Heavy Equipment Tickets: What You Need for Each Role

In mining, your tickets determine what equipment you can operate — and which jobs you can apply for. Understanding which certifications you need for your target role saves time, money, and wasted applications.

Here's a complete breakdown of heavy equipment tickets and the roles they unlock.

Understanding Mining Equipment Tickets

Equipment tickets (also called VOCs — Verification of Competency) prove you can safely operate specific machinery. They're issued by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) after completing theory and practical assessments.

Haul Truck Tickets

Haul truck operator is one of the most common entry points into mining. Here's what you need:

Rigid Dump Truck (RDT)

• Unit code — RIIMPO318F Conduct civil construction haul truck operations
• What it covers — Trucks like CAT 777, 785, 789, 793; Komatsu 730E, 830E, 930E
• Entry requirement — Usually requires HR or HC truck licence first
• Training duration — 2-5 days depending on provider and experience

Articulated Dump Truck (ADT)

• Unit code — RIIMPO317F Conduct articulated haul truck operations
• What it covers — Trucks like CAT 740, Volvo A40, Bell B50
• Common use — Civil construction, smaller mining operations

Excavator Tickets

Excavator operators are in high demand, especially those with experience on large machines.

Standard Excavator

• Unit code — RIIMPO320F Conduct civil construction excavator operations
• Machine sizes — From 5-tonne up to 800+ tonne machines
• Key skills — Dig to grade, loading trucks, trenching, bulk earthworks

Face Shovel / Mining Shovel

• What it is — Large rope or hydraulic shovels (Hitachi EX5600, Liebherr 9800, P&H 4100)
• Progression — Usually requires years of excavator experience first
• Training — Typically site-specific, trained in-house by mining companies

Loader Tickets

Front End Loader (FEL)

• Unit code — RIIMPO321F Conduct civil construction wheeled front end loader operations
• Common machines — CAT 980, 988, 990, 992, 994; Komatsu WA600, WA900
• Uses — Stockpile work, clean-up, loading trucks, ROM pad operations

Skid Steer Loader

• Unit code — RIIMPO323F Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations
• Uses — Smaller-scale work, clean-up, tight spaces

Dozer Tickets

• Unit code — RIIMPO324F Conduct civil construction dozer operations
• Common machines — CAT D10, D11; Komatsu D375, D475
• Key skills — Pushing, ripping, GPS-guided dozing, clean-up

Dozer operators often start on smaller machines (D6, D8) and progress to the big iron (D10, D11). GPS dozing experience is increasingly valuable.

Grader Tickets

• Unit code — RIIMPO325F Conduct civil construction grader operations
• Common machines — CAT 16M, 24M; Komatsu GD825
• Skills required — Road maintenance, creating camber, drainage, fine grading

Support Equipment Tickets

Water Cart

• Unit code — RIIMPO322F Conduct civil construction water cart operations
• Uses — Dust suppression, road watering
• Entry point — Good starter role, often combined with other duties

Scraper

• Unit code — RIIMPO319F Conduct civil construction scraper operations
• Uses — Bulk earthmoving, stripping, overburden removal

Roller/Compactor

• Unit code — RIIMPO326F Conduct civil construction compactor operations
• Uses — Road building, compaction work

High Risk Work Licences (HRWL)

Some equipment requires a nationally recognised High Risk Work Licence issued by your state's WorkSafe authority:

Which Tickets Should You Get First?

If you're starting out, here's a practical progression:

Entry Level Package

1. HR Truck Licence — Foundation for haul truck
2. Rigid Dump Truck — Most job opportunities
3. Front End Loader — Versatile, often combined with truck work
4. Standard 11 Inductions — Required for all sites

Expanding Your Options

1. Excavator — Higher demand, better pay progression
2. Dozer — Diverse work, good progression
3. Water Cart — Easy add-on, increases versatility

Premium Tickets

1. Grader — Specialist skill, premium pay
2. Scraper — Bulk earthworks specialists
3. Crane licences — Opens different career path

Cost Guide

Training costs vary by provider and location:

Making Your Tickets Work for You

Once you have your tickets:

• List them prominently on your resume — Include machine types and hours
• Keep records — Store certificates safely, keep copies on phone
• Track your hours — Log machine hours for each equipment type
• Get VOC'd on site — Every site VOC adds to your experience
• Upskill regularly — Add complementary tickets as opportunities arise