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
We are looking for a Class A CDL Equipment Operator to support railroad emergency response and construction-related projects. This position combines commercial driving, heavy equipment operation, and hands-on field work.
Driving is only a portion of the job. When not responding to emergencies, employees may assist with equipment maintenance, preventive maintenance, safety training, and shop activities.
24/7 on-call availability is required, including weekends and holidays.
What You'll Do
Perform pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment according to DOT requirements and company procedures.
Safely transport equipment, materials, and machinery to and from job sites.
Inspect loads and verify permits for oversized or overweight equipment.
Participate in daily safety meetings and review work plans before beginning assignments.
Load, unload, move, and stage equipment and materials for field operations.
Support railroad emergency response, including train rerailing, load transfer, track maintenance, repairs, and related construction activities.
Assist with the setup, inspection, and operation of cranes and other heavy equipment.
Assist with rigging using chains, cables, and winches.
Operate equipment such as:
Cranes
Backhoes
Bulldozers
Excavators
Front-end loaders
Grapple trucks
Dump trucks
Rail-bound equipment
Tractors
Skid-steer loaders
Use hydraulic tools, welding equipment, cutting torches, electrical tools, and common hand tools.
Monitor vehicles and equipment to help maintain safe and reliable operation.
Perform and document minor equipment and vehicle servicing.
Assist with equipment disassembly, loading, and job-site cleanup.
Restock vehicles and equipment with required parts, supplies, and components.
Maintain clean, organized work areas, vehicles, tools, and equipment.
Follow all required safety procedures and work practices.
Assist other departments or teams as needed.
Requirements
Valid Class A CDL with a good driving record.
Experience in construction, equipment operation, or a physically demanding labor position.
Ability to operate heavy equipment safely and effectively.
Ability to complete required qualification, training, and safety programs.
Must be available 24/7 for emergency response, including weekends and holidays.
Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where emergency repairs and recovery work may require extended hours.
Ability to perform physically demanding field work.
Preferred Experience
3+ years of heavy equipment operation, including experience with backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, or skid-steer loaders.
Equivalent combination of relevant training and hands-on experience will be considered.
Schedule & Compensation
40 hours guaranteed per week.
Typical workweeks average 60+ hours, with some weeks reaching approximately 70 hours.
Work outside Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM is paid at the applicable overtime rate of 1.5x.
Additional compensation may include per diem, hotel expenses for travel, and layover pay when applicable.
24/7 emergency on-call availability is required.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Drug screening
Background check
Required qualification and safety testing
Interview Requirement: Candidates should bring steel-toed boots to the interview.
Numbers & Facts
Location
West Chicago, IL
Skills
Background Investigationunmatched
Backhoe Loaderunmatched
Bulldozerunmatched
Class A Licenseunmatched
Constructionunmatched
Construction Equipment Operationunmatched
Craneunmatched
Disassemblersunmatched
Disaster Recoveryunmatched
Driver's Licenseunmatched
Dump Truck/Tipperunmatched
Electricityunmatched
Emergency Responseunmatched
Equipment Maintenance/Repairunmatched
Excavatorunmatched
Hand Toolsunmatched
Heavy Equipment/Vehiclesunmatched
High Availabilityunmatched
Hydraulic Engineeringunmatched
Loading/Unloadingunmatched
Maintenance Servicesunmatched
Material Movingunmatched
On Callunmatched
Organizational Skillsunmatched
Physical Demandsunmatched
Preventative Maintenanceunmatched
Project Planningunmatched
Safety Trainingunmatched
Safety/Work Safetyunmatched
Skid Steer Loaderunmatched
Training Programunmatched
Truck Driverunmatched
Weldingunmatched
Wheel/Front-End Loaderunmatched
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