CDL A Heavy Equipment Operator – Railroad

CDL A Heavy Equipment Operator – Railroad Location: Candor, NC Job Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire Starting Pay: $26.00/hour — higher pay available depending on experience Schedule: 40 hours guaranteed weekly + significant overtime Availability: 24/7 emergency on-call Benefits: Full-time benefits Position Overview Seeking a Class A CDL professional for railroad recovery and heavy equipment operations. This is a hands-on field position where driving makes up approximately 10% of the job. The majority of the work involves operating equipment, rigging, material handling, railroad recovery, and physical job-site support. Employees must be comfortable responding to emergency calls 24/7, including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities • Complete DOT-compliant pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment.

• Transport equipment and materials to and from work sites.

• Inspect transported loads and verify permits for overweight and oversized equipment.

• Review daily work plans and participate in safety briefings.

• Load, unload, move, and stage equipment and materials for field operations.

• Support train rerailing, load transfers, railroad car repair, and track maintenance, repair, and construction .

• Assist with the setup, inspection, assembly, and operation of cranes and other heavy equipment.

• Perform rigging using chains, cables, and winches .

• Operate equipment when qualified, including cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, and excavators .

• Perform specialty lifting, rerailing, grading, load transfer, and railroad construction activities.

• Use hydraulic tools, welding equipment, cutting torches, electrical tools, and common hand tools .

• Monitor vehicles and equipment for safe and reliable operation.

• Perform and document minor equipment and vehicle service.

• Report more complex mechanical issues to the appropriate supervisor.

• Assist with equipment disassembly and loading after assignments.

• Restock vehicles and equipment with necessary parts, components, and supplies.

• Clean and organize equipment, vehicles, tools, and work areas.

• Assist other departments as needed.

• Follow all required safety procedures and regulations.

Equipment Experience 3+ years of heavy equipment operation is preferred , including experience with:

• Backhoes

• Bulldozers

• Excavators

• Front-end loaders

• Grapple trucks

• Rail-bound equipment

• Tractors

• Skid-steer loaders

Equivalent combinations of relevant training and hands-on experience may be considered.

Qualifications • Valid Class A CDL with a good driving record.

• Construction labor or similar physically demanding work experience.

• Ability to safely operate heavy equipment.

• Ability to complete required qualification testing, training, and safety programs.

• Comfortable working in emergency-response situations and extended-hour assignments.

• Able to perform physically demanding work in field conditions.

• Must be available 24/7 for emergency calls , including weekends and holidays.

Schedule & Additional Compensation • 40 hours guaranteed per week.

• Significant overtime; typical combined regular and overtime hours average 60+ hours per week , with some weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.

• Hours worked outside Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM are paid at time-and-a-half .

• Per diem, hotel pay for travel, and layover pay may be available when applicable.

• When not responding to emergencies, employees may assist with safety training, preventive maintenance, and equipment-related shop work .

Pre-Employment Requirements • Pre-employment drug screening

• Background check

• Required qualification and safety testing

Interview: Candidates must bring steel-toed boots to the interview.