Refuse Equipment Operator, Residential

sarasotagov; United States; On-site; USD 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Sarasota's Solid Waste Management department seeks a full-time driver to provide reliable, safe collection and disposal services for cart customers, contributing to community health and welfare. The role requires operating heavy trucks with hydraulic refuse packing systems, maintaining equipment, adhering to routes, and following safety rules.

A valid Class B CDL is required, and prior experience with waste collection is preferred.

Qualifications

• One year of experience operating equipment or equivalent education/training.
• Possession of and ability to maintain a valid Class "B" State of Florida Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required.
• Equivalency in education, training and experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Operates safely and efficiently a side or rear loading refuse collection vehicle with hydraulic cart dumpers.
• Follows a regular route schedule and dumps wheeled refuse carts.
• Collects all authorized refuse at stops along the route and handles loads up to 40 pounds.
• Ensures no littering and retrieves litter caused by duties.
• Completes route before shift end or returns on off day to finish collections.
• Transports refuse to disposal point and accounts for weight tickets.

Skills

Heavy trucks operation

Large truck operation

Oral and written orders

Traffic and highway safety

Overtime / on-call

Public relations

Education

One year experience operating equipment

Equivalent education/training/experience

Valid Class B CDL

Job description

NOTE: The City of Sarasota is an Equal Employment Opportunity , Veteran, E-Verify and Drug Free Workplace employer. Click to view the City's Veterans Recruitment Plan . Click to view a the City's Educational Equivalency Statement .

Department:

Solid Waste Management

Employee Type:

Probationary

Time Type:

Full time

Salary Range:

$22.3371 Hourly / $46,461.17 Annually

Job Posting Period:

September 01, 2026 - September 09, 2026 12:00 A.M.

Job Description:

Overview

To provide reliable efficient, and cost effective Solid Waste collection and disposal for the cart customers of the system, and aid in the health, safety, and welfare of the Citizenry.

Essential Functions

• Operates safely and efficiently a side, or rear loading refuse collection vehicle equipped with hydraulic cart dumpers, including the regular checking of tires, oil, brakes, hydraulic lines, steering and other specified items and correcting or reporting to the supervisor any faults in the equipment.
• Follows a regular route schedule on a collection route dumping wheeled refuse carts.
• Collects all authorized refuse properly placed at authorized stops along the assigned route.
• Collects refuse that does not exceed 40 pounds in weight.
• Prevents littering due to spillage or scattering of refuse as a result of the performance of duties and must retrieve all litter caused as a result thereof.
• Completes the collection of assigned route before the shift is completed or may be required to return on the off day to complete the collections.
• Prohibited from engaging in any scavenging activities.
• Transports collected refuse to the disposal point as often as required and accounting for weight tickets for each trip.
• Reports any carts requiring service or repair.
• Inventories and maintains all special equipment (fire extinguishers, etc.) placed on vehicles and the proper use and operation of the land mobile communications system.
• Reports any accidents in which his/her vehicle is involved immediately; and for knowing and heeding all factory-prescribed limits for the equipment in his/her use.
• Completes cleaning and fueling of the collection vehicle before it is parked at the end of the shift.
• Performs strenuous work in a variety of weather conditions including high heat conditions.
• May standby for and answer emergency calls on an "on call, 24 hour per day" basis.
• Responsible at all times for the public impression created by his/her appearance and performance, and that of the vehicle.

The intent of this class description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that would be required of classifications given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Incumbent may be required to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this job description.

Minimum Qualifications

• One (1) year of experience operating equipment, in the operation of solid waste equipment having a sophisticated hydraulic system,
• Or the equivalent in education, training, and experience, which would provide the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities,
• Possession of and ability to maintain a valid Class "B" State of Florida Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required.

Job Based Competencies

• Working knowledge of the operation and maintenance of heavy trucks with hydraulic refuse packing systems.
• Ability to operates a large truck and operate it efficiently.
• Ability to receive and understand oral and written orders and execute those orders effectively.
• Knowledge of the traffic and highway safety rules and regulations and precautions to be taken to avoid accidents.
• Ability to work overtime and/or be on call.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.

Responsibility

Under the direction of and responsible to the Department Head or designated representative. No supervision exercised.

Physical Requirements

This position requires the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally and up to fifty (50) pounds of force frequently. Work requires considerable physical activity including walking, lifting, reaching, stooping, pulling, grasping, balancing, climbing, kneeling, standing and crouching. Incumbent is subject to inside and outside activities with a variety of weather changes or atmospheric conditions. Incumbent may be exposed to activities such as noise and jobs with potential hazards that may require special protection and/or special safety precautions. Visual acuity is required to inspect work completed by crews for accuracy and quality. Incumbent is required to hear sufficiently to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Manual dexterity is required to operate equipment in performa