At Grade Tech, we know that the strength of our company relies entirely on the quality of our team. When we find operators who show up every day ready to learn, master the dirt, and tackle complex infrastructure challenges head-on, we make sure to keep them on our crew.
Today, we are proud to celebrate the three-year work anniversary of Heavy Equipment Operator Nick Rael.
From Walmart to the Scraper: A Career Built in the Dirt
Born in Florida and raised in Northern Utah, Nick did not start his working life in the seat of a multi-ton piece of yellow iron. Six years ago, he was working at Walmart when his uncle gave him a push toward a new career path, helping him land a job as a laborer at Morgan Asphalt.
A year later, his uncle put him in the seat of a scraper, and as Nick says, “the rest is history.”
Three years ago, Nick brought that foundational experience to Grade Tech, where his skills exploded. Operating in the high-stakes utility infrastructure sector, Nick quickly expanded his capabilities across the entire fleet, mastering dozers, scrapers, track hoes, motor graders and more.
A typical day for Nick is dynamic and fast-paced.
“Some days I am in the track hoe, some days I am in the grader, but I am always doing something fun,” Nick says. “I get everything set up, and then I get it done.”
Thriving on the High Stakes of the Power Industry
Working around energized substations and critical power industry sites is not for everyone. It demands absolute focus and a zero-tolerance approach to safety mistakes. For Nick, the very things that make the job demanding are exactly what keep him showing up every morning.
“I like the challenge of working on the substation and the power industry and working around everything,” Nick explains. “The hardest part is the same as what I love, addressing the challenges, coming up with new plans and routes, and finding the best solution that is safest.”
Nick believes that true success in the trades comes from a mix of consistency and keeping a humble mindset, regardless of how much experience you accumulate.
“Show up every day, learn, and try to master what you do,” Nick says. “Learn the dirt and watch the operators before you, whether they have been operating for two years or forty. Everyone has their own style, but you can mold what you learn into your own style.”
Life on the Road: Turning Long Hitches into Brotherhood
While traveling across the Western United States for weeks at a time is one of the most demanding aspects of heavy civil infrastructure work, Nick emphasizes that the guys inside the trucks and cabs make the miles worth it. For him, the road isn’t just about the grind—it is about the deep bonds built between the crew members when they are away from home.
“It is a ton of fun being out on the road, especially with all the guys we have on the crew right now,” Nick shares. “We are all incredibly close. When you are working those long hitches, the jokes and the humor are what make the days better. Having that constant laughing and camaraderie lifts the weight of the long hours and gives the entire team more of a family feel.”
This shared humor and mutual respect transform a standard job site into a tight-knit brotherhood, ensuring that no matter how far a project takes the crew from Utah, they always have a second family backing them up in the dirt.
Leading the Next Generation
Looking toward the future, Nick is focused on step-by-step professional advancement within the Grade Tech ranks. He is actively working to transition into a foreman role, leaning into the advanced technology and leadership opportunities available on our job sites.
“I want to grow into the foreman position, learn how to train guys, and work on what I struggle in so I can lead better,” Nick says. “We have all the newest and best equipment and technology, so we get to learn every day. We get to learn directly from Rory and Billy, and they give us all the tricks—especially in the grader, which is my favorite.”
For Nick, choosing a life in the heavy civil trades has completely transformed his trajectory, providing both personal fulfillment and the stability to enjoy his life outside of work, where he spends his time hunting, camping, and working on trucks and cars.
“It’s been the best career path I have ever taken,” Nick reflects. “Sure, it’s hard work, but seeing the job when it’s done, and knowing you put effort in and see it completed—even ten years later—is incredibly rewarding.”
Giving Back: A $1,000 Donation to the Humane Society
To honor Nick’s three years of service and dedication, Grade Tech is proud to make a $1,000 donation in his name to the Humane Society. This cause hits incredibly close to home for Nick.
“I recently just lost my dog and would love to support other animals that need homes,” Nick says.
Thank you, Nick, for your professional grit, your commitment to safety, and the technical accuracy you bring to our power infrastructure projects every day. We are proud to have you on the Grade Tech crew and look forward to building the future alongside you.
