Heavy Equipment Operator - Hawesville, KY

Watco; Hawesville (KY); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation and benefits

Paid on-the-job training

Leadership and development programs

Job summary

Watco Hawesville Marine Terminal on the Ohio River seeks a Heavy Equipment Operator to safely operate loaders, forklifts, and related equipment to support daily transloading and material handling.

The role requires adherence to safety regulations, the ability to work rotating shifts, and clear communication with teammates, supervisors, and customers, with overtime and weekend availability.

Qualifications

• Must have a current and valid driver’s license.
• Transportation Worker Identified Credential (TWIC) if required by location.
• Class A commercial driver’s license or willingness to obtain.
• Training or certifications in heavy equipment operation preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain heavy rail-related machinery safely and efficiently.
• Perform routine equipment inspections and keep records.
• Follow safety procedures and regulatory standards.
• Read and interpret manuals, charts, and operational instructions.
• Support track materials handling and repairs as needed.
• Communicate clearly with team and supervisors via radio and in person.

Skills

Heavy equipment operation

Forklifts

Team communication

Safety awareness

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Start a Watco Career and Discover the Difference

Keep the world's supply chain moving. That's what the Watco team does every day at our short line railroads, switching sites, terminals, ports, and logistics hubs. Whether you're at one of these locations or in a support-services role, there's one thread that ties everyone together. We're all on the same team. One Watco.

Here’s What You Can Expect From Watco

• Outstanding culture recognized by Forbes and Newsweek
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• Paid on-the-job training with peer trainers
• Leadership and development programs offered through Watco University
• Career advancement opportunities

Schedule: Monday - Friday 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Must be available to regularly work OT and Weekends as needed

Starting Pay Rate: $21.00 per hour

Located on the Ohio River, the Hawesville Marine Terminal primarily handles aluminum, along with paper products and other bulk materials, through railcar, warehouse, and barge dock transload operations. This Heavy Equipment Operator operates loaders, skid steers, and forklifts to support daily transloading activities and provides backup across material handling functions as needed.

Job Summary

The Heavy Equipment Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of several types of heavy machinery to support material handling, loading, unloading, and site operations. This role requires adherence to all applicable safety regulations, operating procedures, and company standards, while maintaining elevated levels of productivity. Operators must be able to communicate clearly with team members, supervisors, and customers to ensure the safe, successful execution of daily tasks. The position may involve rotating shifts and working in extreme weather conditions. This Heavy Equipment Operator description is general and illustrative of the type of duties required for this position. This description is not all inclusive and is not meant to be a detailed description of each duty performed by the incumbent.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain heavy rail-related machinery including but not limited to tampers, ballast regulators, forklifts, backhoes, compact track or wheel loaders, and brush cutters in a safe and efficient manner
• Perform routine equipment inspections and maintain accurate and consistent inspection records using handwritten and electronic formats
• Maintain safe work practices, monitor worksite safety, and comply with all State, Federal, Customer, Company and Federal Railroad Administration standards, rules, and regulations
• Read and interpret material lists, safety manuals, load charts, inventory, gauges, schematics, maintenance manuals, safety rules, material movement, and operational instructions
• Inspect, load, unload, distribute, maintain, install, and repair track materials including rail, cross ties, switch ties, ballast, switch stands and turnouts
• Assist with surfacing, aligning, gauging, and alignment of track to ensure proper structure, geometry and stability
• Perform vegetation control, snow and debris removal from tracks, switches, crossings, and walkways to maintain safe operational integrity
• Support the construction, maintenance, and repair of road crossings, bridges, culverts, tunnels, and other rail infrastructure with heavy machinery, hand tools, and manual labor
• Troubleshoot and perform minor equipment repairs in the field; communicate complex mechanical issues to managers or qualified maintenance personnel
• Adhere to safety procedures including the use of required personal protective equipment, fall protection and other devices in compliance with federal, state, and company regulations
• Perform inspections and document routine maintenance records of track infrastructure defects and repair, ensuring compliance with track authority guidelines
• Respond promptly and appropriately to incidents, accidents, or emergency calls as needed
• Communicate clearly and professionally and collaborate with team members, supervisors, other department managers, and dispatch via radio and in person
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of consumables, inventory, fuel, and material usage
• Participating in training and demonstrate proficiency in job-specific tasks within a designated onboarding period
• Demonstrate consistent attendance, punctuality, and flexibility to work overtime, rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays as required
• Work efficiently in both supervised and unsupervised environments
• Perform other duties as assigned or required

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Must be able to pass and obtain all reporting, testing, and certifications as required for this position.

• Must have a current and valid driver’s license
• Ability to obtain a Transportation Worker Identified Credential (TWIC) if required by location
• Class A commercial driver’s license or willingness and ability to obtain
• Training or certifications in heavy equipment operation preferred

Education

High School or GED equivalent