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newSchoolWorks.com › VoTechWorks › Building & Construction › Heavy Equipment Operation › Skid Steer Loader Operation › Lesson 2
BLD-HEAV08-06 · Lesson 2 · 12 clock hours · demo

Controls, Startup/Shutdown Procedures, and Basic Travel

Objective. Students will demonstrate correct startup, shutdown, and basic travel sequences—including seat bar engagement, forward and reverse travel, and pivot turns—while keeping the machine within marked course boundaries.

⚠ Pending professional review

This lesson, its worked examples and its practice questions has not yet been verified by a licensed professional engineer or master tradesperson or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it as instructions for work on a job site or on live equipment. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.

VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.

Skid Steer Loader Operation: Controls, Startup/Shutdown, and Basic Travel

A skid steer loader is a compact, engine-powered machine with lift arms and a front attachment—most commonly a bucket. It steers by driving the wheels or tracks on each side at different speeds, which causes the machine to skid or pivot on its footprint. That characteristic gives the skid steer its name and makes it highly maneuverable in tight spaces, but it also demands deliberate, smooth control inputs from the operator.

Controls Overview

Skid steers are built with two main control configurations.

Hand-lever (H-pattern) controls use two vertical levers. The left lever controls left-side drive; the right lever controls right-side drive. Pushing both levers forward moves the machine forward; pulling both back reverses it. Pushing one forward while pulling the other back spins the machine in a tight pivot turn.

Joystick (ISO or H-pattern joystick) controls combine travel and lift-arm movement in one or two joysticks. Always read the operator manual for the specific machine because joystick mapping varies by manufacturer. Some machines also use foot pedals for drive and hand controls for the attachment—know your machine before you operate it.

Throttle and engine speed are managed with a hand throttle or foot throttle. Work at low idle until you are ready to travel or lift; high idle is used under load. The neutral-lock (sometimes called the interlock or travel lock) is a switch or lever that prevents drive movement while the operator is dismounting. Always engage neutral-lock before leaving the seat.

The Seat Bar and Operator Presence System

The most important safety device on a skid steer is the seat bar (also called the lap bar or restraint bar). When the operator pulls the seat bar down and into the seated position:

If the seat bar is raised while the engine is running, the hydraulics and drive disengage immediately on most machines. Never raise the seat bar or unfasten the seat belt while the machine is moving or the engine is running. This is a life-safety rule, not a suggestion. Always fasten the seat belt before lowering the seat bar.

Pre-Operation and Startup Sequence

Follow this sequence every time you start a skid steer:

1. Walk-around inspection — Check for fluid leaks, tire or track condition, cracked hydraulic hoses, loose pins, and any objects under the machine.

2. Mount safely — Use the grab handles; face the machine as you climb. Never jump from the seat.

3. Fasten seat belt — Adjust it snug before touching any other control.

4. Lower the seat bar — Pull it firmly down until it latches. Confirm the operator-presence indicator clears (check your machine's instrument panel).

5. Neutral-lock engaged — Confirm travel controls are in neutral.

6. Start the engine — Turn the key or press the start button per the manual; allow the engine to reach operating temperature at low idle (usually one to two minutes in normal conditions, longer in cold weather).

7. Test controls — With the bucket low and the machine stationary, gently cycle the lift arms and tilt function to confirm hydraulics respond normally.

Basic Travel: Forward, Reverse, and Pivot Turns

Begin all travel at low throttle and slow ground speed. Look in the direction of travel before moving. Keep the bucket low (six to twelve inches off the ground) to maintain visibility and a low center of gravity.

Forward travel: Push both drive controls forward smoothly and evenly. Uneven pressure will cause the machine to drift left or right. Correct with small inputs—skid steers respond quickly.

Reverse travel: Pull both drive controls back. Look over your shoulder or use mirrors; sound the horn before reversing in a work zone.

Pivot turn: To turn left, push the right-side control forward while holding the left control neutral or pulling it back slightly. To turn right, reverse the inputs. A full counter-rotation (spinning in place) happens when you push one side fully forward and pull the other fully back. On a cone course, use partial pivot inputs to make controlled 90-degree turns without swinging the tail of the machine into cones or bystanders.

Shutdown and Lockout/Tagout Procedure

A proper shutdown protects equipment, coworkers, and you. Follow this sequence:

1. Bring the machine to a complete stop on level ground if possible.

2. Lower the bucket or implement fully to the ground.

3. Engage the park brake (if equipped as a separate control).

4. Place controls in neutral and engage the neutral-lock.

5. Engage the manufacturer's travel lock and implement lock (often a dash switch or physical pin).

6. Run the engine at low idle for one to two minutes before shutdown to allow turbocharger cooling.

7. Turn the key off; wait for all systems to power down.

8. Raise the seat bar.

9. Exit facing the machine; use grab handles.

10. Apply lockout/tagout (LOTO): If the machine is out of service or about to be serviced, attach a lockout hasp and personal lock to the ignition or battery disconnect, and attach a warning tag. This prevents anyone else from starting the machine while you or a coworker could be injured.

LOTO is required by OSHA's Control of Hazardous Energy standard whenever maintenance or service is performed. Even for a brief check under the machine during training, apply LOTO before anyone goes under or beside a raised implement.

Staying Within Course Boundaries

On the practice course, think ahead. Identify your turn point before you reach it. Use smooth, progressive control inputs. If you feel the machine sliding or tipping, slow down—skid steers can tip sideways on slopes and rough ground. Keep all four wheels or tracks on the ground during turns. A cone strike in practice signals a habit that could become a collision with a worker or structure on a real job site.

Key terms9

Seat bar (lap bar)A restraint bar the operator pulls down before operation; its engagement enables the hydraulic and drive systems and retains the operator in the cab.
Neutral-lockA switch or mechanical device that disengages the drive system and prevents the machine from moving when the operator is not in the operating position.
Pivot turnA skid steer turning maneuver in which one side drives forward while the other is held neutral or driven in reverse, rotating the machine around its own footprint.
Operator presence systemA safety interlock that monitors whether a qualified operator is properly seated and restrained; it disables drive or hydraulics if the operator leaves the seat without following the shutdown sequence.
Lockout/tagout (LOTO)An OSHA-required procedure that uses physical locks and warning tags to isolate a machine's energy sources so it cannot be started during maintenance or inspection.
Implement lockA switch or physical pin that prevents unintended movement of the lift arms or attachment when the machine is parked or being serviced.
Travel lockA dash switch or mechanical device that prevents the drive system from engaging, used when parking the machine or transporting it on a trailer.
Low idleEngine speed at its lowest stable setting, used during warmup, pre-checks, and cooldown to reduce wear and fuel consumption.
Hydraulic interlockA system that blocks hydraulic flow to lift arms and attachments unless the seat bar is lowered and the operator is confirmed in position.
In class: Instructor demonstration of hand-control and foot-pedal (or joystick) configurations with live machine at idle: students observe seat-bar function, throttle management, and neutral-lock procedure, then individually practice the full startup sequence three times with instructor observation and verbal coaching · Controlled travel course: a cone-marked course approximately 50 feet long with two 90-degree turns; students drive forward, execute a left and right pivot turn, and reverse to the start, repeating until they complete the course without striking a cone in two consecutive runs · Emergency stop and lockout/tagout practice: students practice immediate shutdown from the operator seat, then exit the machine and apply the manufacturer's travel-lock and implement-lock procedure; instructor verifies the seat-bar, hydraulic lock, and park brake are all engaged before the student steps away
Materials: Skid steer loader, traffic cones, flat paved or compacted-gravel practice area, manufacturer operator manual, NCCER Heavy Equipment Operations Level 1 module, lockout/tagout tags and locks, stopwatch for timed observation
Check: Instructor uses a pass/fail skills checklist: student must complete startup in correct sequence, travel the cone course with zero cone strikes in two consecutive attempts, and perform the shutdown and lockout procedure with all steps in order; any missed lockout step is an automatic retry

Practice check8

Answer each question, then check it. Nothing is recorded; this is your own practice.

NCCER Heavy Equipment L1 — Safe Operation Practices
1. What is the FIRST action an operator must take after climbing into the seat of a skid steer and before lowering the seat bar?
NCCER Heavy Equipment L1 — Machine Systems and Safety Devices
2. When a skid steer operator raises the seat bar while the engine is running, what typically happens?
NCCER Heavy Equipment L1 — Operating Techniques
3. To execute a left pivot turn on a hand-lever skid steer, the operator should:
OSHA 10 — Hazard Recognition and Control
4. Which OSHA standard governs lockout/tagout procedures that apply when servicing heavy equipment?
NCCER Heavy Equipment L1 — Equipment Maintenance Awareness
5. During the skid steer shutdown procedure, why should the engine run at low idle for one to two minutes before being turned off?
NCCER Heavy Equipment L1 — Performance Assessment
6. A student completes the cone course once without striking any cones. According to the pass/fail checklist, the student should:
OSHA 10 — Construction Site Safety
7. Before reversing a skid steer in an active work zone, an operator should:
NCCER Heavy Equipment L1 — Safe Shutdown and Hazardous Energy Control
8. A trainee notices the skid steer's bucket is raised to full height while the machine is parked and unattended at the end of the shift. What is the correct action?
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