Operating Engineer at OPERATING ENGINEERS 150 Heavy Equipment JATF

Operating Engineers 150 Heavy Equipment JATF offers a registered Operating Engineer apprenticeship based in Wilmington, IL. This employer-sponsored program focuses specifically on heavy equipment operation, preparing apprentices to work with the large-scale machinery central to modern construction projects — all while earning a paycheck during training.

The apprenticeship is four years long and requires 6,000 hours of on-the-job training and 432 hours of related technical instruction. Apprentices build hands-on proficiency operating equipment such as excavators, bulldozers, cranes, compactors, and scrapers on working job sites. Classroom instruction covers safe operation practices, equipment inspection routines, preventive maintenance, and industry and regulatory standards.

Upon completion, graduates are qualified Operating Engineers with demonstrated competency in heavy equipment operation. This prepares them for careers working on highway construction, site development, utilities, and civil infrastructure projects throughout Illinois. The apprenticeship's paid structure allows individuals to enter a skilled trade without the burden of student loan debt.