most don’t begin as an operator. I think most begin as a laborer then move up to operator. Most anyone can sit on a seat to pull levers. It takes thousands of hours to become smooth and efficient. Then once you get better at the controls you must know the process for example while running an excavator on a pipe crew. Things like how far to excavate, when to drag a trench box, when to add bedding stone when to lower pipe in the trench. I know with our company we like to begin on our crew by starting as a top man. Then move to pipelayer then to backfill/ compactor then loader operator, and then main line excavator. The thing is that the best operator has been a good pipelayer. And the best loader operator has been a good topman. We don’t have work classifications. We all work as a team to get the job done and go home to our faimilies. I’ll also encourage a new guy to operate the loader or backfill excavator before or after hours or during lunch to get more seat time.