CDL A Heavy Equipment Operator - Railroad

QualdocCandor, North CarolinaPosted October 1, 2026

USD 26/hr
Full-time
On-site

About this role

CDL A Heavy Equipment Operator - Railroad

Location: Candor, NC
Job Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
Starting Pay: $26.00/hour - higher pay available depending on experience
Schedule: 40 hours guaranteed weekly + significant overtime
Availability: 24/7 emergency on-call
Benefits: Full-time benefits
Position Overview

Seeking a Class A CDL professional for railroad recovery and heavy equipment operations. This is a hands-on field position where driving makes up approximately 10% of the job. The majority of the work involves operating equipment, rigging, material handling, railroad recovery, and physical job-site support.

Employees must be comfortable responding to emergency calls 24/7, including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

Complete DOT-compliant pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment.
Transport equipment and materials to and from work sites.
Inspect transported loads and verify permits for overweight and oversized equipment.
Review daily work plans and participate in safety briefings.
Load, unload, move, and stage equipment and materials for field operations.
Support train rerailing, load transfers, railroad car repair, and track maintenance, repair, and construction.
Assist with the setup, inspection, assembly, and operation of cranes and other heavy equipment.
Perform rigging using chains, cables, and winches.
Operate equipment when qualified, including cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, and excavators.
Perform specialty lifting, rerailing, grading, load transfer, and railroad construction activities.
Use hydraulic tools, welding equipment, cutting torches, electrical tools, and common hand tools.
Monitor vehicles and equipment for safe and reliable operation.
Perform and document minor equipment and vehicle service.
Report more complex mechanical issues to the appropriate supervisor.
Assist with equipment disassembly and loading after assignments.
Restock vehicles and equipment with necessary parts, components, and supplies.
Clean and organize equipment, vehicles, tools, and work areas.
Assist other departments as needed.
Follow all required safety procedures and regulations.

Equipment Experience

3+ years of heavy equipment operation is preferred, including experience with:

Backhoes
Bulldozers
Excavators
Front-end loaders
Grapple trucks
Rail-bound equipment
Tractors
Skid-steer loaders

Equivalent combinations of relevant training and hands-on experience may be considered.

Qualifications

Valid Class A CDL with a good driving record.
Construction labor or similar physically demanding work experience.
Ability to safely operate heavy equipment.
Ability to complete required qualification testing, training, and safety programs.
Comfortable working in emergency-response situations and extended-hour assignments.
Able to perform physically demanding work in field conditions.
Must be available 24/7 for emergency calls, including weekends and holidays.

Schedule & Additional Compensation

40 hours guaranteed per week.
Significant overtime; typical combined regular and overtime hours average 60+ hours per week, with some weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.
Hours worked outside Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM are paid at time-and-a-half.
Per diem, hotel pay for travel, and layover pay may be available when applicable.
When not responding to emergencies, employees may assist with safety training, preventive maintenance, and equipment-related shop work.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Pre-employment drug screening
Background check
Required qualification and safety testing

Interview: Candidates must bring steel-toed boots to 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.

Responsibilities

Complete DOT-compliant pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment.
Transport equipment and materials to and from work sites.
Inspect transported loads and verify permits for overweight and oversized equipment.
Review daily work plans and participate in safety briefings.
Load, unload, move, and stage equipment and materials for field operations.
Support train rerailing, load transfers, railroad car repair, and track maintenance, repair, and construction .
Assist with the setup, inspection, assembly, and operation of cranes and other heavy equipment.
Perform rigging using chains, cables, and winches .
Operate equipment when qualified, including cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, and excavators .
Perform specialty lifting, rerailing, grading, load transfer, and railroad construction activities.
Use hydraulic tools, welding equipment, cutting torches, electrical tools, and common hand tools .
Monitor vehicles and equipment for safe and reliable operation.