CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator

Job Description

Job Description

CDL-A Heavy Equipment Operator

Location: Minneapolis, MN
Job Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
Starting Pay: $26.00/hour; higher depending on experience
Schedule: 40 hours guaranteed per week, with significant overtime
Availability: Must be available for 24/7 emergency on-call assignments
Benefits: Full-time benefits, including travel compensation

Position Overview

We are seeking Class A CDL drivers to support specialized railroad field operations throughout the region. This position combines equipment transportation, heavy machinery operation, and hands-on fieldwork at emergency job sites.

This is not a traditional over-the-road driving position. Driving makes up approximately 10% of the job, with the majority of time spent operating equipment, handling materials, and assisting with field operations.

Candidates must be comfortable with physically demanding work, operating different types of construction equipment, and responding to emergency calls at any time, including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment in accordance with DOT regulations and company procedures.

• Drive tractor-trailers to transport machinery, tools, and materials to and from job sites.

• Inspect transported loads and verify permits for overweight and oversized equipment.

• Participate in daily safety briefings and review work plans before beginning assignments.

• Load, unload, move, and position equipment and materials at job sites.

• Assist with specialized lifting, equipment recovery, material transfers, and railroad construction-related activities.

• Help assemble, inspect, and operate cranes and other heavy machinery.

• Connect and secure chains, cables, and winches during equipment recovery operations.

• Operate equipment such as cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, excavators, bulldozers, front-end loaders, and skid steers, as qualified.

• Use hydraulic equipment, welding tools, cutting torches, electrical tools, and standard hand tools as needed.

• Monitor equipment condition and report mechanical issues to help prevent downtime.

• Perform basic equipment maintenance and minor repairs.

• Assist with dismantling, loading, and securing machinery when assignments are completed.

• Clean work areas, organize tools, sort scrap materials, and restock vehicles and equipment for future assignments.

• Follow all company safety procedures and maintain equipment, vehicles, and work areas in good condition.

• Assist other departments with additional field assignments as business needs require.

Qualifications

• Valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL-A) with a good driving record.

• Previous construction, industrial labor, or similar hands-on work experience.

• Comfortable performing physical labor and working in demanding outdoor environments.

• Ability to operate different types of heavy equipment and construction machinery.

• Willingness to complete required safety training and qualification assessments.

• Must be available for emergency on-call assignments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.

Preferred Experience:

• 3+ years of experience operating heavy equipment, including:

  • Backhoes

  • Bulldozers

  • Excavators

  • Front-end loaders

  • Grapple trucks

  • Rail-bound equipment

  • Tractors

  • Skid-steer loaders

• Equivalent combinations of equipment training and hands-on experience will also be considered.

Schedule & Compensation

• 40 hours guaranteed per week.

• Average workweek of approximately 60+ hours, with the possibility of reaching 70 hours.

• Significant overtime opportunities.

• Time-and-a-half pay for hours worked outside the regular Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM schedule.

• Per diem and hotel accommodations for qualifying travel assignments.

• Layover pay when applicable.

Important: This position requires flexibility and availability for emergency response assignments throughout the year.

Additional Requirements

• Must successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening.

• Must pass a background check.

• Steel-toed boots are required for the interview.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.