Life As a Mine Shuttle Car Operator
Position Description Operate diesel or electric-powered shuttle car in underground mine to transport materials from working face to mine cars or conveyor.
Life As a Shuttle Operator: What Do They Do?
- Move mine cars into position for loading and unloading, using pinchbars inserted under car wheels to position cars under loading spouts.
- Clean, fuel, and service equipment, and repair and replace parts as necessary.
- Maintain records of materials moved.
- Read written instructions or confer with supervisors about schedules and materials to be moved.
- Observe hand signals, grade stakes, or other markings when operating machines.
- Drive loaded shuttle cars to ramps and move controls to discharge loads into mine cars or onto conveyors.
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Shuttle Operator Needed Skills
These are the skills Mine Shuttle Car Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Shuttle Operator Jobs
- Buggy Driver
- Buggy Runner
- Car Dumper
- Buggy Operator
- Monitor Car Operator
Are There Job Opportunities for Mine Shuttle Car Operators?
In the United States, there were 1,500 jobs for Mine Shuttle Car Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Mine Shuttle Car Operator. The BLS estimates 100 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Shuttle Operator are Colorado, Nebraska, and West Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Alabama, or Indiana. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Shuttle Operator Make?
The average yearly salary of a Shuttle Operator ranges between $44,030 and $66,270.

Mine Shuttle Car Operators who work in Wyoming, Pennsylvania, or Illinois, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Mine Shuttle Car Operators in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Illinois | $56,730 |
Kentucky | $46,390 |
Pennsylvania | $62,820 |
West Virginia | $56,730 |
Wyoming | $92,010 |
What Tools do Mine Shuttle Car Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Mine Shuttle Car Operators:
- Data entry software
Becoming a Shuttle Operator
Are there Mine Shuttle Car Operators education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Who Employs Mine Shuttle Car Operators?

Mine Shuttle Car Operators work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Mine Shuttle Car Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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