CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator – Railroad
Location: Kansas City, MO Job Type: Direct Hire Starting Pay: $26.00/hour, with higher pay available depending on experience Schedule: 40 hours guaranteed weekly + significant overtime Travel: Local and out-of-area emergency assignments Benefits: Full-time position with benefits
Position Overview
Seeking a Class A CDL Heavy Equipment Operator for railroad recovery, load adjustment, track work, and field operations. This is a hands-on position where driving is a small part of the job. The majority of the work involves operating equipment, material handling, physical labor, and supporting emergency railroad operations.
24/7 on-call availability is required, including weekends and holidays.
What You'll Do
- Complete DOT pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment.
- Transport equipment and materials to job sites and verify oversized/overweight permits.
- Load, unload, stage, and position equipment and materials.
- Support rerailing, load adjustment/transfer, track repair, maintenance, and new construction.
- Assist with crane setup, inspection, operation, and breakdown.
- Perform rigging with chains, cables, and winches.
- Operate heavy equipment such as cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, excavators, front-end loaders, tractors, skid steers, and rail-bound equipment.
- Use hydraulic tools, welding equipment, cutting torches, electrical tools, and hand tools.
- Perform basic field equipment maintenance, including minor repairs and oil changes.
- Monitor equipment and vehicles for safe operation and readiness.
- Participate in safety meetings, training, and preventive maintenance activities.
- Reload and secure equipment after assignments and help clean work areas.
- Restock parts, supplies, and equipment at the end of assignments.
- Assist other crews or departments as needed.
Requirements
- Valid Class A CDL with a good driving record.
- Basic mechanical skills for minor equipment repairs in the field.
- Experience in construction, heavy equipment operation, or physically demanding labor.
- Comfortable operating heavy equipment and working around railroad operations.
- Strong preference for candidates experienced with manual-transmission equipment.
- Able to complete required qualification testing, training, and safety programs.
- Comfortable working extended hours and responding to emergency calls.
- Available 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
- Ability to perform physically demanding work in varying field conditions.
Preferred Experience
- 3+ years of heavy equipment operation, including backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, or skid-steer loaders.
- Experience with railroad, rerailing, track maintenance, load transfer, or similar field operations is a plus.
- Equivalent training and hands-on experience may be considered.
Hours & 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.
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