Apprentice - Trimmer/Climber Trainee

This position trims, tops, and reshapes trees to remove low-hanging, dead, and excess branches, providing clearance for utility powerlines.

Nelson Tree Service provides utility companies with line clearance services, upholding a commitment to the highest standards of performance and professionalism. If this sounds like you apply today!

Nelson crews are widely heralded as among the most well-trained vegetation management specialists in the United States. At every level, Nelson’s leaders and employees know there is more to line clearance than trimming trees—there’s that whole matter of reputation.

Job Type: Full-Time , Non-Exempt

Pay: Competitive, Hourly

Benefits:

• Benefits Available and Vary per position and location

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Uses a chainsaw to cut brush, logs, and stumps of larger trees.
• Gathers and feeds brush into a wood chipper.
• Responsible for temporary traffic control and equipment (cones, signs and flagging).
• Ensures the safety of self and others by following company safety policies
• Adheres to Region Policy Manual
• Applies herbicide to right-of-way, following brush removal to treat remote areas.
• Services/maintains neat, clean, and mechanical order of truck, chipper, and other equipment.
• Responsible for daily inventory on truck.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Able to work scheduled work hours.
• Can obtain:
  • written CDL permit within 4 weeks of hire date;
  • Valid CDL within 120 days of hire date;
  • Herbicide license within 120 days of hire date.
• Must be able to work long hours and overtime during emergencies, including holidays and weekends.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.
• Entry-level position, no experience required.
• Previous experience is a plus.

Pre-Screen

• Upon offer, employees may be required to complete and pass a pre-employment drug screen, background, and/or MVR check.

License & Certifications:

• Valid DOT Medical Card required.

Travel Requirements:

• Required to report and/or travel for storm emergencies.

Physical Requirements:

• RARE (less than 10%): Sitting, Kneeling, Crawling, Color Vision, Climbing Stairs
• OCCASIONAL (up to 33%): Stooping, Squatting, Climbing On/Off Truck, Climbing Ladders, Pushing, Reading,
• FREQUENT (up to 66%): Carrying, Pulling, Lifting up to 50 lbs., Balancing, body-twisting, Hearing/Speech Range, Lifting, Lifting up to 10 lbs., Manual Dexterity, Reading, Speaking Clearly, Walking
• CONTINUOUS (up to 100%): Standing, Sense of Touch, Gripping, Seeing Distant, Reaching, range-of-motion, Depth Perception, Lifting over 10 lbs. to 50 lbs., Climbing Poles

Safety

Due to the inherently dangerous nature of the industry and requirements to work with or around hazardous equipment, employees must have sufficient eyesight to judge distance/coordination of equipment and tools, be able to maintain attention and concentration for extended periods, be able to withstand exposure to all kinds of weather while completing work assignments, be able to wear personal protective equipment as necessary, be able to enter and exit a vehicle numerous times a day, have the endurance necessary to traverse various terrain, be capable of performing job duties throughout a standard 8- or 10-hour day, be able to communicate with others, read, write, and comprehend written/verbal job instructions and information, and communicate and handle conflict professionally.

• Exposed to various vehicle traffic situations on work sites.
• Works around hazardous equipment.
• Work in all temperatures and weather.
• Works around excessive noise from machines, chain saws, wood chipper, with hearing protection.
• May be exposed to nature i.e., irritating plants and biting or stinging insects, reptiles, and dust.
• May be exposed to dogs and other animals.
• Work may be performed on unlevel ground.
• Work around falling limbs.

About Us:

At Nelson Tree Service, we protect the reputations of the utilities we serve. It is a defining component of our work, as we are the ambassadors for the utilities that entrust us with their vegetation management needs.

We know what it takes to ensure a successful outcome in any line clearance process. Property owners must be informed about the work, and our crews must operate at maximum efficiency while maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality.

Nelson personnel are provided with comprehensive customer service training and a positive work environment, which ultimately sustains our culture of excellence.

Individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Individuals with a disability who desire a reasonable accommodation should contact the ADA Coordinator at 1-800-248-8733, ext. 1339.

An Equal Opportunity Employer.