Jimmi Nolan A skid steer might be compact, but on the right site it earns its keep.
From residential earthworks and landscaping to drainage, civil support and site clean-up, skid steers are often used where bigger machines are too bulky or where the work changes quickly throughout the day.
That is why a skid steer ticket can be a practical next step if you want to build useful plant skills, support different crews and show employers you have been trained and assessed to operate the machine safely.
In Queensland, a skid steer ticket is not a High Risk Work Licence, and you do not need the former Queensland earthmoving certificate to operate the machine. However, your employer or site controller must still make sure you are trained, supervised and competent before you operate a skid steer at work, which at a minimum would typically require accredited nationally recognised training.
This guide explains what a skid steer ticket is, why people often call it a Bobcat ticket, what training generally covers, where skid steers are used, and how skid steer skills can fit into a broader earthmoving pathway.
A skid steer is useful because it can turn and work in a small footprint, change between approved attachments and handle several short tasks across the same job. It is often chosen where access is tight, the work area keeps changing or a larger loader would spend more time manoeuvring than working.
On site, that might mean moving soil, gravel, sand, mulch or construction material, backfilling trenches, preparing pads and access areas, loading small trucks, cleaning around buildings, or supporting drainage, landscaping, pipework and site clean-up crews.
Attachments such as buckets, forks, augers, trenchers, sweepers, dozer blades and rakes can make the machine more useful, but they are not simple accessories. Changing the attachment can affect visibility, stability, weight distribution, handling, rated operating capacity and clearance around people, plant and structures.
The real value is not that a skid steer replaces every other machine. It fills the gaps between them. On a busy site, that can mean less waiting for access and less manual material movement. The machine’s rated capacity, ground conditions, visibility and attachment limits still set the boundaries.
Skid steer and excavator skills complement each other because the machines often handle different stages of the same earthmoving job. An excavator is built for digging, reach and depth. A skid steer is useful for moving material over short distances, backfilling, spreading, loading and clean-up, particularly where access is tight.
A residential build near our local area is a good example. Throughout the project, the site has regularly had a skid steer, excavator and telehandler with fork attachment working around the same house block. The excavator handles digging and trenching, the skid steer helps move material, backfill and even drilling clean, repeatable holes with an auger attachment, and the telehandler supports lifting and moving materials around the site.
That kind of setup is common on residential and smaller civil jobs. The machines are different, but they work together. For someone building plant skills, understanding how a skid steer fits into that workflow can make you more useful across the job, not just inside one machine.
Having competency on both machines can help an operator support more of the workflow, from excavation through to site clean-up and handover. The machines are not interchangeable, though. Excavator competency does not cover skid steer operation, so each machine requires its own training and assessment.
You can compare the Excavator Ticket Course when planning a broader earthmoving pathway.
Skid steers often work alongside other plant, helping with material movement, backfilling, loading and clean-up where space is limited.
A skid steer loader is the machine category. Bobcat is a manufacturer, so “Bobcat ticket” is an informal industry term for skid steer loader competency training. When a supervisor asks for a Bobcat operator, they will usually mean someone competent on the machine type, not only on Bobcat-branded equipment.
That distinction matters because controls, rated capacities, visibility and attachment systems can vary between makes and models. Formal training does not remove the need to become familiar with an unfamiliar machine.
Queensland no longer requires the former Earthmoving or Particular Crane certificate for a skid steer loader, and skid steer operation is not a class of High Risk Work Licence.
The person or business with management or control of the plant must still make sure operators:
RIIMPO318F provides nationally recognised evidence that you have been trained and assessed in skid steer loader operations. Depending on the employer and project, you may also need a site induction, machine or attachment familiarisation, supervised time or a current Verification of Competency. For work in New South Wales or another jurisdiction, confirm the local and site requirements before operating.
A ticket is evidence of training. Safe operation still depends on the machine, attachment, task, site conditions and operator competency.
Skid steer training covers more than driving forwards, reversing and moving a bucket. RIIMPO318F requires participants to plan the work, operate within the machine’s limits, move materials, use attachments and complete shutdown and housekeeping activities.
Our skid steer ticket course covers training and assessment in areas such as:
At our Stapylton facility, participants train on real equipment through practical tasks designed to reflect site-based work. Every learner must complete the required training and assessments and demonstrate competency before receiving a Statement of Attainment for RIIMPO318F – Conduct civil construction skid steer loader operations. The time required can vary with previous experience, conditions and the evidence needed to meet the assessment requirements.
Compact does not mean harmless. An experienced safety manager once shared with us that the biggest day-to-day risks were not always created by the largest or heaviest machines. In his experience, compact plant could create just as much risk because people were more likely to underestimate it, work too close or lose awareness of what was happening around them.
That is exactly why skid steer training matters. A smaller machine still requires controlled operation, clear communication and proper awareness of people, structures, attachments and site conditions.
Some of the habits our trainers regularly correct include:
Assessors typically focus on preparation, controlled operation, hazard awareness, communication, operating limits, attachment handling and correct shutdown. Smooth and deliberate operation usually beats trying to be the fastest person in the yard.
A skid steer ticket can be a useful training option for people working in landscaping, residential construction, drainage, smaller civil projects or general site support.
We often see labourers and tradies choose skid steer training because the machine can support a broad mix of work. Plumbers and drainage crews may use it around trenching tasks. Landscapers may use it to move soil, mulch and turf materials. Builders and civil crews may use it for backfilling, material movement and site clean-up.
The course may also suit employers who want clearer evidence of training for workers who operate compact plants.
A ticket is a training foundation, not a magic wand. It gives you an opportunity to learn the required skills and demonstrate competency, but supervised operating time and regular site experience are what build judgement, consistency and confidence.
A skid steer ticket also does not guarantee employment. Employers may consider your broader construction experience, White Card, driver’s licence, other plant competencies, safety habits and ability to work effectively with the crew.
If you’re building your plant skills beyond one machine, skid steer training can sit neatly alongside excavator or front-end loader training, especially on jobs where digging, loading, backfilling and clean-up all overlap. As mentioned earlier, being competent in operating a telehandler can also be handy for the movement of materials around sites.
An excavator may complete the digging while the skid steer moves spoil, backfills and cleans the work area. A front-end loader may handle larger quantities of material while the skid steer works in tighter sections of the site.
You may not need the former Queensland earthmoving certificate to operate a skid steer, but employers must still make sure operators are trained and competent.
Our Skid Steer Ticket Course provides practical training and assessment for RIIMPO318F at our Stapylton facility, conveniently located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
You can view upcoming course dates or talk to our team about group bookings for workers who need clear evidence of competency.
Those building a broader plant skill set can also view our complete range of Earthmoving Courses here.
An excavator and a skid steer are different types of plant. Excavator competency does not automatically demonstrate that you are competent to operate a skid steer.
A Statement of Attainment does not generally have a fixed expiry date. However, an employer may require evidence of recent experience, refresher training or a current Verification of Competency.
RIIMPO318F is a nationally recognised unit of competency. You should still check the employer, workplace and relevant state or territory requirements before operating.
Yes. The course can suit people with limited experience as well as existing operators seeking formal evidence of competency. Every participant must complete the required training and assessments and demonstrate competency before receiving the Statement of Attainment.
At OTJ Training, students can take the time they need to feel ready for assessment, and if they achieve competency but later want more confidence before heading onto site, we encourage our students to return for extra time in the seat where available.
Request a chat with our friendly
team to inquire about your study options.
