About this role
Railroad Rerail Equipment Operator – CDL-A
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Job Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
Pay: Starting at $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
We are hiring a CDL-A Equipment Operator to support railroad emergency response and rerailing operations. This is a hands-on position that combines heavy equipment operation, CDL driving, equipment maintenance, and physical job-site work.
Driving is approximately 10% of the role. Candidates must be comfortable with 24/7 emergency on-call work, including weekends and holidays.
Responsibilities
- Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment in accordance with DOT regulations and company procedures.
- Drive tractor-trailers to transport machinery, tools, and materials to and from job sites.
- Inspect transported loads and verify permits for overweight and oversized equipment.
- Participate in daily safety briefings and review work plans before beginning assignments.
- Load, unload, move, and position equipment and materials at job sites.
- Assist with specialized lifting, equipment recovery, material transfers, and railroad construction-related activities.
- Help assemble, inspect, and operate cranes and other heavy machinery.
- Connect and secure chains, cables, and winches during equipment recovery operations.
- Operate equipment such as cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, excavators, bulldozers, front-end loaders, and skid steers, as qualified.
- Use hydraulic equipment, welding tools, cutting torches, electrical tools, and standard hand tools as needed.
- Monitor equipment condition and report mechanical issues to help prevent downtime.
- Perform basic equipment maintenance and minor repairs.
- Assist with dismantling, loading, and securing machinery when assignments are completed.
- Clean work areas, organize tools, sort scrap materials, and restock vehicles and equipment for future assignments.
- Follow all company safety procedures and maintain equipment, vehicles, and work areas in good condition.
- Assist other departments with additional field assignments as business needs require.
Qualifications
- Valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL-A) with a good driving record.
- Previous construction, industrial labor, or similar hands-on work experience.
- Comfortable performing physical labor and working in demanding outdoor environments.
- Ability to operate different types of heavy equipment and construction machinery.
- Willingness to complete required safety training and qualification assessments.
- Must be available for emergency on-call assignments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
Preferred Experience:
- 3+ years of experience operating heavy equipment, including:
Backhoes
- Bulldozers
- Excavators
- Front-end loaders
- Grapple trucks
- Rail-bound equipment
- Tractors
- Skid-steer loaders
- Equivalent combinations of equipment training and hands-on experience will also be considered.
Schedule & Compensation
- 40 hours guaranteed per week.
- Average workweek of approximately 60+ hours, with the possibility of reaching 70 hours.
- Significant overtime opportunities.
- Time-and-a-half pay for hours worked outside the regular Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM schedule.
- Per diem and hotel accommodations for qualifying travel assignments.
- Layover pay when applicable.
Important: This position requires flexibility and availability for emergency response assignments throughout the year.
Additional Requirements
- Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening.
- Must pass a background check.
- Steel-toed boots are required for the interview.