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Earthworks jobs

Jimothy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
88
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Digger
Good day everyone!

Ive been in excavation for 2 years, it’s been a blast definitely not all sunshine and rainbows.

I’ve been a labourer all this time and started with no experience. Company wants me to be a foreman now based on a variety of factors but as I’ve started running more equipment I’m really not sure if operator or foreman will be my final job title.

Can’t do office work I need to be in the dirt. Labourer can’t last forever because body will slow down in next few years I’m getting close to 30. I’m pretty good at fixing stuff but would be hard to learn everything there is to learn to be a good mechanic before it’s worth it.

Just trying to see what others would choose between operator or foreman because I am completely torn.
 

James Sorochan

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 1, 2020
Messages
491
Location
Lethbridge county, Alberta, Canada
Occupation
x-water & sewer construction Now farmer.
It would depend on your long term goals. Foreman would be easier on the body. Sitting in a piece of equipment for 10-12 hours a day will give you problems down the road. Not to say you shouldn't operate equipment but I wouldn't advise it long term. If the company is small enough that you can do different jobs that would be good. If you guys shut down for a period over the winter ask if you can work in the shop servicing the equipment. Lots to learn they're.....never ends if you have an interest. Lot's to consider, maybe others here have something to say.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,258
Location
Canada
You mention getting close to 30 which means you're in your twenties but your profile says 31? For sure look after your body and don't do stupid things to hurt it but you're not anywhere close to your body shutting down, unless you've been really abusing it since you were 5 years old or have some serious issues. When you're closer to 50 is normally when people look for less strenuous physical work. Modern machines are way more ergonomic and much easier on your body. Being a foreman can be good or bad depending. What type of work does the company do? The info you provided is too vague.
 

Jimothy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
88
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Digger
It would depend on your long term goals. Foreman would be easier on the body. Sitting in a piece of equipment for 10-12 hours a day will give you problems down the road. Not to say you shouldn't operate equipment but I wouldn't advise it long term. If the company is small enough that you can do different jobs that would be good. If you guys shut down for a period over the winter ask if you can work in the shop servicing the equipment. Lots to learn they're.....never ends if you have an interest. Lot's to consider, maybe others here have something to say.
You mention getting close to 30 which means you're in your twenties but your profile says 31? For sure look after your body and don't do stupid things to hurt it but you're not anywhere close to your body shutting down, unless you've been really abusing it since you were 5 years old or have some serious issues. When you're closer to 50 is normally when people look for less strenuous physical work. Modern machines are way more ergonomic and much easier on your body. Being a foreman can be good or bad depending. What type of work does the company do? The info you provided is too vague.
Haha yes both abuse and medical conditions somehow my back is good though! And I left things vague on purpose because I wouldn’t necessarily be at the same company.
 

suladas

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
1,731
Location
Canada
To me you want more experience, i'd be a little worried if a company wants you as a foreman with that little experience. The best foreman's are the one's who have tons of hands on experience and can do the job they are supervising with their eyes closed. We've all dealt with the foreman/supervisors who don't have a clue trying to run a job, it never goes well. You could tell them you want to gain more experience right now but are open to filling in as a foreman as needed and want to progress to that position at some point. It shows you have ambition to move up, but want to make sure you can do the foreman position properly before getting there.
 

Jimothy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
88
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Digger
To me you want more experience, i'd be a little worried if a company wants you as a foreman with that little experience. The best foreman's are the one's who have tons of hands on experience and can do the job they are supervising with their eyes closed. We've all dealt with the foreman/supervisors who don't have a clue trying to run a job, it never goes well. You could tell them you want to gain more experience right now but are open to filling in as a foreman as needed and want to progress to that position at some point. It shows you have ambition to move up, but want to make sure you can do the foreman position properly before getting there.
Ya lucky and unlucky part about that I’ve done it already haha did not know everything but had to do a commercial building by myself it went ok but was not fun and had to really work hard physically to get it done lots of running around. Since then they have got me to do a couple of the same style but I keep refusing job both because that white hat should mean expert in field and just not sure it’s worth it (very stressful).
 

AzIron

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2016
Messages
1,541
Location
Az
Ya lucky and unlucky part about that I’ve done it already haha did not know everything but had to do a commercial building by myself it went ok but was not fun and had to really work hard physically to get it done lots of running around. Since then they have got me to do a couple of the same style but I keep refusing job both because that white hat should mean expert in field and just not sure it’s worth it (very stressful).

To a certain extent stress is induced from a lack of depth get some more experience the stress will go down
 

Jimothy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
88
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Digger
What exactly are you doing?
Residential and commercial and some other more rare and nasty stuff like pumping stations and demolition.

so your looking at sewers, water main, retaining walls medium sized but more complex excavation, small ponds and landscaping works. Tight spots that other companies sometimes back out of.

No heavy earthworks everything under 5 million dollars so far.

I started by hand shovel. Ended up doing a lot of the math as well as the harder to do sewer connections.

In spare time cleaned an greased equipment and constantly asked questions about everything.

we haven’t specialized in anything so I’ve got to learn alot in short time window and work threw winter, only doing snow if we have to.

Equipment training has been almost non existent because there’s a time and place to throw a new guy on machines but I’ve got to see how they move and what not to do and how to solve problems. but I’ve got to run mostly skidsteer, roller and dozer when we have them. And more rarely excavator and backhoe.

Probably have done about 2 months of running jobs minus the paperwork thank god, and about 2 months running equipment as well but I try to do as much of the machine care as I can so I can still learn about them while I’m not running them.
so I know i want to be in one or the other.

A lot of other labourers have had more machine time then me but that is starting to change. Gonna keep doing what I’m doing as long as I keep learning as much as I am.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,258
Location
Canada
That kind of explains why you could be a foreman with only 2 years experience. The company does a variety of niche jobs bigger companies don't want to be bothered with. I'm guessing they go through more employee's too because most people would rather have steady time running equipment than a mix of laborer jobs and sometimes running equipment.
 

Dozerboy

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
2,232
Location
TX
Occupation
Operator
You have to decide what you want for your future.

A Foreman's job involves a lot of headaches. You're basically a babysitter on top of managing safety, production, cost, inspectors, and customers. Sometimes I hate my job, and wish I was an operator still. But my job allows me to take care of my family and do what's best for them.

Taking a job at a new company as a new formen might not go as you think. You have to know exactly what their expectations are going to be. I know formens who labor harder then anyone else. Who do you think everyone turns to when they don't know what to do? And if you don't know you have to get down there and figure it out and show them.

As far as your body goes. I have had sleepless nights and nightmares over projects. If you think physical work is hard on your body wait until you see what a lot of stress does to it.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,319
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
I think having some equipment time would make you more marketable as well as help you out as a foreman. There is a certain amount of respect that is needed for a foreman to be effective. If your equipment operating inexperience becomes evident on the job, respect will be hard to earn from that point forward. You don't need to be an operator for 30 years but spending five years or so as an operator would help you out significantly moving forward in this career.
 

Dozerboy

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
2,232
Location
TX
Occupation
Operator
I think having some equipment time would make you more marketable as well as help you out as a foreman. There is a certain amount of respect that is needed for a foreman to be effective. If your equipment operating inexperience becomes evident on the job, respect will be hard to earn from that point forward. You don't need to be an operator for 30 years but spending five years or so as an operator would help you out significantly moving forward in this career.

A good foremen doesn't need to be respected over their ability to run equipment. Lots of my employees don't even know I know how to run equipment. Getting guys to respect you is a skill you have to learn just like running equipment. It sure does help though when push comes to shove and you have to teach your employees how to do something they down know how to do.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,319
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
My point is that having some experience as an operator can help considerably in earning respect as a foreman. I am not saying it is necessary, many are able to be effective without it. But in the OP's limited experience, I think having time as an operator would help him earning respect in the field. It would also make him more marketable if the foreman thing doesn't work out.
 

Jimothy

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2022
Messages
88
Location
Ontario
Occupation
Digger
Dozerboy, KSSS, Welder Dave, AzIorn, suladas & James.

A big thank you to you all, your advice has been more helpful than you could know!

Very nice to see the internet can still be a place of useful information.

thanks again and hopes I can return the favour someday, if not to you guys then maybe the next guy or gal who comes asking for advice.
 

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,260
Location
North Dakota
Before taking the position, ask them if they intend on switching you to salary pay. Chances are they want you in a "management" position to reduce tax burden, or reward you for your effort.
 

cuttin edge

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2014
Messages
2,692
Location
NB Canada
Occupation
Finish grader operator
You need to be pretty level headed to be a foreman. You get crap from the owners, the super, the safety man, your crew, the customer or inspector, and the general public. First person they head for is the guy with the white hat. You could be like me and be an operator foreman. I get to run the machine and the job. I spend an hour every Sunday night doing up my paperwork, closing out last weeks, and starting this weeks safety stuff. DTI wants a new field level hazard report every morning. Taking constant notes of every conversation and the like. Don't do salary, it's a trap! No more overtime, and they always seem to want you to work over your hours. Only thing that makes it worth while, is that black and yellow truck parked in my yard, that I don't have to put the gas in.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,249
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
As far as your body goes. I have had sleepless nights and nightmares over projects. If you think physical work is hard on your body wait until you see what a lot of stress does to it.

Well said and so true.
 
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