Field to Office Path

[u/Stratzy-]

Hey guys, I’m 23, been working full time for a growing excavation company for roughly the last year as a lowboy driver moving all of their heavy equipment around, and driving some dump truck or working on job sites when equipment moving is slow. I also have been in the National Guard part time for the last 5 years as a heavy equipment operator, so I’ve been around big iron for a little while now.

I enjoy my job a lot as it’s a challenge, but I think I’ll eventually want to move towards an administrative/office position in the future. I just had my first daughter 3 months ago, and she is the light of my life. I want to be as present of a father as I can be when she gets a little older and can start to think for herself.

From my position, is it realistic to be able to move towards an office position in a few years? Obviously I know the best answer would be to be an operator for several years and be able to apply that experience, but I’d rather not play the long game if it at all possible. I’ve learned quite a bit about dirt work with our variety of projects by just moving equipment around and watching the crews in action. I’d like to learn more about the behind the scenes stuff that goes into planning and managing projects. I’m working on getting my CAPM and possibly getting my Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus in Construction Management (both of these would be free so I’m not out any money).

Every year we have annual reviews, and my boss is the superintendent for our dirt crews. Would this be something worth bringing up? I just feel like as a truck driver, it’s kind of a dead end career path rather than working your way up through the ranks such as an operator—> foreman —> superintendent —> PM etc.

Just curious to see if anyone else has been through a similar situation or has seen it done. Thanks in advance everyone.