Truck Driver - Forestry

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga , a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College , our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​ The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground: Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it. As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim. Whether you are an
• adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

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Salary: GS.08 $22.74 - $24.87 per hour

Work Hours: Monday - Friday, 7:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments and projects.*

Work Location: 900 E. 11th Street (Paul F. Clark Building)

FLSA Status: This is a Non-Exempt position.

Department: PW - CWS Forestry

SERIES LEVEL:

Truck Driver is a stand-alone position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Operates various equipment and vehicles to complete tasks related to the maintenance, upkeep, installation and construction of city grounds, property, utilities, rights-of-way, and other infrastructure for Public Works; drives vehicles over public roads, worksites, right-of-way, parks, public works facilities, and other city property; maneuvers in and around traffic, parked cars, equipment, utilities, and other obstacles; obeys all traffic laws and safety guidelines, monitors immediate environment and work are to ensure the safety of the operator, other workers, the equipment and the public.

Some positions may drive tandem and tri-axle dump trucks to transport and haul materials between original and final destinations for use in maintenance and construction projects; positions vehicle to allow for the most efficient and effective loading or dumping of materials; secures all doors, gates, and fasteners to prevent spillage or loss of load; operates dumping mechanism to dump materials at appropriate locations.

Operates mowing tractors with articulated boom mowing system to mow rights-of-way and other City property along steep slopes, ditches, and hard-to-reach areas inaccessible to most mowing apparatuses; scouts path for and removes rocks, debris and other obstacles that may cause damage to the equipment, property or the public; determines proper settings and adjusts boom for the proper angle, height, and trajectory; maneuvers and monitors boom mower for optimal operation.

Operate knuckle-boom truck to collect trash, limbs and other debris from work sites, parks, and other City property and transport it to the landfill; positions vehicle alongside targeted debris; operates truck- or trailer-mounted knuckle-boom arm to pick up debris and load it into the truck; secures all doors, gates, and fasteners to prevent spillage or loss of load during transport; dumps material at an appropriate location.

Operates and maneuvers knuckle-boom and articulated arm to pick up limbs; maintains a constant awareness of the environment to ensure the safety of the operator, other crew workers, and the public.

Operates street sweepers along a prescribed route to remove dirt and debris from City streets and parking lots; maneuvers in and out of traffic and around parked cars, taking care to reduce congestion and maintain safety; determines proper settings and adjusts brushes for proper angle and height, maintaining proper curb distance for optimum coverage.

Drives low-boy and other tractor-trailer rigs to transport heavy construction equipment and materials to and from work-sites; maneuvers equipment to load and unload from the trailer, operating mechanisms as necessary to position for safe transportation.

Drives a variety of garbage trucks along a prescribed commercial or residential route to collect refuse; makes frequent stops at appropriate intervals to position truck near refuse containers; retrieves refuse container and attaches to automated dumping mechanism; dumps refuse and returns container; maintains the pace of collection activities to ensure timely completion of the assigned route.

Drives fuel truck to transport fuel to equipment at work sites; operates the mechanism to fuel equipment as necessary; applies knowledge of hazardous materials when transporting, handling, and responding to spills involving gasoline, diesel fuel, and other flammable/volatile liquids.

Drives bucket and/or lift truck to work site and operates lift mechanisms to elevate crews performing various maintenance, upkeep and installation for traffic systems, tree trimming and other tasks requiring access to high places; positions vehicle and lift-platform to ensure optimum access to the required location and avoid power lines, low branches, traffic and other hazards; monitors activities to ensure the safety of crew workers.

Operates a jet-flushing/vacuum/viewer truck for the purpose of cleaning out storm drain and sanitary sewer pipe, manholes, catch basins and other brick and concrete drainage structures in order to maintain the flow throughout the stormwater drainage and sewer waste systems.

Drives trucks with a side-mounted articulated vacuum boom along an assigned route for the purpose of picking up leaves, litter, and other yard waste from rights-of-way and out of drainage measurements in order to maintain stormwater drainage flow throughout the entire system.

Inspects and prepares equipment for safe and proper operation prior to beginning work for the day; performs light maintenance on equipment which includes refueling and refilling lubricants; cleans vehicles, beds, and mounted equipment upon completion of assignments; secures vehicle after use.

Sanitize and clean assigned equipment daily.

Performs basic and semi-skilled labor as appropriate to assist in the completion of maintenance, upkeep and construction projects; picks up paper, limbs and other debris; uses hand tools and operates motorized tools as necessary to complete the assigned task.

May remove dead animals and trees from the right of way as well as public roads.

May answer 911 emergency calls for oil spills as well as black ice.

May assist in contacting departments or personnel for an emergency situation.

May be required to use, carry and answer cell phones, other devices, and/or two-way radio as determined by their job duties and their supervisor.

Must meet regular attendance requirements.

Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.

Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.

May be assigned or reassigned to any division within the department.

Performs other related duties as required.

This position is deemed essential during inclement weather situations, and must report to or remain at work, even when administrative closings are announced, as determined by the Department Head.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES:

When working in Forestry division:

Uses of chainsaws, rigging lines, pulleys, and cranes. Working in high traffic areas with the use of signs, cones, and flaggers and in the vicinity of power lines, moving traffic or directly above buildings.

Removes and cleans up dead or hazardous trees.

Available on call for storm work or downed trees.

May train personnel.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma or GED and one (1) year of any combination of relevant education, experience, and/or training sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of this job; or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

Bucket Truck experience strongly preferred.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS:

Valid Class A, Class A restricted or Class B commercial driver license.
Requires appropriate license endorsement(s) related to the area of assignment.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety precautions; general equipment and maintenance principles; materials and equipment utilized in assigned area of responsibility; demonstrated ability to drive and operate assigned equipment; operation of commercial vehicles that consist of self-contained specialized equipment. Typical equipment operated might include, but is not limited to: tractor-trailers, low boys, fuel trucks, bucket trucks, mechanical street sweepers, knuckle-boom trucks, articulated boom mowers, oil distributors, jet-flushing/vacuum trucks, CCTV equipped trucks and automated garbage trucks with an articulated arm.

Must be able to use electronic devices to receive and track work. The position requires minimal, but daily public interaction and must be customer service centered, focused, and able to recognize or resolve customer needs according to departmental practices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Positions in this class typically require climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Medium Work: Exerting up-to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up-to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up-to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: Y
Department of Transportation - CDL: Y
Child Sensitive: N

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check / drug screening / lift test / DOT Clearinghouse

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

KJS 09.24.2026