Heavy Equipment Operator IV, Vac-Truck Operator - Durango (Includes $500 housing allowance)

Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado. New employees to the State will be paid biweekly. There are 26 biweekly pay periods in a year. This location is eligible for an additional $500/month housing stipend.

About the Role

This Heavy Equipment Operator IV works as part of the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT's) Region 5 Special Crews Maintenance Team in Durango. This team maintains the CDOT highway system and facilities to as near original conditions as constructed utilizing available resources, personnel, equipment and material, ensuring a safe roadway for the traveling public.

This position operates a vac-truck and other heavy, large specialized roadway equipment with complex controls requiring a high degree of skill gained through experience and training. This position is expected to serve as an expert in the operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, and transporting of heavy and specialized equipment. This position mentors others on safe equipment operation and maintenance. This position performs maintenance of roadside surface, facilities, structures, and appearance; provides traffic control and traffic services; operates and maintains equipment; performs skilled labor activities; and effectively uses resources through active planning and administration.

Responsibilities

• Operates Hydro-Vac truck Camel 1200 to clear heavy debris, mud, rocks and blockages from culverts. Selects and configures specialized nozzles and hoses based on pipe conditions. Performs daily inspections and minor mechanical troubleshooting.
• Safely and proficiently drives and operates standard equipment such as tandem trucks, front end loader, backhoe, motor grader, sweepers, etc. to effectively support skilled labor during maintenance activities.
• Safely and proficiently drives and operates specialized equipment in complex situations, such as tractor trailer combinations, tandem axle, triple axle lowboy, paving machines, lay down machine, shoulder machine, polecat, attenuator, dozer, paint truck, tow plow, aggregate spreaders, grade-all power shovels, tractor mower combinations, excavators, screening plants, pneumatic and steel drum rollers, road oil distribution trucks, tunnel and fire equipment.
• Ensures equipment is in safe operating condition to meet guidelines established by the Federal Motor Safety Carriers Act; loads, secures and hauls heavy equipment; determines the weight and chooses appropriate route.
• Operates technology systems in the equipment to help with operational decision-making, inspections, and maintenance. Example systems include Truck and Equipment Controller Systems, Maintenance Decision Support Systems (MDSS), electronic fleet management systems, Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) System, etc.
• Maintains knowledge and skill in operating hand tools, including learning new pieces/types of tools and related technology; completes equipment work orders in SAP.
• Performs routine work with road maintenance patrols; maintains, replaces, and installs signs, delineators, fence, guard rail, cable rail, concrete rail, attenuators, etc.
• Sets up traffic control zones; plans, monitors, leads and participates in completion of specialized tasks; operates and instructs others in large and specialized equipment.
• Performs inspections of worksites such as access, utilities, permitted extra-legal loads, roadway inventory, night inspections, and storm water permits.
• Monitors above ground storage tanks, fuel, and materials; uses computer software and CDOT programs to enter data and information in order to complete email, paperwork, reports, work orders, time sheets, fuel logs, supply orders, meter readings, weekly updates, online training and accident reports.
• Completes pre- and post-trip inspections via paper and electronically; operates equipment in safety sensitive situations, such as blade patching on a heavy traffic volume highway, digging ditch in a location with buried or overhead utilities.
• Maintains proficiency in operations in three key areas: equipment maintenance (pre/post trips, operators manual, proper servicing and cleaning), safety and environmental awareness (safe operations, situational awareness, environmental impact awareness, and equipment specific operating hazards), and effective operations (accomplishing specific tasks under field conditions).
• Instructs, leads, coaches and mentors employees in all phases of maintenance activities; represents CDOT in communicating with internal and external customers.
• Provides assistance to the public during emergency situations; develops and maintains effective working relationships with external entities, such as law enforcement, fire, municipalities, counties, and other state agencies.
• Attends safety and training meetings; maintains technical knowledge of safety procedures and guidance materials, including Safety Manual and Job Safety Analysis (JSA).
• Other job duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• The average work week is 40 hours a week, with periodic overtime due to emergencies or inclement weather.
• Frequent travel to work sites within the Region, requiring overnight stays.
• Exposure to loud noise.
• Exposure to fumes, odors, gasses, dusts, etc. that may affect breathing, eyes and skin.
• Required to use appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Required to work with chemicals and cleaning products.
• Some equipment requires the use of respirators.
• Work in close proximity to heavy traffic.
• Required to use various hand tools and to operate heavy equipment, such as backhoe, tractor, bucket truck, forklift, skid steer, loader, aerial devices and other equipment.
• Required to drive CDOT vehicles.
• May be required to travel to remote locations for equipment repair.
• Exposure to High Voltage (anything over 600 V) and electrical shock.
• Frequently responds to emergencies outside of regular work hours and may work overtime including weekends and holidays.
• Must be willing and be physically able to work in extreme temperatures (hot and cold), variable weather conditions, and at varying elevations up to 12,000 feet for long periods of time.
• Required to use computers to accomplish everyday work duties.
• Travel throughout the state to operate heavy equipment for other areas when needed.
• Respond to emergencies and be on-call 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Requirements

At least four (4) years of heavy equipment operating experience that includes operating AND transporting backhoes, motor graders, and/or specialty equipment (e.g. bulldozer, gradall, laydown, trackhoe, excavator, vactor truck, etc.), with current proficiency at the journey level. Please note: The required experience must be substantiated within the work experience section of your application. “See Resume” statements on the application or resumes in lieu of a complete application may not be accepted. Additional information submitted after the closing date of this announcement will not be considered in the review of your application. In addition, part-time work will be prorated.

Conditions of Employment

• Must possess and maintain a valid Commercial Driver's License Class A or B with no restriction on air brakes that allows operation in Colorado.
• If currently holds a Commercial Driver's License Class B, must obtain and maintain a valid Commercial Driver’s License Class A with no restriction on air brakes that allows operation within Colorado within 12 months of hire as a condition of continued employment.
• Must obtain a tanker endorsement (N) with no restriction on air brakes within 6 months of appointment to this position.
• Must pass a pre-employment screening which may include social security number trace, criminal records check, public court records check, educational records, and driving records checks.
• May be required to pass a controlled substance test (i.e. drug test), and DOT physical through our medical provider.
• May be required to work overtime including weekends and holidays.
• On call to respond to emergency situations.
• May be required to work different shifts in emergency situations.
• Essential Services Designation – Required to report without delay or interruption to provide essential or emergency services outside regular work hours to ensure health, safety, and welfare.
• May be required to live within thirty (30) minutes' driving time in normal weather conditions to be able to respond in a timely manner after notified to report to work. Knowledge of an emergency or hazardous condition may be considered to be notification to report to work station.
• Must provide the supervisor with a telephone number where you can be reached for the purposes of responding to an emergency.

Preferred Qualifications

The Exceptional Applicant will be dedicated to a career in the transportation/equipment operation field and possess proven ability or accomplishment in the following:

• Demonstrated success with the duties as listed in the Description of the Job section.
• Highest work/personal ethics and integrity.
• Years of State service experience related to the duties of this position.
• Successful completion of CDOT's Equipment Operator III Training Program.
• Extensive experience safely and effectively operating vac-trucks.
• Extensive experience safely and effectively operating single and double axle dump trucks, as well as front end loaders.
• Extensive experience safely and effectively operating several types of specialty heavy equipment such as trackhoes, bulldozers, tanker trucks, vactor trucks, grade-all, lay-down machine, rotomiller, etc.
• Extensive experience safely and efficiently transporting heavy equipment, which includes loading, unloading, and securing down equipment.
• Knowledge and experience with CDOT incident management, maintenance operations, and equipment, including related policies, rules, and regulations.
• Knowledge and experience with the Emergency Response Guidelines, Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Chapter IV) and supplement to set traffic control for road projects through different terrain.
• Knowledge and experience applying the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Benefits

The State of Colorado offers competitive medical, dental and vision insurance, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending and health savings accounts. Visit the State of Colorado benefits for details, current premium rates and a summary video about benefits.

The state also offers PERA retirement, great optional PERA plans such as 401K, a generous paid time off package of annual, sick, holiday and other leave, strong career growth, tuition reimbursement and professional development. Perks include Colorado Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP) counseling, wellness, credit union membership and employee discount program. Visit CDOT Benefits for details.

Some positions may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.