Railroad Equipment Operator – CDL-A
Location: Taneytown, MD
Job Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
Starting Salary: $57,200.00, with higher pay possible based on experience
We are hiring a Class A CDL Equipment Operator to support railroad emergency response and field operations. This role involves transporting and operating heavy equipment, assisting with train re-railing, track work, load transfers, equipment maintenance, and related construction activities.
Schedule & Compensation
- 40 hours guaranteed per week
- Regular overtime; average workweek is 60+ hours including overtime
- 24/7 on-call emergency response, including weekends and holidays
- Time-and-a-half for hours worked outside Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Per diem, hotel expenses for travel, and layover pay when applicable
- Full benefits package
Key Responsibilities
- Perform DOT-compliant pre- and post-trip inspections of trucks, trailers, and equipment.
- Operate tractor-trailers and safely transport machinery, materials, and equipment to and from work sites.
- Inspect loads and verify permits for overweight and oversized transportation.
- Participate in daily safety meetings and review work plans before starting assignments.
- Load, unload, move, and stage equipment and materials for re-railing, load transfer, track work, grading, and railroad construction.
- Assist with crane assembly, inspection, setup, and operation.
- Rig and connect chains, cables, and winches during derailment recovery operations.
- Operate equipment such as cranes, backhoes, grapple trucks, dump trucks, excavators, front-end loaders, bulldozers, rail-bound equipment, tractors, and skid-steer loaders when qualified.
- Assist with railroad track maintenance, repair, new construction, specialty lifting, and related field work.
- Use hydraulic tools, welding equipment, cutting torches, electrical tools, and common hand tools.
- Monitor vehicles and equipment to maintain safe and reliable operation.
- Perform and document minor equipment and vehicle service; report major mechanical issues to the appropriate supervisor.
- Assist with equipment breakdown, loading, transportation, and site cleanup.
- Restock vehicles and equipment with required parts, supplies, and components.
- Sort and properly dispose of scrap materials.
- Maintain clean, organized work areas, vehicles, and equipment.
- Follow all safety policies and procedures and assist other departments as needed.
Requirements
- Valid Class A CDL with a good driving record
- Experience in construction, heavy labor, or a similar physically demanding field
- Ability to complete required qualification tests, training, and safety programs
- Must be available for 24/7 emergency response, including weekends and holidays
- Ability to work safely around heavy machinery and other field personnel
Preferred Experience
- 3+ years operating heavy equipment, including backhoes, bulldozers, excavators, front-end loaders, grapple trucks, rail-bound equipment, tractors, or skid-steer loaders
- Equivalent combination of training and hands-on experience may be considered
Pre-Employment Requirements
- Drug screening
- Background check
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.
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