Archived listing. The details below describe a past opening.
CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator
Location: Taneytown, MD Job Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire Schedule: 40 hours guaranteed per week, with significant overtime Starting Pay: $26.00/hour; higher pay may be available depending on experience.
Position Overview
Seeking a Class A CDL Driver/Operator to support railroad recovery, track maintenance, and heavy equipment operations. This hands-on role involves transporting equipment to job sites, operating construction machinery when qualified, and assisting with railroad rerailing, track repair, load transfers, and related fieldwork.
Driving accounts for approximately 10% of the role. Candidates must be comfortable operating heavy equipment, performing physical labor, traveling as needed, and responding to emergency calls on a 24/7 on-call basis.
Key Responsibilities
• Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment in accordance with company procedures and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
• Drive tractor-trailers to and from job sites, inspect loads and transported machinery, and verify permits for oversized or overweight equipment.
• Participate in daily work planning and safety briefings before beginning assignments.
• Load, unload, move, and stage materials and equipment for rerailing, load adjustment and transfer, track maintenance, repairs, and new track construction.
• Assist with crane assembly, inspections, equipment setup, and safe operation.
• Connect chains, cables, and winches and assist with rigging during railroad derailment recovery.
• Operate heavy equipment such as cranes, backhoes, excavators, grapple trucks, dump trucks, and other machinery as qualified.
• Use hydraulic equipment, welding and torch-cutting tools, electrical tools, and common hand tools to complete assigned work.
• Perform track maintenance, grading, specialty lifting, railroad car recovery, load transfers, and related construction activities.
• Monitor equipment and vehicles for operational readiness and minimize downtime.
• Perform and document basic equipment maintenance and refer more complex repairs to the appropriate supervisor.
• Assist with dismantling, loading, and securing equipment after job completion.
• Restock vehicles and equipment, organize supplies, and sort scrap materials at the home base.
• Maintain clean vehicles, equipment, and work areas while following safety procedures and supporting other departments as needed.
Required Qualifications
• Valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL-A) with a good driving record.
• Experience in construction labor, equipment operation, or another physically demanding role.
• Ability to perform hands-on fieldwork and safely work around heavy machinery.
• Willingness to work a 24/7 on-call schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays, when emergency response is required.
• Ability to complete required qualification tests, safety training, and other job-related programs.
• Commitment to workplace safety, teamwork, and efficient job completion.
Preferred Experience
• At least 3 years of heavy equipment operation experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Experience operating backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, and skid-steer loaders.
• Railroad derailment recovery, rerailing, track maintenance, or railroad construction experience is a plus.
Schedule and Compensation
• 40 hours guaranteed per week.
• Typical workweeks average 60 or more hours, with occasional weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.
• Overtime is paid at 1.5 times the regular rate for qualifying hours outside the standard Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. schedule, subject to applicable overtime rules.
• Additional compensation may include per diem, hotel reimbursement for work-related travel, and layover pay when applicable.
• Emergency assignments may require extended hours and rapid deployment.
Pre-Employment Requirements
• Pre-employment drug screening.
• Background check.
• Required qualification and safety assessments.
Interview Reminder: Candidates must bring steel-toed boots to the interview.