CDL A Heavy Equipment Operator - Railroad

CDL A Heavy Equipment Operator - Railroad

Location: West Chicago, IL
Job Type: Direct Hire
Starting Pay: $26.00/hour - higher pay may be available depending on experience
Schedule: 40 hours guaranteed weekly + significant overtime
Travel: Local and out-of-area emergency assignments
Benefits: Full-time position with benefits
Position Overview

Looking for a Class A CDL Equipment Operator to support railroad recovery, construction, transportation, and field operations. This is a hands-on position involving driving, heavy equipment operation, rigging, material handling, and railroad work.

24/7 emergency availability is required, including weekends and holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform DOT-compliant pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
• Transport trucks, machinery, materials, and equipment to and from work sites.
• Verify loads and required permits for oversized or overweight transportation.
• Review work plans and participate in job-site safety meetings.
• Load, unload, position, and stage equipment and materials.
• Assist with railroad recovery operations involving:
  • Train rerailing
  • Load transfers
  • Track maintenance and repairs
  • Construction activities
• Help set up, inspect, and operate cranes and other heavy equipment.
• Perform rigging using chains, cables, and winches.
• Assist with equipment breakdown, transportation, and cleanup after assignments.
• Monitor vehicles and equipment for safe and reliable operation.
• Perform and document minor equipment and vehicle servicing.
• Keep vehicles, tools, equipment, and work areas clean and organized.
• Maintain required parts, supplies, and components.
• Follow safety procedures and required work practices.
• Assist other teams and departments when needed.

Equipment & Tools

Experience with any of the following is valuable:

Cranes, backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, dump trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, and skid-steer loaders.

Additional tools include:

• Hydraulic tools
• Welding equipment
• Cutting torches
• Electrical tools
• Hand tools

Qualifications

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

Preferred Experience

3+ years of heavy equipment operation preferred, including experience with backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, or skid-steer loaders.

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

Hours & Additional Compensation

• 40 hours guaranteed per week.
• Typical schedules average 60+ hours per week, with some weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.
• Work outside Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM is paid at the applicable 1.5x overtime rate.
• Per diem, hotel expenses for required travel, and layover pay may be available when applicable.
• Local and out-of-area emergency assignments may be required.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Drug screening
• Background check
• Required qualification and safety testing
• Candidates should 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.