Equipment Operator - Paving

Company Overview

Adams Construction Company is one of the oldest asphalt paving firms in Virginia. Since 1946, Adams has participated in the construction of every interstate throughout Virginia and most of the primary highways. Throughout the Company’s growth in Virginia and into North Carolina, it has strived to maintain a family culture in a corporate world. We strive for our team members to model behaviors that align with our Mission, Vision and Values.

General Description

Under general supervision of an assigned superintendent, the Equipment Operator is a key, highly skilled member of the paving crew responsible for operating heavy paving machinery—including motor graders, bulldozers, scrapers, shovels, front‑end loaders, paving machines, or stone spreaders—to excavate, move, and grade earth, or pour or apply asphalt or other materials to road beds, parking lots, or other hard‑surface pavement.

Responsibilities

• Machine Operation: Expertly operate asphalt pavers, rollers (steel‑drum or pneumatic), and other heavy equipment.
• Material Application: Control speed, direction, and material flow to ensure consistent, high‑quality compaction and accurate thickness, complying with project specifications.
• Maintenance: Perform daily maintenance, such as checking fluids, cleaning machinery, and lubricating parts to prevent breakdowns. Repair equipment using mechanics' hand tools or report malfunctions to supervisors.
• Team Coordination: Work closely with the dump‑truck driver, screed operator, and foreman using hand signals to ensure a steady supply of asphalt. Light burners or start heating units of machines, and regulate screed temperatures and asphalt flow rates.
• Operate tamping machines or manually roll surfaces to compact earth fills, foundation forms, and finished road materials according to grade specifications.
• Fill tanks, hoppers, or machines with paving materials.
• Take actions to avoid potential hazards or obstructions, such as utility lines, other equipment, other workers, or falling objects.
• Monitor operations to ensure that health and safety standards are met.
• Adjust handwheels and depress pedals to control attachments such as blades, buckets, scrapers, or swing booms.
• Check fuel supplies at sites to ensure adequate availability.

Essential Functions

• Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Ability to quickly move your hand, or your hand together with your arm, or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Ability to understand and carry out verbal and/or written directions, paying attention to detail.
• Ability to lift and carry heavy loads of 40 to 50 pounds or more on a daily basis.
• Comfort working in extreme temperatures (heat and cold), humidity, and dusty environments for periods of 10‑12 hours.

Qualifications

• High School diploma/GED.
• Minimum three (3) years proven experience operating heavy equipment.
• Ability to read project plans and understand grade control.
• Strong work ethic, teamwork, and respect for all individuals.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record and reliable transportation; CDL preferred.
• Willingness to work overtime, nights, and weekends as projects demand.
• Ability to pass a pre‑employment drug test and random tests if selected during employment.

Benefits

• Medical
• Health Savings Account
• Dental
• Employer‑paid life/AD&D insurance
• Vision
• Employer‑paid short‑term disability
• 401K
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Employee Wellness Program

Pay

Competitive pay is provided for this position with an entry pay range of $18.00 to $22.00 based on years of experience and skill set.