Sanitation Equipment Operator I

Salary : $38,750.40 - $63,523.20 Annually
Location : Sanitation, 3050 Godwin Lane, Pensacola, FL 32526, FL
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 4012-2
Department: Sanitation (4006)
Opening Date: 06/02/2026


Responsibilities/Pay Grade

Only candidates holding a valid CDL License will be considered for an interview at this time. Starting pay for this position is $18.63/hr.

All new Sanitation Equipment Operator I (SEO I) employees typically begin work in the YARD TRASH DIVISION (which includes holding on to the back of the yard debris truck). Successful SEO I employees will promote automatically to Sanitation Equipment Operator II (SEO II) after one year of successful performance as an SEO I and verification of Class B CDL.

All Sanitation Equipment Operators (SEOs) are eligible to participate in ECUA's Sanitation Incentive Programs:
* The Safety Incentive Program -- SEOs who drive safely and promote safe workplace behavior are eligible to earn up to an additional $3,400 a year.
* The Task Incentive Program -- SEOs are generally scheduled to work four (4) ten-hour days each week. If an SEO completes his assigned route and other duties, as determined by his supervisor, in less than the ten (10) scheduled hours on a given day, the SEO may leave for the day and will receive payment for ten (10) hours of work.

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JOB SUMMARY :
Operates heavy weight, automated, semi-automated, or commercial refuse collection vehicles to collect solid waste/refuse and transport it to a disposal facility. Considerable manipulative skill and dexterity is required to operate the vehicle in confined spaces and in heavy traffic situations and to operate hydraulic lifting and packing machinery. Required to perform heavy strenuous labor incidental to the operation of the vehicle. May serve as crew leader over lower-level personnel when assigned. As assigned to yard-trash duty, required to gather and manually load refuse, yard trash, brush, or bulk waste into truck. Work is performed independently in accordance with established procedures, routes, and schedules.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Operates a heavy duty, highly technical, and specially designed, one-person automated residential or commercial refuse collection truck equipped with an hydraulically operated container loading and waste packing mechanism in order to remove solid waste on an assigned collection route. Required to manually load yard trash, brush, or bulk waste when assigned to yard-trash duty.

Operates a heavy duty residential rear-loading, semi-automated refuse collection truck equipped with an hydraulically operated container leading and waste packing mechanism in order to remove solid waste on an assigned collection route, while acting as crew leader for the two/three person assigned crew.

Manually picks up cans for disabled variance customers.

Transports waste collected to the waste disposal facility and properly disposes of the load.

Climbs in and out of trucks and heavy equipment throughout the work day. Climbs stairs and ladders.

Assures that the assigned collection vehicle is properly equipped, cleaned, and services; completes daily activity and equipment repair request reports as necessary.

Checks the vehicle's fuel, oil, and coolant levels daily and fills as required.

Operated assigned radio communication equipment as provided in the vehicle.

Performs daily pre-trip and post-trip safety inspection of assigned vehicle.

Assists in training other employees in the safe and efficient operation of vehicles and equipment and in learning various residential and commercial collection routes.

Reports customer violations of refuse collection regulations to supervisor and makes special service runs as required to attend to and resolve customer complaints.

Delivers dumpsters and roll-off containers to customer locations and makes customer contact.

May act as a lead worker or crew leader over lower-level personnel on a regular basis or on specific projects.

Operates other related sanitation equipment as required.

The typical work week consists of four 10 to 12 hour days with occasional overtime required . In the event of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, Sanitation Equipment Operators I are required to work 7 days a week for as many as 10 to 12 hours per day.

All other duties as assigned.

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Minimum Qualifications
Ability to read and write at an elementary school level, and comprehend and follow both verbal and written instructions. Also the ability to make basic arithmetic computations, and understand numerical data and information, e.g., gages, speedometer and odometer readings, traffic signs, street addresses and so forth.

Two years of experience in the operation of heavy duty vehicles, preferably refuse collection vehicles.


Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Employees work four 10 - 12 hour days each week. Occasional over time is required . During emergency events operators are required to work 7 days a week for 10 to 12 hours per day.

Licenses and Certifications:

Possession of a Class "B" or Class "A" Commercial Driver's license.


Employment offers to all new hires are contingent upon the job candidates successfully passing background, motor vehicle and reference checks, drug screening, and post job offer physicals (that may include pulmonary testing). All applicants are subject to physical assessments as required by job.
Physical Requirements/Working Environment
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, or walk, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, jump, step, or crouch, and lift and/or move up to 100 pounds and occasionally required to lift over 100 pounds.

While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to climb in and out or trucks and heavy equipment. The employee will also climb stairs and ladders.

While performing the essential functions of this job the employee is regularly required to perform work in the pre-dawn hours and is frequently exposed to outdoor weather conditions, fumes, noxious odors, dusts, mists, gases, work near moving mechanical parts, and toxic or caustic chemicals.

The incumbent's working conditions are typically loud when operating equipment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities/Supplemental Information


MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Residential Automated Collection Truck
Commercial Roll-Off Truck
Residential Semi-Automated Collection Truck
Commercial Front-Loading Collection Truck
Residential & Commercial Salvage or Knuckle-Boom Truck
Rear-Loading Truck
Two-Way Radio
Wheel Loaders

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:
Florida motor vehicle and traffic laws.
Occupational safety hazards and safety precautions.
Care and operation of assigned equipment.
Applicable regulations regarding the proper collection, transport, and disposal of solid waste.
Street locations and address sequencing.
Safe driving practices.

Skill in:
Operation of specially designed refuse collection equipment including the manipulation of the container lifting
arm to empty refuse container while operating in area of heavy traffic and tight conditions.
Performing pre-trip and post-trip vehicle safety inspections.
Training other employees in the operation of specialized equipment.

Abilities:
Read, understand, and carry-out oral and written instructions.
Prepare routine records of activities.
Work independently in the performance of assigned duties.
Read, understand, and follow a route map and/or street guide.
Deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in non-standard situations.
Climb in and out of trucks and heavy equipment.
Climb stairs and ladders.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans' Preference

ECUA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion/creed, sex, national origin, disability/handicap, age, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected criteria. ECUA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources Department.

ECUA proudly supports veterans, military spouses, and their families. We recognize your unique skills and sacrifices and are committed to helping you build a rewarding career in public service. A Veterans' Preference shall be awarded to preference-eligible applicants in accordance with Florida law.
ECUA offers competitive benefit choices for full-time employees and their dependents.

Benefits include, but are not limited to:
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Annual and Sick Leave
• Health, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability Insurance
• Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan and Investment Plan options
• Deferred Compensation Retirement Savings Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company-supplied Uniforms (for qualifying positions)
01


Do you have the ability to: 1) read & write at an elementary or higher level; 2) comprehend & follow both verbal & written instructions; 3) make basic arithmetic computations; 4) understand numerical data & information such as information on guages & traffic signs, readings on speedometers & odometers, and map information with street addresses, etc.?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of this job?

• Yes
• No, but I am willing to learn.

03


Do you have a valid Driver License? If so, what class is it?

• Yes, Class B CDL
• Yes, Class A CDL
• Yes, Class E and I am able to obtain a CDL within 6 months of hire.
• I have a valid driver license, but I am not able to get a CDL license.
• No, I do not have a driver license

04


Does your application include work experience showing you have experience transporting waste collected to the waste disposal facility and properly disposing of the load or similar experience?

• Yes, I have less than 1 year experience.
• Yes, I have 1 year experience.
• Yes, I have 2 years experience.
• Yes, I have 3+ years experience.
• No, I do not have any experience, but I am willing to learn.

05


ECUA will obtain a motor vehicle record (MVR) of the selected candidate(s); candidate(s) must successfully pass MVR screening as a condition of employment. How many points do you have on your driver license?

• I do not have any points on my license.
• I have had 3 or less points in the last 3 years.
• I have 6 or less points in the last 3 years.
• I have less than 9 points in the last 3 years.
• I have 12 or less points in the last 3 years.

06


How many years of experience in the operation of heavy duty vehicles, preferably refuse collection vehicles do you have?

• I have at least 1 year experience in the operation of heavy duty vehicles.
• I have 2 years experience in the operation of heavy duty vehicles.
• I have 3+ years experience in the operation of heavy duty vehicles.
• I have a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
• I do not have any experience in the operation of heavy duty vehicles, but I am willing to learn.

07


Employees work four 10 - 12 hour days each week. Occasional over time is required. During emergency events operators are required to work 7 days a week for 10 to 12 hours per day. Are you willing to work this schedule?

• Yes, I am willing to work 10-12 hour days each week, during emergency events, and overtime if required.
• I am available to work; however I am not willing to work 10-12 hour days each week, nor am I willing to work during emergency events, or overtime if required.
• No, I am not available to work 10-12 hour days, during emergency events, or work overtime if required. .

08


At times, you will be required to hold on to the back of the truck for the purpose of picking up and loading yard trash onto the truck by hand. The amount of yard trash varies from colder winter months to hot, humid summer months in the amount of 5 tons to 20 tons DAILY. This is a physically demanding job. Do you understand and agree to do this if hired?

• No, this does not match my interests.
• Yes I understand, but I am interested in driving only. I am not willing to hang on to the back of a truck.
• Yes, I have very similar experience and I am willing to perform these tasks.
• I do not have the experience noted above, but I understand these requirements and I am willing to do them.

09


Have you noted work experience on your application that shows your experience operating a heavy duty residential rear-loading, semi-automated refuse collection truck equipped with an hydraulically operated container leading and waste packing mechanism in order to remove solid waste on an assigned collection route, while acting as crew leader for the two/three person assigned crew?

• No, I have not had this experience, but I am willing to learn.
• Yes, I have had this same experience
• I have had similar experience.

10


Does your application include work experience showing you have delivered dumpsters and roll-off containers to customer locations and made customer contact or similar work experience?

• No, I have not had this experience.
• Yes, I have had this same experience.
• Yes, I have had very similar experience.

11


Are you willing to work outside during ALL extreme weather conditions such as Heat, Cold, and Rain?

• No, I would not be willing to work in ALL extreme weather conditions as noted.
• Yes, I am willing to work in ANY weather conditions.

12


ECUA requires employees to be registered with the FMSCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. If you have a Commercial Driver License (CDL), have you registered with the Clearinghouse at

• I do have a CDL and I have already registered with the Clearinghouse.
• I do have a CDL and I will not be registering with the Clearinghouse.
• I do not have a CDL, so registration is not required.

13


Only candidates holding a valid CDL License will be considered for an interview at this time. This may change at a later date.

• I do have a CDL license and understand that I may be considered for an interview at this time.
• I do not have a CDL license and understand that I will not be considered for an interview at this time.

Required Question