ETP prefix, Energy Power Technology taxonomy.

Career Pathways

Completion of ETP1150C supports entry-level employment and career advancement in the heavy construction, utilities, and infrastructure sectors. Graduates are prepared for roles such as:

• Heavy Equipment Operator — excavator, dozer, loader, or scraper operator on residential, commercial, or civil construction sites.
• Dump Truck Driver / Haul Truck Operator — on-road or off-road material transport on construction and mining sites.
• Excavation Contractor / Laborer — site preparation, trenching, grading, and backfilling crews.
• Construction Equipment Technician — entry-level preventive maintenance and inspection roles with equipment dealers and contractors.
• Utilities Construction Worker — pipeline, sewer, and infrastructure excavation projects.

This course is typically a component of a Heavy Equipment Operations certificate or Applied Technology diploma program at Florida colleges and technical centers. Students may continue into advanced equipment operation courses (backhoes, motor graders, compaction equipment) or pursue a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) to expand employability, as many Florida employers require CDL credentials for operators who transport equipment between job sites.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

Course content is aligned with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Heavy Equipment Operations curriculum (Levels 1 and 2). Students who complete written and hands-on performance assessments may be eligible for NCCER registry credentials, which are nationally recognized, portable, and tracked through the NCCER registry system — providing verifiable proof of competency for employers throughout the construction industry.

Content also supports preparation for the OSHA 10-Hour Construction Safety Card, a widely required industry credential in Florida's construction sector. Students seeking to operate trucks on public roadways should be aware of Florida FMCSA Commercial Driver's License (CDL) requirements applicable to vehicles over 26,001 lbs GVWR or combination vehicles.

Laboratory / Field Requirements

The "C" lab indicator in the course number (ETP1150C) designates a combined lecture and laboratory course. Students must participate in scheduled hands-on equipment operation sessions and are required to wear full PPE (hard hat, safety vest, steel-toed boots, and safety glasses) during all lab and field activities. A valid driver's license is typically required for enrollment. Some programs require a drug screen prior to equipment operation lab sessions.