Heavy Equipment Operator – Excavator & Loader

MaineGuide; Maine; On-site; USD 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Vision insurance

Job summary

Allagash Transfer Station in Naples, Maine is seeking a dependable Heavy Equipment Operator to operate an excavator with grapple and a front-end loader for handling solid waste and loading live floor trailers. The role emphasizes safety, equipment care, and professional customer service in a hands‑on, outdoor environment.

Responsibilities include daily inspections, proper loading of trailers, and coordinating with site staff to keep operations moving smoothly.

Qualifications

• Experience operating excavators with grapple attachments.
• Ability to load trailers with precision and care.
• Strong understanding of safe equipment operation and daily inspections.
• Mechanical aptitude to recognize developing equipment problems.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Responsibilities

• Operate equipment safely and efficiently using an excavator with grapple and a front-end loader to move, consolidate, and load solid waste.
• Load live floor trailers properly while following loading procedures and weight limits.
• Maintain safety by keeping awareness of customers, pedestrians, trucks and other equipment, wearing PPE, and stopping work when unsafe.
• Inspect and care for equipment, perform daily inspections, greasing, fluid checks, cleaning, and preventive maintenance; report issues promptly.

Skills

Excavator operation

Front-end loader operation

Safety-conscious

Equipment maintenance

Problem solving

Customer service

Team coordination

Outdoor work

Tools

Grapple attachment

Job description

Allagash Transfer Station | Naples, Maine

Allagash Transfer Station is seeking a dependable, experienced Heavy Equipment Operator to join our new operation in Naples, Maine. This position focuses on operating an excavator with a grapple attachment and a front-end loader to handle solid waste and load live floor trailers safely and efficiently.

We’re looking for someone who takes pride in their equipment, pays attention to the entire site, and takes initiative when something needs to be done. Strong operating skills, a commitment to safety, a helpful attitude toward customers, and practical problem-solving abilities are essential.

This is a hands-on position that includes equipment operation, routine maintenance, customer interaction, and daily site upkeep.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate equipment safely and efficiently. Use an excavator with a grapple and a front-end loader to move, consolidate, and load solid waste while maintaining control and awareness of surrounding activity.
• Load live floor trailers properly. Distribute material appropriately, follow established loading procedures and weight limits, and protect trailers and equipment from damage.
• Put safety first. Maintain awareness of customers, pedestrians, trucks, and other equipment. Follow site safety procedures, wear required protective equipment, and stop work when conditions are unsafe.
• Inspect and care for equipment. Complete daily inspections, greasing, fluid checks, cleaning, and routine preventive maintenance within your training and assigned responsibilities. Report mechanical issues promptly and communicate repair needs.
• Keep the facility clean and organized. Maintain orderly tipping and loading areas, keep travel lanes clear, pick up litter and debris, and help keep the property safe and presentable.
• Provide professional customer service. Treat customers and drivers respectfully, provide clear directions for unloading, and help keep their visits safe and efficient.
• Recognize and solve problems. Identify equipment, material-handling, and site-flow issues early. Use sound judgment to work through challenges and involve management when additional support is needed.
• Communicate and work as a team. Coordinate with scale staff, truck drivers, other operators, and management to keep daily operations running smoothly.
• Support overall site operations. Watch for unacceptable materials, report concerns, and assist with other facility tasks as needed.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience operating excavators and front-end loaders, including excavators equipped with grapple attachments.
• Ability to handle material and load trailers with precision and care.
• Strong understanding of safe equipment operation, daily inspections, and routine equipment maintenance.
• Mechanical aptitude and the ability to recognize developing equipment problems.
• Practical problem-solving skills and the judgment to make safe, effective decisions.
• Dependability, punctuality, and the ability to work independently while contributing to a team.
• Clear communication skills and a professional, courteous approach to customers and coworkers.
• Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and participate in hands‑on cleanup and site maintenance.

Preferred experience:

Loading live floor trailers and working in solid waste, recycling, transfer station, or similar material-handling operations.

What We Value

We value people who show up ready to work, take care of equipment, look out for others, and follow through. A clean site, a safely loaded trailer, a well‑maintained machine, and a positive customer experience are all part of doing the job well.

Joining Allagash Transfer Station is an opportunity to help establish a safe, organized, customer-focused operation at our new Naples facility.

If you take pride in your work and enjoy solving problems while keeping an operation moving safely, we’d like to hear from you.

Pay: $26.00 - $30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 – 50.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person