Equipment Operator - Lavaca Co Maint

Texas Department of Transportation; Hallettsville (TX); On-site; USD 46,000 - 71,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Plans

Flexible Work Schedules

Paid Leave and Holidays

Health Premiums paid by 100% for Full‑

On-the-Job Training

Tuition Assistance Program

Wellness Program

Career Development and Advancement

Family-Friendly Policies

Job summary

Texas Department of Transportation seeks an Equipment Operator I to maintain and improve Texas roadways. This role operates a variety of heavy equipment for roadway maintenance, emergency response, and construction support, ensuring safe and efficient operations while supporting traffic control efforts.

Candidates must hold a Texas CDL at the time of application and commit to safety, teamwork, and delivering quality service to the traveling public.

Qualifications

• 1 year experience in maintenance and/or construction equipment operation.
• Substitutions a year-for-year may be allowed with related college education or technical training.
• Must have a valid Texas Commercial Driver's License for equipment operation at time of application.

Responsibilities

• Assists with traffic control; places and gathers cones, warning signs and barricades; flags traffic.
• Monitors and completes reports including timekeeping, equipment forms, inventory, accident forms and PMI checklists.
• Operates light and heavy equipment including front-end loaders, rollers, Brooms, backhoes, street sweepers and dump trucks.
• Operates complex heavy equipment to support roadway maintenance and transportation projects.
• Performs PMI, routine servicing, minor repairs and uses equipment/tools, tires and attachments as needed.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Traffic control

Record keeping

Job description

Minimum Qualifications

Performs complex transportation maintenance work operating heavy equipment such as: a tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt distributor, profiling/milling machine, and dump truck. Work requires contact with private entities. Employees at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Essential Duties

• Assists with traffic control; places and gathers cones, warning signs and barricades; flags traffic.
• Monitors and completes various required reports including timekeeping, equipment forms, inventory, accident forms, Preventative Maintenance Inspection (PMI) checklist, and records work in progress.
• Operates light equipment such as a front-end loader one and a quarter cubic yards or less, pneumatic roller, rotary broom, spreader box, backhoe, street sweeper, and mower.
• Operates one or more types of complex heavy equipment such as tractor trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt profiling/milling machine and dump truck.
• Performs preventive maintenance inspections (PMI), routine servicing and minor repairs on equipment; as required uses/moves equipment/tools, materials and products related to these activities to include tires and equipment attachments.
• Operates tractor-trailer haul trucks to relocate heavy and light equipment including loading, securing, and unloading equipment on haul trailers in compliance with federal, state, and Department motor vehicle laws, regulations, and standards.
• May serve as a work crew project lead ensuring work performed meets project specifications.
• May train other employees on the operation of equipment and safety procedures.
• Operates heavy equipment performing highly complex transportation maintenance and roadway repairs.
• May coordinate equipment operations for daily work assignments.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: No education required.

Experience: 1 year experience in maintenance and/or construction equipment operation. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Related college education or relevant technical training may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis.

Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications

• Valid driver’s license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.
• Must have a valid Texas Commercial Driver's License for equipment operation at time of application

Competencies

• Methods, procedures, equipment, and materials used in intermodal transportation engineering construction and maintenance.
• The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Basic vehicle mechanics, maintenance and repair procedures
• Coordinating labor, materials, and equipment
• Prioritizing and organizing work assignments
• Operating light and heavy highway equipment
• Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others
• Maintaining a safe working environment
• Communicate effectively
• Follow verbal and written instructions

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Subject to environmental conditions; protection from weather but not temperature changes
• Subject to outside environmental conditions; no effective weather protection
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Subject to extreme cold and heat; below 32 and/or above 100 degrees for more than one hour
• Subject to noise
• Subject to vibrationSubject to hazards-moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals
• Subject to atmospheric conditions, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation
• Required to wear protective gear-respirator, hard hat, or other device
• Light work: Lift up to 20 lbs. at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs.

Conditions of Employment

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
• Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize "medical marijuana" under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.
• Must be able to report for duty within 60 minutes of notification on a 24-hour basis to respond to emergency situations.

Position Information

Join the Texas Department of Transportation as an Equipment Operator and play a vital role in maintaining and improving the state's transportation system. This position operates a variety of heavy equipment to perform roadway maintenance, emergency response, and construction support activities while ensuring safe and efficient operations. Responsibilities include operating and maintaining heavy equipment, assisting with traffic control, performing preventive maintenance inspections, and supporting emergency operations during severe weather events and other incidents. Candidates must possess a valid Texas Commercial Driver License (CDL) at the time of application and be committed to safety, teamwork, and delivering quality service to the traveling public.

Salary Plan/Grade

Equipment Operator (A18): $45,521 - $71,055/yearly

Benefits And Perks

At TxDOT, we value work-life balance and are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits and programs, including:

• Retirement Plans
• Alternative and/or Flexible Work Schedules
• Paid Leave and Holidays
• Health Premiums paid at 100% for Full-Time Employees
• On-the-Job TrainingTuition Assistance Program
• Holistic Wellness Program with Leave Incentives
• Career Development and Advancement Opportunities
• Family-Friendly Policies and Programs

In 2024, TxDOT was recognized as a Best Place for Working Parents, and many of our offices statewide are also designated as Texas Mother-Friendly Worksites. These recognitions reflect our dedication to supporting families and promoting a healthy work-life balance.

For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at: Total Compensation Package

To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit: Benefits at a Glance | ERS (texas.gov)

Job

Maint/Skilled Craft/Ferry Ops

Schedule

Full-time

Employee Status

Regular

Job Level

Non-Management

Job Posting

Sep 8, 2026, 12:55:35 PM

State Job Title/s

Equipment Operator I

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)

TxDOT is committed to hiring veterans. To assist in determining whether your military experience may pertain to the minimum requirements for this position, Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces have been assigned to each state classification code/title where applicable. The MOS codes are grouped by occupational category.

To view the MOS codes please click on link below and click on the appropriate occupational category.

https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions

Applicant Information

The Texas Department of Transportation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

If requested, reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities for any part of the employment process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Action of 1990.