CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator

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.