Railroad Equipment Operator – CDL-A

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 pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment.

- Transport machinery, equipment, and materials to and from work sites.

- Inspect loads and verify permits for oversized or overweight transportation.

- Participate in work planning and daily safety briefings.

- Load, unload, stage, and position equipment and materials.

- Support train rerailing, load transfers, railroad maintenance, track work, and construction activities .

- Assist with crane and equipment setup, inspection, operation, breakdown, and loading.

- Perform rigging with chains, cables, and winches .

- Operate cranes, excavators, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, front-end loaders, tractors, skid steers, and rail-bound equipment .

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

- Monitor equipment and vehicles for safe and reliable operation.

- Perform basic equipment servicing and document maintenance activities.

- Report major mechanical issues for further repair.

- Reload and secure equipment following field assignments.

- Restock parts, supplies, and components.

- Maintain clean and organized vehicles, tools, equipment, and work areas.

- Assist other teams or departments as needed.

- Follow all safety policies and procedures.

Requirements

- Valid Class A CDL with a good driving record.

- Experience in construction, heavy equipment operation, or physically demanding field work.

- Ability to safely operate heavy equipment.

- Comfortable performing hands-on work in changing field conditions.

- Able to complete required qualification testing, training, and safety programs.

- Must be available for 24/7 emergency response , including weekends and holidays.

Preferred Experience

- 3+ years of heavy equipment operation , including:

Cranes

- Backhoes

- Bulldozers

- Excavators

- Front-end loaders

- Grapple trucks

- Dump trucks

- Rail-bound equipment

- Tractors

- Skid-steer loaders

- Railroad, rerailing, track maintenance, or load-transfer experience is a plus.

- Equivalent training and hands-on experience may be considered.

Schedule & Additional Compensation

- 40 hours guaranteed each week.

- Typical workweeks average 60+ hours , with some weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.

- Hours outside Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM are paid at 1.5x overtime .

- Per diem, hotel expenses for required travel, and layover pay may be available when applicable.

- Emergency assignments may require local or out-of-area travel.

Pre-Employment Requirements

- Drug screening

- Background check

- Required qualification and safety testing

Interview: Candidates must bring steel-toed boots.