Operator IV, Equipment - Terminal

About the Role

This is a senior-level operational role responsible for operating high-capacity equipment and terminal yard trucks to support the safe and efficient movement of heavy lift and over-dimensional cargo. This role requires expert-level proficiency, extensive experience, and strict adherence to safety protocols in high-risk environments in the marine terminal, port operations, and yard settings. The role involves operating a top loader, large-capacity forklifts, including Hyster (H1050) and Taylor (XH1000) models, to safely lift, move, and stack extremely heavy loads (55,000 lbs or greater).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience operating high-capacity equipment.
• An active TWIC card is required.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English; accurate processing of alpha/numeric data.
• Strong initiative, independent judgment, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights, weekends, holidays, and overtime.
• Proven ability to function effectively in fast-paced environments with limited supervision.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Subject to physical and/or DOT screening and other applicable tests.
• Frequent exposure to outdoor conditions including extreme heat, rain, wind, cold, and high humidity during day and night shifts.
• Frequent sitting (while driving), grasping, and exercising eye-hand and eye-hand-foot coordination.
• Frequent reaching, repetitive foot/wrist motion, and finger dexterity.
• Occasional standing, walking, climbing, bending, squatting, twisting, and overhead reaching.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to 55 pounds.
• Specific vision requirements include close, distance, color, peripheral vision, depth perception, and focus adjustment.
• Exposure to high altitudes, noise, dust, fumes, and moving mechanical parts.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate operating a top loader with capacity of 55,000 lbs. or greater.
• Safe and efficient handling of boxes, crates, pallets, skids, super sacks, trays, rebar, and smaller length pipe (loose or bundled).
• Operating with diverse attachments to handle different commodities.
• Operating machine in the terminal and/or on the dock.
• Proper mounting/dismounting of machine while maintaining three points of contact.
• Proper startup and shutdown of forklift (seatbelt, neutral when starting/stopping, lowers forklift blades to ground and sets brake when parking).
• Proper use of controls (clutch, inching, tilt, lift, attachments, steering).
• Proper stacking of load (approaches load squarely, stacks straight and squarely, and to safe height, deposits load safely, does not move until forks are level and lowered).
• Proper loading/unloading of trailers, vans, railcars, containers, or other vehicles (checks dock plate, floor/deck condition, trailer chocks, jack stands, and brakes if applicable, and maneuvers safely in tight quarters).
• Ensures truck driver is outside of cab and visible to operator before loading or unloading.
• Checks equipment in accordance with forklift checklist procedures to ensure it is properly maintained and safe to operate.
• Communicates any issues with machine to supervisor or maintenance.
• Follows proper procedures for an “unattended” machine.
• Ensures machine is operated within safe working load limits at all times.
• Follows all company safety requirements/policies and understands and complies with Company “Stop Work Authority” policy.
• Maintains awareness of surroundings (vehicles, people, traffic, debris, obstructions, etc.) at all times.
• Reviews all shipments upon arrival and informs supervisor immediately of any damages to cargo.
• Ensures cargo is loaded in appropriate container and/or trailer for shipment.
• Performs additional related duties as assigned, which may include operating a forklift.