What are the responsibilities and job description for the CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator position at Qualdoc?
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.
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Complete pre-trip and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment in accordance with company procedures and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
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Drive tractor-trailers to and from job sites, inspect loads and transported machinery, and verify permits for oversized or overweight equipment.
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Participate in daily work planning and safety briefings before beginning assignments.
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Load, unload, move, and stage materials and equipment for rerailing, load adjustment and transfer, track maintenance, repairs, and new track construction.
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Assist with crane assembly, inspections, equipment setup, and safe operation.
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Connect chains, cables, and winches and assist with rigging during railroad derailment recovery.
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Operate heavy equipment such as cranes, backhoes, excavators, grapple trucks, dump trucks, and other machinery as qualified.
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Use hydraulic equipment, welding and torch-cutting tools, electrical tools, and common hand tools to complete assigned work.
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Perform track maintenance, grading, specialty lifting, railroad car recovery, load transfers, and related construction activities.
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Monitor equipment and vehicles for operational readiness and minimize downtime.
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Perform and document basic equipment maintenance and refer more complex repairs to the appropriate supervisor.
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Assist with dismantling, loading, and securing equipment after job completion.
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Restock vehicles and equipment, organize supplies, and sort scrap materials at the home base.
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Maintain clean vehicles, equipment, and work areas while following safety procedures and supporting other departments as needed.
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Valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL-A) with a good driving record.
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Experience in construction labor, equipment operation, or another physically demanding role.
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Ability to perform hands-on fieldwork and safely work around heavy machinery.
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Willingness to work a 24/7 on-call schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays, when emergency response is required.
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Ability to complete required qualification tests, safety training, and other job-related programs.
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Commitment to workplace safety, teamwork, and efficient job completion.
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At least 3 years of heavy equipment operation experience, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
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Experience operating backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, and skid-steer loaders.
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Railroad derailment recovery, rerailing, track maintenance, or railroad construction experience is a plus.
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40 hours guaranteed per week.
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Typical workweeks average 60 or more hours, with occasional weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.
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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.
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Additional compensation may include per diem, hotel reimbursement for work-related travel, and layover pay when applicable.
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Emergency assignments may require extended hours and rapid deployment.
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Pre-employment drug screening.
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Background check.
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Required qualification and safety assessments.
Interview Reminder: Candidates must bring steel-toed boots to the interview.