Job Details

Heavy Equipment Operator

The Russell County Highway Department is responsible to the Russell County Commission for the construction and maintenance of all public roads and bridges within Russell County, not otherwise the responsibility of the State of Alabama or an incorporated area within the County. The incumbent of this position operates and performs operator maintenance on one or more types of heavy equipment such as herbicide applicator trucks, tracked excavators, backhoes, front end loaders, motorized scrapers, aggregate spreaders, dozers, motor graders, light tractors, road rollers and power brooms. Moves earth and construction material on steep slopes, graded curves and shoulders, rocky or soft ground, hilly forests and other surfaces with rough features. Operates and performs operator maintenance on motor vehicles up to a gross vehicle weight rating of 88,000 pounds with either mechanical or air brakes, with or without a trailer. Such motor vehicles include, but are not limited to, passenger cars, pickup trucks and trucks with platform, stake or dump bodies up to 21 cubic yard capacity. Incumbent may be required to perform other related or lower graded duties as necessary to complete a work assignment or as directed by the supervisor. This position is a safety sensitive position.

Duties and responsibilities include the ability to fine grade slopes, inclines, ramps curves and excavations by scraping, scooping, rolling or leveling on rough and rocky terrain or in forest areas. Works to exact specifications from grade stakes set by engineers by adjusting attachments while the equipment is in motion and on all types of terrain. Incumbent must know the uses and functions of the different sets of controls or operation of the equipment and attachments and be skilled in handling these controls to perform the work. Frequently these different controls are handled at the same time, requiring good hand, eye and foot coordination as well as good depth perception and a high degree of concentration. The operator must be able to move the equipment about in confined areas. As a driver of a motor vehicle, must have skill in manipulating controls to start, stop, drive and back the assigned vehicle in all types of traffic and road conditions, must have knowledge of height, width, length and weight of the vehicle in order to judge overhead and side clearances, the turning radius, braking distance and the safest distance to be maintained from other vehicles. Incumbent must have knowledge of defensive driving techniques, including skill to recognize developing hazardous road and traffic conditions and the judgment to select alternate routes to avoid potential problems. Must have knowledge and skills to adjust their driving methods to the practices of the surrounding traffic in order to safely navigate the roadways.