Heavy Equipment Operator

To operate the heaviest and most complex machinery and equipment in the transfer station and a variety of construction and maintenance equipment for the performance of assignments on a regular basis; perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled maintenance tasks.  Responsible for the safe collection and disposal of solid waste. Employees are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to assigned area of responsibility.

Duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

• Loading of refuse inside transfer station; loading of long haul trailers as assigned; moving of wood chips; emptying roll-off containers at the citizen station; up keep on the station including yard clean and pickup of litter.
• Maintain and wash down transfer station daily, using bleach if needed.
• Operate refuse collection vehicle on assigned route; transfer of solid waste to area landfill in Whitesboro (TASWA Landfill); provide supervision over subordinate staff while performing daily job functions;
• Assist in the loading and unloading of trucks; ensure that empty refuse containers are replaced in the proper location.
• Operate, maintain and perform minor repairs on a variety of machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, backhoe, air compressor, grinder, Semi-automated and fully-automated. 
• Assist in planning job assignments; explain job specification on job site.
• Maintain records of fuel consumption; daily driver’s log; load inspection once a week; log on washing station down; and any other documentation or related duties as assigned.
• Perform routine maintenance and pre/post operation on assigned City vehicle; maintain proper fluid levels; report the need for any major repairs.
• Operate a variety of equipment including, but not limited to, an 18-wheel tractor, tub grinder, track hoe loader, dozer, rear load truck, roll off truck, rubber tire loader, pup truck, mowers, weed eaters, sewer system compressor maintenance, skid loader, semi-automated, fully automated, front end commercial trucks, and other equipment as assigned.
• Tarp all loads including refuse, dirt, rock, asphalt, gravel concrete, or any other material that is to be hauled.
• Deliver container to customers, including, but not limited to, roll off containers and trash carts.
• Maintain and keep trucks and equipment clean and free from loose debris; wash out back of hoppers packers weekly, using bleach if needed; use oil pans daily to prevent leaks of fluid from machinery, equipment or trucks.
• Maintain General Services Department facilities as directed, including but not limited to, mowing, weed eating and picking up trash and debris.
• Complete all necessary documentation (as required by TCEQ and Solid Waste Supervisor) daily; lock machinery, equipment and vehicles daily; check in with office staff at the end of each shift.
• Work to reduce state of emergency and correct problems; respond to emergency service calls on a stand-by basis; perform overtime duties as needed or required in order to maintain solid waste operations.
• Tag all commercial and/or residential carts and roll-off customers when found to be in violation for improper waste. Ensure that all established safety practices and regulations are observed while work is performed; report any unsafe conditions.
• Maintain good communication skills with co-workers.
• Answer questions and provide information and customer service to the public as requested; report complaints to the Solid Waste Supervisor.

Additional Duties:

Knowledge of:

• Operate and maintenance requirements of a variety of light and heavy power driven equipment.
• Practices, methods and materials used in the construction and maintenance of streets and/or landfill facilities.
• Maneuver and transport heavy machinery and equipment in congested traffic.
• Modern construction methods and practices.
• Locations of various streets and addresses within the City.
• Safety practices and precautions to observe when operating heavy and machinery and equipment.
• General construction methods, practices and solid waste operation.
• Grinders, mowers, weed eaters and equipment Track-Hoe, Front End Commercial Trucks, Semi-Automated Trucks, Fully Automated 

Ability to:

• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Attach auxiliary pieces of equipment to power driven equipment.
• Perform a variety of semi-skilled and skilled construction and maintenance tasks.
• Operate, maintain and perform minor repairs on a variety of tools, machinery and equipment relevant to work assignments.
• Perform difficult manual labor tasks including lifting heavy weights, stooping and crawling.
• Perform work in undesirable or hazardous environment including inclement weather and traffic.
• Establish and maintain cooperative-working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Operate a refuse collection vehicle in extreme weather conditions and any other type of heavy      equipment in the Solid Waste division of the General Services Department.
• Word extended hours, including weekends and holidays, when required.

Experience and Training Guidelines:

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Two years of work experience operating various equipment, solid waste collection experience preferred. 

Education/Training:

       High school diploma or General Equivalence Diploma (GED) required. 

License(s)/Certification(s):

• Possession of a valid Class “A” or “B” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or must obtain within thirty (30) days of employment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a Class “B” Municipal Solid Waste License when required by General Services Director.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 

• Regularly required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• Frequently required to stand; sit; and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Occasionally required to walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Regularly required to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Regularly works near moving mechanical parts and in outside weather conditions.
• Regularly exposed to vibration, wet and/or humid conditions, extreme cold and extreme heat.
• Occasionally works in high, precarious places.
• Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and risk of electrical shock.
• Noise level is usually very loud.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description is not an employment agreement, contact agreement, or contract.  Management has exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Salary : $36,878 - $64,563