Equipment Operator Specialist (Special Jobs)

The Odessa District is looking for a motivated Equipment Operator to join our Special Jobs Section. Whether you're already part of the TxDOT family or looking to bring your skills to a team that values safety, reliability, and respect, this is a great opportunity to build your career. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits, and a strong focus on work-life balance. At TxDOT, we live by our core values: improving safety, valuing our employees, and preserving our assets. Join a team that works hard, supports one another, and takes pride in serving the community

Description - External
Performs highly complex transportation maintenance work operating heavy equipment such as: a tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt distributor, profiling/milling machine, and dump truck. Work requires contact with private entities. Employees at this level perform work independently on assignments; however, all unusual issues are referred to the supervisor.

Essential Duties

• Trains other employees on equipment operation and safety procedures.
• Operates light equipment such as a front-end loader one and a quarter cubic yards or less, pneumatic roller, rotary broom, spreader box, backhoe, street sweeper, and mower.
• Operates one or more types of complex heavy equipment such as tractor-trailer haul truck, motor grader, large excavator, heavy bulldozer, crane, herbicide truck, heavy asphalt paving machine, self-propelled asphalt profiling/milling machine and dump truck.
• Operates tractor-trailer haul trucks to relocate heavy and light equipment including loading, securing, and unloading
  equipment on haul trailers in compliance with federal, state, and Department motor vehicle laws, regulations, and standards.
• May serve as a work crew project lead ensuring work performed meets project specifications.
• Operates heavy equipment performing highly complex transportation maintenance and roadway repairs.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: No education required.

Experience: 2 year(s) experience in maintenance and/or construction equipment operation. (Experience can be satisfied by full time or prorated part time equivalent). Related college education or relevant technical training may be substituted for experience on a year per year basis. Substitutions for Minimum Qualifications

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver's license. This position requires driving a state vehicle.

• Must have a valid Texas Commercial Driver's License for equipment operation at the time of application.

Competencies:

• Considerable knowledge of:
• The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Basic vehicle mechanics, maintenance and repair procedures.
• Applicable industry safety standards, guidelines, and specification codes

Proficient skill in:

• Prioritizing and organizing work assignments
• Using applicable hand and power tools, equipment, and mechanical devices of the trade. 
• Operating light and heavy highway equipment
• Maintaining a safe and effective working relationship with others. 
• Maintaining a safe working environment.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively
• Follow verbal and written instructions
• Drive and ride in a vehicle for extended periods.  

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: 

• Subject to environmental conditions; protection from weather but not temperature changes
• Subject to outside environmental conditions; no effective weather protection
• Subject to inside and outside environmental conditions
• Subject to extreme cold and heat; below 32 and/or above 100 degrees for more than one hour
• Subject to noise
• Subject to vibration
• Subject to hazards-moving vehicles/mechanical parts, high places/heat, or chemicals
• Subject to atmospheric conditions-fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation
• Subject to air and/or skin exposure to oils and other cutting fluids
• Required to wear protective gear-respirator, hard hat, or other device
• Works frequently in small/crawl spaces; manholes; areas that can cause claustrophobia
• Works in narrow aisles or passageways
• Sedentary work: Lift up to 10 lbs at a time and occasionally carry files/small tools
• Light work: Lift up to 20 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 10 lbs
• Medium work: Lift up to 50 lbs at a time and frequently lift or carry objects up to 25 lbs
• Climbing - ascending/descending ladders, stairs, scaffoldings, ramps, etc
• Balancing-walking, standing, crouching on various surfaces without falling
• Stooping-bending body downward and forward by bending spine at waist
• Kneeling-bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee(s)
• Crouching-bending body downward and forward by bending leg(s) and spine
• Crawling-moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet
• Reaching-extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction
• Standing-prolonged periods of time
• Walking-moving on foot to accomplish tasks: long distance/from one work site to another
• Pushing-using upper extremities to press against object with force to move in a direction
• Pulling-using upper extremities to exert force moving objects in a sustained motion
• Lifting-raising objects from lower to higher position/horizontally to a different position
• Fingering-picking, pinching, typing; working primarily with fingers rather than whole hand
• Grasping-applying pressure to an object with fingers and palm
• Feeling-determining size, shape, temperature or texture of objects
• Talking-expressing or exchanging ideas by spoken words
• Hearing-perceive sound at normal speaking levels;receive information by oral communication
• Repetitive Motion-substantial movements of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes data/figures; view a computer screen; extensive reading
• Close Visual Acuity-work includes visual inspection of small defects/parts
• Close Visual Acuity-using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts
• Visual Acuity-operate machines, such as drill presses, power saws, and mills
• Visual Acuity-operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment
• Visual Acuity-determine work quality/make general observations of facilities/structures

Conditions of Employment:

Please click this link to read the standard conditions of employment for all positions: Standard Conditions of Employment (TxDOT)

• This job has been identified as physically demanding and will require a pre-employment physical.
• Must pass a drug test prior to employment for safety impact positions. This is a Safety Impact position and will be subject to random drug testing.
  • Please note that the Department of Transportation's Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation – 49 CFR Part 40, at 40.151(e) – does not authorize “medical marijuana” under a state law to be a valid medical explanation for a positive drug test result for an employee in this position.
• Must be able to report for duty within 30 minutes of notification on a 24-hour basis to respond to emergency situations.