Inbound Inspector- JOB FAIR

VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC; Victoria (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Matching

Paid Holidays

Telemedicine

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC seeks a Rail Car Inspector to inspect railcars, estimate repairs, and ensure compliance with AAR/FRA and customer requirements. You will review in-process cars, coordinate with internal teams, and communicate estimates and ship dates to customers.

The role emphasizes safety, accuracy, and adherence to VLS guidelines, with responsibilities for training junior staff and maintaining quality standards across inspections.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Rail car inspector certification or willingness to obtain within specified time.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to identify issues with inspection tools.

Responsibilities

• Ensure safety of self and others in the shop.
• Understand AAR/FRA requirements and customer specs.
• Reference customer requirements and operate VLS estimating system (Railcar).
• Estimate railcar repair/modification needs and communicate with customers.
• Follow SDS and safety guidelines; maintain clean, organized workspace.

Skills

Rail car inspection

Mechanical aptitude

Attention to detail

Communication with customers

Reading SDS

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Rail Car Inspector Certification

Tools

Railcar estimating system

Job description

About VLS!

VLS Environmental Solutions, LLC, is a recognized leader in providing sustainability solutions, with three divisions providing industry‑leading services. With a mission to innovate solutions to meet clients' sustainability goals, VLS has over 1,200 employees in 40+ locations across North America.

Waste Services

VLS Waste Services provides customized waste processing solutions for hazardous and non‑hazardous industrial and commercial waste, including landfill diversion and sustainability programs, solidification of liquid waste, recycling, wastewater treatment, and waste sequestration.

Railcar Services

VLS Railcar Cleaning and Repair Services division provides specialty cleaning services for difficult‑to‑clean products, including chemicals, hardened materials, and pressurized gases, and comprehensive repair services for certified full‑service repairs, tank car qualifications, and maintenance.

Marine Services

VLS Marine Services division offers state‑of‑the‑art barge cleaning, repair, and gas‑free facilities for various chemical solvents and downstream petroleum products.

Job Summary

Summary: To perform in‑bound inspection and prepare shop work orders and customer estimate sheets, outlining repairs and/or modifications needed that meet customer, AAR/FRA, and VLS requirements. Randomly inspect in-process cars to ensure that high quality standards are met. Review completed work being released from internal departments or from location performing a completed out‑bound audit to ensure car has been repaired, modified, or coated per initial write‑up and meets AAR/FRA, customer and VLS requirements.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Responsible for the safety of himself and others in the shop.
• Know and understand AAR/FRA requirements.
• Can reference and understand customer requirements.
• Is familiar, understands and can operate VLS estimating system (Railcar).
• Competent in railcar repair and modification estimating.
• Communicates with customers on individual car needs, problems areas, and estimated ship dates.
• Reads and understands Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
• Interprets VLS instructions, customer requirements, and AAR/FRA Field Manual guidelines.
• Performs all work in a safe and efficient manner.
• Continually looking and suggesting ways to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the overall operation.
• Instructs and aides in the training of new employees in the repair or inspection function.
• Keeps supervisor informed of any problems identified on estimates or potential problems that could affect completion time on cars being worked.
• Responsible for housekeeping and orderly storage of gauges used in the inspection function.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED: A minimum educational requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Rail Car Inspector Certification: Must possess valid certification in rail car inspection or be willing to obtain certification within the specified time frame.
• Mechanical Aptitude: Proficiency in identifying mechanical problems and using inspection tools effectively.
• Knowledge of Regulations: Familiarity with safety standards and regulations related to rail car inspection, including AAR (Association of American Railroads) and FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) guidelines.
• Experience: A minimum of 2 years of experience in rail car inspection or a related field.
• Attention to Detail: Strong attention to detail in identifying potential issues or safety hazards.
• Valid Driver’s License: Must possess a valid driver’s license to travel to various rail yards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Certifications: Additional certifications such as NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) or Welding certifications.
• Technical Training: Completion of vocational or technical courses related to mechanical systems, railway engineering, or related fields.
• Experience with Multiple Rail Car Types: Experience inspecting a wide variety of rail car types (e.g., tank cars, boxcars, flat cars).
• Strong Communication Skills: Ability to clearly report findings and collaborate with maintenance and operations teams.
• Computer Literacy: Familiarity with inspection software, data entry, and report generation.

Physical Demands & Work Conditions

• Must pass a pre-employment background check, physical, and drug screening
• Able to stand for long periods of time with limited breaks
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Work in extreme temperatures and elements for an extended period of time
• Must be able to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and smell
• Must be able to work in confined spaces
• Must be able to work at elevated heights
• May encounter fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; risk of electrical shock; risk of radiation and vibration
• Work near moving mechanical parts and in a loud environment
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus

What's in it for you!

At VLS our employees are the core of our business. As such, we value our employees' physical, mental, and financial wellbeing by providing first class, high value benefits and resources that are centered around a proper work‑life balance.

Physical and Mental Wellbeing:

VLS is committed to supporting our employees' physical and mental health by providing:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance - Based on each employee's need, we offer various high quality, low-premium medical, dental and vision plans, which include our first-in-class concierge service (available in Spanish) and 2nd MD Offering.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Healthcare Saving Accounts (HSA) -- Set aside pre-tax money to use toward your health care spending. VLS provides an employer contribution to all HSA accounts.
• Time Off - We offer 11 (eleven) company-paid holidays, in addition to our paid time off and voluntary time off plans.
• Employee Assistance Program -- 24/7 assistance and counseling services that are 100% confidential and free to all employees and their dependents.
• Telemedicine -- All employees and dependents receive free virtual visits by licensed practitioners any time, any day...including holidays!

Financial and Retirement Planning:

• 401(k) - Generous 401(k) matching program after 90 days of employment. VLS will match up to 5% of your pay every pay period. Matching contributions are 100% vested immediately.
• Life and Disability Insurance -- Employer-paid life insurance, along with short-term and long-term disability coverage provided to all full‑time employees.
• Voluntary Life Protection Plans -- Employees and their dependents can elect coverage in our voluntary life/add, critical illness, hospital indemnity and accident plans.
• Rewards and Recognition Programs -- We celebrate our employees! From birthdays to anniversaries and other various milestones/achievements, we have programs in place to recognize our employees.
• Financial Planning - Free One on One financial planning with a certified Financial Planner/Coach.
• Employee Discount - Employee Discount Program for savings on everyday goods and services at various retailers throughout the US.