The Planer Mill Machine Operator is responsible for safely operating and monitoring planer mill equipment to process lumber to specified dimensions, grades, and quality standards. This position ensures efficient production by maintaining consistent machine performance, performing routine inspections and adjustments, and identifying equipment or product issues before they impact production. The Machine Operator works closely with team members, maintenance personnel, and supervisors to achieve safety, quality, production, and housekeeping goals while maintaining compliance with company policies and safe work practices.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
•Operate assigned planer mill position(s) — including but not limited to the planer, trimmer, edger, tilt hoist, green chain, sorter, and stacker — safely and in accordance with established procedures, run sheets, and Planer Supervisor / Lead Operator direction. Operator 1 operates one assigned position; Operator 2 operates 2–3 qualified positions; Operator 3 operates 4+ positions as directed.
•Feed and stage lumber at assigned position(s) at the correct orientation, rate, and spacing; maintain controlled, consistent flow to prevent jams, misfeeds, and equipment damage across the production line.
•Monitor planed lumber quality at your position; identify surface defects, dimension variation, snipe, chatter, and wane; flag or pull non-conforming product immediately and notify the Lead Operator without delay.
•Perform pre-shift equipment checks on all assigned machinery; verify guards are in place, rolls and conveyor systems are properly tensioned, and no foreign objects are present in the production line before startup; report any abnormal condition to the Lead Operator before the line begins.
•Operate sorting, stacking, and tilt hoist equipment accurately as assigned; ensure finished planed lumber is sorted and staged by the correct grade, species, and dimension and staged correctly for downstream shipping and yard handling.
•Maintain accurate tally and shift log records for your position; record downtime events, quality flags, and production counts and report to the Planer Supervisor at shift end.
•Follow all PDL safety policies and LOTO (lockout/tagout) procedures without exception at every assigned position; complete full LOTO before any clearing, cleaning, or adjustment task on any assigned planer mill equipment; never bypass a safety interlock or operate equipment without required guards in place.
•Maintain the work area at assigned position(s) in clean, safe, and organized condition throughout the shift; remove sawdust, wood chips, trim ends, and debris from walkways, conveyor areas, and work surfaces continuously throughout the shift.
•Communicate proactively with upstream and downstream operators and the Lead Operator to keep lumber moving through the planer mill line; notify the Lead Operator or Planer Supervisor immediately if your position is a bottleneck, has an equipment issue, or is producing quality problems.
•Assist with minor operational tasks at assigned position(s) as directed by the Lead Operator or Planer Set Up; do not perform mechanical repairs, knife changes, or roll adjustments beyond the authorized scope of the operator role without direction from the Lead Operator or Maintenance.
•Report all safety incidents, near-misses, equipment malfunctions, and unusual sounds, vibrations, or surface quality changes to the Planer Supervisor immediately; never continue operating equipment that is producing abnormal conditions.
•Perform other duties as assigned by the Planer Supervisor or Lead Operator.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•High school diploma or GED preferred; not required for candidates with verifiable planer mill or production manufacturing experience.
•Operator 1: No prior planer mill experience required; willing-to-learn attitude and commitment to safety required. Operator 2/3: Prior experience on planer mill equipment (planer, trimmer, edger, sorter, stacker, tilt hoist, or similar) required.
•Ability to follow verbal and written instructions including run sheets, shift logs, and safety procedures; ability to read basic lumber dimensional specifications.
•Strong attention to detail and ability to identify visual quality defects in planed lumber including surface roughness, snipe, chatter, dimension variation, and wane.
•Ability to work in a high-noise, high-dust planer mill environment for the full shift; comfortable working in close proximity to moving conveyor and production machinery.
•Demonstrated commitment to personal safety and the safety of coworkers; willing to stop work and report any unsafe condition immediately without being prompted.
•Ability to work rotating shifts, scheduled overtime, and weekends as required by the production schedule.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
•Prior experience on planer mill positions — planer, trimmer, edger, tilt hoist, green chain, sorter, or stacker.
•Cross-training on multiple planer mill positions; Operator 2 or Operator 3 candidates with existing multi-machine qualifications strongly preferred.
•Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills a plus given PDL’s workforce.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position is performed in the planer mill production environment with continuous exposure to high noise levels, sawdust, wood chips, vibration, and moving machinery throughout every shift. The Planer Mill Operator must be able to stand and walk for the full shift, bend, reach, and lift lumber and materials up to 60 lbs, and perform repetitive motion tasks associated with lumber feeding, sorting, and stacking at multiple positions. All required PPE — safety glasses, hearing protection, steel-toed boots, and high-visibility vest — must be worn correctly at all times in the production area. LOTO procedures must be followed without exception before any equipment clearance or adjustment task at any assigned position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
Plain Dealing Lumber is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.