CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator – Railroad

Qualdoc; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-time position with benefits

Job summary

Qualdoc is seeking a Class A CDL Heavy Equipment Operator for railroad recovery and field operations in Kansas City, MO. The role emphasizes hands-on equipment work, with driving a smaller portion of the job and a focus on safety and efficiency.

Expect 40 hours guaranteed weekly with significant overtime and 24/7 on-call availability, including weekends and holidays. Local and out-of-area assignments may occur with full-time benefits.

Qualifications

• Valid Class A CDL with a clean driving record.
• Experience in construction or heavy equipment operation.
• Willingness to work long hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Comfortable around railroad operations and emergency scenarios.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment such as cranes, backhoes, and rail-bound machines.
• Perform DOT pre/post-trip inspections of trucks and equipment.
• Assist track repair, load adjustment, and rerailing tasks as needed.
• Support crane setup, operation, and breakdown; rigging as required.
• Maintain safety, participate in training, and document findings.

Skills

CDL-A knowledge

Heavy equipment ops

Safety compliance

Physical stamina

Tools

Crane setup

Hydraulic tools

Welding equipment

Cutting torches

Hand tools

Job description

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 readinessParticipate 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.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.