Yard Hostler and Material Handler: Rock Crushing Decorative Rock

Essential Job Functions for a Yard Hostler and Material Handler Job Description

This physically demanding role at a decorative landscape rock company involves operating machinery, maintaining vehicles, and keeping the yard organized. The work is performed outdoors in varying weather conditions and requires physical strength, stamina, and a commitment to safety.

Equipment Operation:

• Operates skid steers, loaders, and other heavy equipment to move, load, unload, and stockpile decorative landscape rock products (e.g., boulders, flagstone, gravel, decorative aggregates).
• Maneuvers equipment in tight spaces and around obstacles, demonstrating precision and control to avoid damage to property or product.
• Loads trucks with landscape rock products, ensuring proper weight distribution and securement of the load.
• Unloads incoming shipments of landscape rock and other materials, verifying quantities and inspecting for damage.
• Sorts and organizes different types of decorative rock, separating materials by size, color, and type.
• Operates forklifts (if certified) to move pallets of bagged or packaged landscape rock products.
• Performs pre-operation checks on equipment, ensuring it is in safe working condition before use.

Trailer Towing and Transportation:

• Tows trailers behind trucks to transport landscape rock products, supplies, and equipment to various locations, including customer sites, job sites, and other company yards.
• Safely secures trailers to trucks, ensuring proper hitching and lighting connections.
• Drives trucks and trailers safely and legally, adhering to all traffic regulations and company policies.
• Loads and unloads trailers, ensuring proper weight distribution and securement of cargo.

Vehicle Maintenance and Cleaning:

• Maintains and cleans work trucks, including washing, sweeping, and removing debris.
• Performs basic vehicle maintenance checks, such as checking fluid levels, tire pressure, and lights.
• Reports any vehicle malfunctions or maintenance needs to the supervisor promptly.
• May assist with scheduling vehicle maintenance and repairs.

Yard Organization and Maintenance:

• Maintains a clean and organized work yard, ensuring safe and efficient movement of equipment and materials.
• Removes debris, weeds, and other obstacles from the yard.
• Organizes and stores landscape rock products in designated areas, ensuring proper labeling and inventory control.
• Assists with maintaining yard infrastructure, such as fences, gates, and drainage systems.

Other Duties:

• May assist with other tasks as assigned by the supervisor, such as helping customers load their vehicles with landscape rock or assisting with special projects.
• Maintains accurate records of equipment usage, maintenance activities, and material handling.
• Adheres to all company safety policies and procedures, including wearing required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Communicates effectively with supervisors, colleagues, and customers.
• Works cooperatively with other team members to ensure efficient yard operations.

Physical Demands:

• The work is physically demanding and requires the ability to lift and carry heavy objects, stand for extended periods, bend, stoop, kneel, and work in various positions.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed outdoors in various weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and wind.
• The work environment may involve exposure to dust, noise, and vibrations.

Key Requirements:

• 3-5 years of experience operating and maintaining heavy equipment.
• Valid driver's license (CDL preferred).
• Ability to lift heavy objects and work in all weather conditions.
• Reliable, punctual, and honest.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Organized and maintains a clean work environment.

Overall, this role offers a mix of operational and maintenance tasks in a dynamic work environment.

This physically demanding role involves operating machinery, maintaining vehicles, and keeping the yard organized, with a variable schedule and potential for travel.

Key Responsibilities:

• Operate skid steers and loaders.
• Tow trailers behind trucks.
• Maintain and clean work trucks.
• Perform basic vehicle maintenance checks.

Ideal Candidate:

• Reliable, punctual, and honest.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Organized and maintains a clean work environment.
• 3-5 years of heavy equipment operation and maintenance experience.
• Valid driver's license (CDL preferred).
• Ability to lift heavy objects and work in all weather conditions.

Work Schedule:

• Variable, adaptable to changing priorities.
• May report to multiple supervisors.
• Potential for travel.