Equipment Operator Senior - CDL Pathway

City of Charlotte; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 33,062 - 46,562; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Job summary

The City of Charlotte is hiring a Staff Maintenance Equipment Operator Senior to operate heavy-duty equipment for street maintenance. The position requires operating backhoes, front-end loaders, and more while providing a pathway to obtain a CDL Class A license.

The role includes responsibilities such as hauling materials, performing manual labor, and ensuring safety compliance. Candidates benefit from a comprehensive package including health, dental, and retirement options.

Qualifications

• At least two years’ experience operating complex construction equipment.
• Ability to obtain CDL Class A license.
• Pass DOT physical and drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment for construction and maintenance.
• Haul materials to job sites and perform manual labor tasks.
• Assume leadership roles in the absence of the crew chief.

Skills

Safety knowledge

Transportation principles

Customer service

Construction knowledge

Equipment operation

Monitoring operations

Coordination

Equipment maintenance

Troubleshooting

Critical thinking

Management of personnel

Speaking

Active listening

Time management

Control precision

Manual dexterity

Reaction time

Physical abilities

Job description

Overview

Salary: $24.00 – $33.80, commensurate with experience.

The Staff Maintenance Equipment Operator Senior operates heavy‑duty backhoes, front‑end loaders, and other equipment used in the construction and maintenance of city streets. The position includes a CDL Class A license pathway for experienced operators who do not yet hold a valid CDL Class A. Applicants will be given paid time to earn a Commercial Learner’s Permit and then complete an 8‑week off‑site CDL Class A course. Upon completion of the course, the applicant will work full‑time operating equipment, 7:00 am – 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

• Operate heavy equipment such as grades, front‑end loaders, backhoes, tandem dump trucks, track‑hoes, paving machines, etc.
• Haul material to and from job sites; load and unload materials.
• Perform manual labor tasks such as digging trenches.
• Assume a leadership role and complete paperwork in the absence of the crew chief; assist the crew supervisor in supervising crews on the job site.
• Locate underground services, such as pipes or wires, prior to construction.
• Assist the crew chief in establishing grades, setting batter boards, forming and placing concrete, backfilling, etc.
• Perform routine inspections of equipment for mechanical readiness and safety.
• Comply with work and safety rules, OSHA regulations, and work hazard rules and regulations.
• Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
• Participate in large‑scale field operations for street grading, construction, and repair.
• Coordinate machine actions with other activities, positioning or moving loads in response to hand or audio signals from crew members.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Safety – Knowledge of OSHA, city, and federal rules, work hazards, and applicable safety precautions.
• Transportation – Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by road, including laws and ordinances regulating vehicle operation.
• Customer and Personal Service – Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services.
• Construction – Knowledge of materials, methods, tools, and procedures used in street construction and maintenance.
• Operation and Control – Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Operation Monitoring – Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to ensure equipment works properly.
• Monitoring – Assessing performance of oneself, others, or organizations to make improvements.
• Coordination – Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Equipment Maintenance – Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what maintenance is needed.
• Troubleshooting – Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions.
• Management of Personnel Resources – Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work.
• Speaking – Conveying information effectively.
• Active Listening – Giving full attention to what others are saying, understanding the points, asking questions, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Time Management – Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Control Precision – Adjusting controls of a machine or vehicle quickly and repeatedly.
• Depth Perception – Judging distance between objects.
• Near and Far Vision – Seeing details at close or distance.
• Manual Dexterity – Manipulating objects quickly and accurately.
• Rate Control – Timing movements or equipment in anticipation of changes in speed.
• Reaction Time – Responding quickly to signals.
• Oral Comprehension – Understanding spoken information.
• Written Comprehension – Understanding written information.
• Physical Abilities – Sitting, standing, bending, twisting, reaching, kneeling, walking, driving, crawling, climbing, lifting and carrying (up to 75 lb), shoveling, pushing, and pulling.
• Ability to successfully complete a skills assessment as part of the interview process.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least two years’ experience independently operating complex construction equipment such as backhoes, track‑hoes, front‑end loaders, paving machines, excavators, and tandems.
• Qualified external candidates without a valid Class A commercial driver’s license may apply. They must meet the following criteria to attend a paid CDL Class A program upon hire:
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Possess a valid North Carolina driver’s license with no limiting restrictions.
• Obtain a Class A Learner’s Permit with no limiting restrictions.
• Pass a DOT physical and hold a valid DOT medical card.
• Complete and pass a DOT drug screen.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a CDL tanker endorsement within 6 months of hire, after initial CDL A license is obtained.

Preferred Qualifications

• Roadway construction experience.
• OSHA 10‑Hour certification.

Conditions of Employment

The City requires background checks for candidates applying for any position, including reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record checks, and, where applicable, credit history, sex offender registry, and motor vehicle records checks. Background checks must comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act and federal and state statutes. Final candidates must pass a pre‑employment drug‑screening test and physical examination. Candidates may be asked to take a skills test and complete other assessments. The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or gender expression.

Benefits

Employees who are eligible for benefits receive a comprehensive package, including health, dental, vision, retirement, and other benefits. The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol‑free workplace.