I review equipment before it goes out to customers—roughly 200 units a year. When I first started in this role, I assumed operators just hopped in and figured it out. Took about three near-misses on our test track to realize how wrong that was. Most skid steer incidents aren't because the machine failed. They happen because someone skipped a step. So here's a practical walkthrough for running one safely, whether you're renting a Terex PT-30 or running your own fleet.
Who This Guide Is For
This is for anyone who needs to operate a skid steer but isn't doing it daily—farmers, site supervisors, or a new crew member. If you're just starting or haven't touched one in a while, these 6 steps will keep you out of trouble. (Should mention: there's a difference between knowing how to drive one and knowing how to work with it on a job site.)
Step 1: The Pre-Op Walkaround—Don't Just Circulate, Inspect
Walk the machine before you get in. Check for hydraulic leaks around the cylinders and hoses. Look at the tires or tracks—a low tire on a skid steer throws off your center of gravity way more than on a truck. Serioiusly, I've seen a $500 tire replacement turn into a $6,000 frame repair because someone ran on a flat for ten minutes.
Check the quick-attach plate. Make sure the pins are fully locked. Last year, I tested a batch from a rental yard—3 out of 15 had a pin that wasn't seated properly. The operator wouldn't notice until the bucket dropped mid-scoop. Bottom line: this takes 2 minutes and is a total no-brainer.
Step 2: Getting In and Adjusting for Control
Climb in. It's easy to bang your head on the ROPS bar—careful. Once you're seated, fasten both the lap belt and the cross-chest restraint. There's a reason for both. A skid steer can tumble in less than a second on a slope, and you won't have time to brace yourself.
Adjust the seat so your feet hit the pedals comfortably. You should be able to press the left pedal (left side drive) and right pedal (right side drive) without stretching. If you're using joystick controls, rest your arms on the armrests. I used to think "close enough" was fine—then I saw a guy accidentally cycle the bucket while trying to scratch his nose. Put another way: if you're not comfortable, you'll make a mistake.
Step 3: Startup and Basic Controls (The Part Everyone Skips)
First: lower the safety bar. They warned me about this, and I didn't listen. Skipped it once, started the engine, nothing happened—machine wouldn't engage. Thought it was broken. Nope. The safety interlock cuts the hydraulics. You can rev the engine all day, nothing moves until that bar is down. Embarrassing. But that's the point.
Start the engine. Let it idle for 30–60 seconds, especially on cold days. Hydraulic oil is thick when cold, and you want it flowing before you push a load. On a Terex PT-30, the glow plug light takes about 6 seconds below freezing—wait for it to go out.
Get familiar with the controls:
- Left joystick (or foot pedal): forward and reverse on the left side. Push to go forward, pull to go back.
- Right joystick (or foot pedal): same for the right side. Drive both forward to go straight.
- Lift arm control: raises and lowers the arms. Move slowly—lifting too fast with a full bucket is a stability risk.
- Bucket tilt: tilts the bucket forward or curls it back.
- Auxiliary hydraulics: for attachments like augers or grapples.
Practice on flat, open ground for 5 minutes before you do anything productive. I should add that even experienced operators do this with a new machine—different models handle differently.
Step 4: Driving and Steering—It's Not A Car
Here's where most people mess up. A skid steer turns by skidding one side. To turn left, slow or stop the left wheels while the right ones keep moving. The tighter the turn, the more you spin. On pavement, this chews up tires fast—always do gentle turns on hard surfaces.
Keep your speed low when turning. High-speed turns are what flip skid steers. I said "low speed." What I mean is: drop to idle if you're turning near slopes or curbs. A machine that's top-heavy with a loaded bucket can roll if you jerk the wheel. We tested this once on our demo lot—tipping the bucket reduced stability by almost 40% on a 10-degree slope.
Step 5: Loading and Carrying—The Bucket Isn't a Shovel
When scooping, drive into the pile low and slow. Use the tilt to curl the bucket toward you as you go. Don't try to scoop from a high angle—you'll just push the material. If you hear the wheels spinning, you're in too deep. Back off, tilt down, try again.
Carry the bucket low—about 6 to 10 inches off the ground. Raising it high shifts your center of gravity up. That's fine for dumping into a truck, but don't travel with it raised. And never, ever turn while the bucket is raised high and loaded. That's how you get the "rolled skid steer" video on YouTube.
Step 6: Shutdown—Less Exciting, Equally Important
Park on level ground. Lower the bucket flat to the ground. Don't just dump it and leave it dangling—someone walking by could bump into it. Shut the engine off, lower the safety bar, and get out. Wait for the engine to cool before covering it.
Check the fuel level. I only believe in checking after skips when I ran one dry on a job site and had to walk back to the truck. It's a rookie mistake but it happens to everyone at least once.
If you're renting from a Terex dealer or operating one of our machines, report any warning lights or odd sounds immediately. We'd rather check a false alarm than find a broken pump later. In Q1 2024, I caught a loose hydraulic line because the operator mentioned a weird chirp—saved about $2,000 in potential damage.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Carrying too much speed into a pile: You'll bounce and lose control. Slow approach, then power through.
Overloading the bucket: If it's spilling, you're carrying more than the rated capacity. Stop, drop some.
Ignoring tire pressure: Uneven pressure makes steering unpredictable and wears the tires fast. Check them at the start of every shift.
An informed operator is a safe operator. Take 15 minutes to learn the machine before you start moving dirt. It'll save you time, money—and maybe a trip to the ER.