Tracked Excavator Operation Tips
Tracked excavators are versatile machines that are essential for construction and earthmoving projects. Whatever project you’re working on, choosing the right excavator is crucial for safety, efficiency and cost. JCB offers a range of tracked excavator from 1 to 52 tonnes so your 360 excavator can perform perfectly in any environment. Let’s break down how to drive a digger and how to operator excavator controls.
What are some common digger applications?
Wondering how to use a digger? There are lots of common uses for excavators across a range of different industries, such as:
- Construction: for foundations, trenching, backfilling, site prep.
- Quarrying: for material extraction, pit development, overburden removal.
- Utilities: for installing pipes, safe digging around underground services.
- Demolition: for building teardown, debris handling and site clearance.
- Forestry & Environmental: for land clearing, stream restoration, erosion control.
- Industrial & Waste: for lifting, sorting, loading, and stock piling.
- Infrastructure: for land clearance, construction and preparation for development projects.
- Landscaping: for shaping, grading, trenching, drainage work and earthmoving.
- House building: for site preparation and clearing for construction utilities.
Where can a digger be operated?
Although it’s important to know how to operate a digger, it’s also key to know where it can be operated. The job size and digging requirements can affect what type of digger you choose.
For confined working environments, a compact tracked excavator such as the JCB 145XR is an ideal choice. This machine combines exceptional durability with outstanding ease of maintenance. Featuring a reduced tail swing design and an operating weight of approximately 14 tonnes, this X Series excavator delivers impressive strength, enhanced performance, and excellent manoeuvrability where space is limited.
For trenching and construction, choose a medium-class excavator like the JCB 220X. The Stage V 220X is our most advanced 20-tonne tracked excavator. Built with quality materials and proven components, our design is both rugged and refined.
For heavy civil works, deep digging and earthworks, choose large excavators like the JCB 520X. This is our biggest excavator in the JCB X Series, with an operating weight of 52kg. Expertly engineered for the toughest jobs, you can expert power, precision and performance.
What pre-operation checks are needed?
A key part of learning how to operate an excavator is understanding what pre-operation checks are needed. Follow these steps before you start up your digger.
- Check the warning lights and buzzer. Do not operate if any red engine or fault warnings are active.
- Inspect tracks, dozer blade, boom and attachments for visible damage or wear.
- Check the fuel level. If the low fuel light is on, this means there are only 30–45 mins of fuel left.
- Ensure excavator lever lock works and that the controls move freely.
- Verify ignition system and that all indicators cycle correctly, with no fault messages.
- Check the hydraulic and engine warning indicators including the oil pressure, coolant temp and alternator. If lit, stop immediately.
- Confirm extending undercarriage control works and tracks retract and extend smoothly.
- Check your surroundings, ensuring there are no obstructions for boom, swing, or travel.
How to drive an excavator
Once you’ve completed all of the pre-operator checks, you can now learn how to drive a 360 excavator. Follow this start up guide to get your machine ready.
- Opening the door to your machine awakens the screen.
- The screen then powers up automatically.
- Press the power button.
- The last operator profile is remembered.
- Enter the passcode for this profile.
- The operator then needs to confirm the control profile.
- Press and hold the power button to start the engine.
Watch this video for a walk through of starting up your machine. For more detailed information, you can view the full quick start guide here.
What attachments are available & how to use?
With the right attachment, one excavator can do the job of many machines. JCB offer a wide range of attachments that can help you get the job done.
These can be used for trenching, digging and grading. Our bucket range has been designed using Finite Element Analysis throughout the engineering process, guaranteeing structural integrity and performances.
Hydraulic breakers are designed for the demolition of concrete and rock. Our contractor breaker range has been designed where overall project costs is key, offering unrivalled value for money to rental and construction sectors.
Made for lifting logs or scrap materials, selector grabs can be easily added to your excavator machine. Our selector grabs are designed with a large jaw opening for maximum material pick up, even with awkward items.
Earth drills are effective for drilling post holes or foundation supports, erecting fencing, telegraph poles or road signs, and planting trees. JCB earth drills come complete with hanger bracket and connection hoses.
How to become a 360 excavator operator
So, do you need a license to drive a digger? In the UK, you don’t need a formal licence to operate on private property or for DIY projects at home. The requirements can differ depending on the nature of the work, the size of the machinery, and any local regulations.
For commercial sites or work carried out on public roads, operators must hold a CPCS (Construction Plant Competence Scheme) card and have specific 360 digger training through an accredited course. This certification demonstrates that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to operate construction plant equipment safely. Some operators may instead hold an NPORS card, which confirms registration with the National Plant Operators Registration Scheme.
Find the right excavator for your job
JCB Tracked Excavators are designed with productivity in mind, along with class-leading ease of maintenance, tough components and exceptional operator comfort.
Now you know how easy it is to operate a JCB machine, explore our range of tracked excavators.
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