Terminal Rail Transload Operator

Company Overview
Come join a winning Team! Since 1970 Plastic Express has met the bulk trucking, bulk terminal, packaging, and warehousing needs of the plastics industry. Our strategic locations, modern systems, and dedicated employees allow us to provide custom tailored logistical solutions to fulfill the most challenging needs of our customers. Plastic Express operates from 22 full service facilities, more than 40 bulk terminals, and 52 railcar terminals offering more than 8,500 railcar spots across the country. We are located near 9 major ports in the U.S. and rely heavily on our rail infrastructure to handle imports /exports as well as regional distribution. At many of the Plastic Express sites, we also handle some non-plastic commodities, which include; paper rolls, steel, building materials and other dry bulk materials. Plastic Express owns and operates roughly 250 trucks, with approximately 250 trailers performing full bulk truck distribution business. Plastic Express is headquartered in Houston, TX and has over 600 employees nationwide. Our goal has always been to exceed our customer's expectations, and our can do-attitude is what differentiates us from the competition.

Plastic Express employees have always been our key to success and total customer satisfaction. We are always looking for dependable & talented business professionals that will help us to grow and to continue our “Can Do” tradition.

Job Summary:
With reporting responsibilities to the Terminal Rail Manager or designee, this position is responsible for working outdoor in a railcar storage and transload terminal, interpreting train orders with local switch crew, railyard traffic, and rules associated to local, FRA & OSHA regulations; handling of food grade and plastic resin materials; timely submittal and correct railcar inventory with accurate placement of rail cars; verify proper alignment for product transfer between railcars and bulk trucks and other essential rail functions in a safety sensitive and production environment
 
Essential Functions/Duties:

• Effectively Inventory and manage the placement of railcars for product transfer from hopper/tank cars to bulk trucks.
• Keys data into a hand-held tablet.
• Verifies railcar identifiers with driver loading instructions to ensure accuracy and quality.
• Inspects railcars for leaks and exterior damage upon placement at and release from the railyard.
• Ensures all railcars are properly sealed and documents data when released.
• Effectively & professionally communicates with on-site vendors, 3rd party contractors, customers and employees.
• Assist with general clean up duties within the railyard and facility (general maintenance, landscaping, and painting.)
• Reads gauges, pressure valves, fuel levels and other related mechanical instruments to maintain good working order.
• Operates diesel powered conveyor in loading pneumatic bulk trailers.
• Ability to handle and connect hoses, transfer pumps, portable fall protection, re-fuel machinery, lift/move heavy machinery.
• Operates pumps and turns valves on railcars.
• Inspects all company and vendor provided equipment before and after use using preferred inspection logs.
• Sample customer specific products and keeps records.
• Reports any unsafe and non-working mechanical devices, machinery, tools, and or vehicles to management staff.  
• Uses basic computer skills including, Microsoft Word, Excel and Email.
• Reports and clean all railyard spills as required by published company policy guidelines to management staff.
• Must wear personal protective equipment by published company policy guidelines at all times.
• Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and or changed at any time at the discretion of the management.
• Perform other duties as may be required from time to time.

Qualifications: 

• Must be able to safely operate a motorized vehicles such as forklift, ariel lifts, golf carts, etc. 
• Must have a valid state issued driver license.
• Must have the ability to think independently and make decisions that are in the company’s best interest. 
• Must have excellent interpersonal, communications, and organizational skills.

• Must be multi-task oriented with the ability to handle many activities simultaneously. 
• Ability to recognize onsite risk factors and take appropriate action with firmness and tact.

Required Education and Experience

• Minimum education required is a high school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education and Experience 

• Minimum 1 year of relevant transload or material handling experience preferred.

Physical Demands  

• Must be able to perform physical labor such as; lifting up to 55 lbs., moving up to 250 pounds, climbing ladders, operate control panels and working with hand tools.
• Must be able use fingers, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and/or hear.
• Employee must possess vision abilities required by this job function to include close visual confirmation of finely printed documents, have distance vision to safely and correctly identify objects and or markings.
• Must have peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to focus on subjects or objects at any safe working distance

Licenses/Certificates:  None.

Skills:  

• Basic Math skills. Ability to perform basic mathematical equations.
• Have mechanical, operational, and organizational skills.
• Ability to complete written documents and records using pen and paper as well as computers.
• Excellent communication, written and grammatical skills in English, Spanish a plus.
• Strong Safety awareness.
• Proven success with working in a team environment.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously without constant supervision.
• Customer service oriented.

Additional Job Details:
Supervisory Responsibility:  None

Work Environment:

• Exposure to hot, cold, wet, humid or windy conditions caused by the weather including rain, heat and cold temps; loud noise and fumes from gas, oil and grease and food grade sensitive materials.
• Working at heights using harnessed fall protection and safety equipment.
• Expected to performing essential rail functions in a safety sensitive and production environment in and around the process plant, transload yard and railyard.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: 

• Full-time / rotating schedule as needed to cover staffing & customer demands. Shifts are subject to the modification/adjustment based the site workload and production scheduled rates.
• Must be available to work at all hours including Saturdays and Sundays as required.

Compensation: $23.00 per hour, non-exempt

Travel:  None

Benefits and Perks:

• Family health benefit packages
• Vacation pay after 90 days
• Holiday pay after 90 days
• Company matching 401k retirement program after 90 days

Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and/or changed at any time at the discretion of management.

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

In line with Plastic Express’ Environmental Promise, the hired individual is expected to enthusiastically support all facets of Operation Clean Sweep; specifically, making a conscious effort to prevent pellet, flake and powder loss into the environment and ensure any spills are swiftly and effectively cleaned up.