Excavation equipment is both expensive to buy and insure. A small to mid-size excavation company will typically own or lease a few large front-end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, compactors, trenchers, and skid steers. The majority of excavation companies also own big dump trucks for hauling away excess soil. Since heavy equipment operation requires few college or trade school degrees, most contractors will employ experienced or new operators and train them on the job. Many excavators have previously operated as heavy machinery operators.