Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
Human Advantage 62%
Significant human skills needed
AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
4.3 / 10
Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.
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: Buggy Driver, Buggy Man, Buggy Operator, Buggy Runner, Car Dropper, Car Dumper, Car Pincher, Cart Driver +38 more
Core Tasks
- 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.
- Drive machines into piles of material blasted from working faces.
- Operate levers to move conveyor booms or shovels so that mine contents such as coal, rock, and ore can be placed into cars or onto conveyors.
- Clean, fuel, service, and perform safety checks on all equipment, and repair and replace parts as necessary.
- Clean hoppers, and clean spillage from tracks, walks, driveways, and conveyor decking.
- Oil, lubricate, and adjust conveyors, crushers, and other equipment, using hand tools and lubricating equipment.
- Monitor loading processes to ensure that materials are loaded according to specifications.
- Measure, weigh, or verify levels of rock, gravel, or other excavated material to prevent equipment overloads.
- Replace hydraulic hoses, headlight bulbs, and gathering-arm teeth.
Supplemental Tasks (10)
- Stop gathering arms when cars are full.
- Move mine cars into position for loading and unloading, using pinchbars inserted under car wheels to position cars under loading spouts.
- Advance machines to gather material and convey it into cars.
- Signal workers to move loaded cars.
- Guide and stop cars by switching, applying brakes, or placing scotches, or wooden wedges, between wheels and rails.
- Observe and record car numbers, carriers, customers, tonnages, and grades and conditions of material.
- Read written instructions or confer with supervisors about schedules and materials to be moved.
- Maintain records of materials moved.
- Direct other workers to move stakes, place blocks, position anchors or cables, or move materials.
- Push or ride cars down slopes, or hook cars to cables and control cable drum brakes, to ease cars down inclines.
Education & Training
Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (9)
Tools & Equipment (42)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Resource Extraction Advanced Manufacturing
Zone 1
Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas 77% match
Zone 2
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining You are here
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5
Hydrologists 72% match
Resume Builder
Select key tasks to generate action-oriented resume bullets for Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining positions.
Your Resume Bullets
Related Occupations
Show all 20 related occupations
Real Talk
Hear from real Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Minings about their work: