A work equipment control device includes a work equipment state specifying unit, a control reference specifying unit, a distance specifying unit, and a bucket control unit. The work equipment state specifying unit specifies a state of work equipment. The control reference specifying unit specifies a control reference of the work equipment. The distance specifying unit specifies a distance between the work equipment and the control reference. The bucket control unit generates a control command to drive a bucket such that the state of the work equipment is maintained when the distance between the work equipment and the control reference is less than a bucket control start threshold.