Truck Driver - Sanitation

Sanitation Truck Driver position in the Public Works Department's Sanitation division.

About the role

Drive truck/equipment to collect and dispose of garbage from residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Operate sanitation trucks and other waste collection vehicles on assigned routes, perform equipment and vehicle inspections, and conduct minor maintenance and repair tasks including welding, replacing parts, and painting.

Schedule

Monday–Friday, 6:00 am–2:30 pm. Flexible schedule with home evenings and weekends. One 4-hour morning shift rotation every 6 weeks; generally includes overtime.

Pay

Hiring range: $26.15 to $27.19 per hour ($54,404 to $56,571 annually). Full salary range extends to $36.83 per hour. Annual raises on employment anniversary; 6% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase in January 2027 per Union contract.

Responsibilities

• Operate sanitation truck to collect refuse, solid waste, and recyclables on assigned routes; transport to disposal areas.
• Operate roll-off truck; load and unload boxes following regulatory guidelines; complete required paperwork.
• Separate recyclables as required.
• Operate mechanisms for compressing and dumping refuse.
• Conduct pre-trip inspection of truck.
• Clean sanitation truck and equipment.
• Perform routine inspections and minor maintenance on vehicle and equipment.
• Oversee personnel assigned to truck.
• Provide customer service and respond to complaints; report concerns to crew chief or supervisor.
• Perform other duties as requested.
• Complete online training or attend off-site courses/trainings/seminars as required.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Valid Driver’s license.
• Valid commercial driver’s license with Class “B” and air brake endorsement within 6 months of hire (training provided).

Skills

• General knowledge of automotive equipment operation and servicing.
• General knowledge of traffic laws and regulations governing equipment operations.
• General knowledge of safe driving practices and occupational hazards.
• Skill in operating automotive equipment.
• Ability to understand and follow specific oral instructions.
• Ability to detect signs of mechanical failure in automotive and packing equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the public.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds; occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds.
• Regularly requires sitting, speaking, hearing, and repetitive motions; frequently requires walking, using hands, reaching, pushing, pulling, and lifting; occasionally requires standing, climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Requires depth perception, color perception, night vision, and peripheral vision.
• Vocal communication required for exchanging ideas and conveying detailed instructions.
• Hearing required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and make fine distinctions in sound.
• Visual inspection required for small defects, operating machines, motor vehicles, and observing surroundings.
• Frequent exposure to outdoor weather conditions; occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold or heat, electrical shock risk, vibration, and bloodborne pathogens.
• May require wearing specialized personal protective equipment.
• Work generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic).

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, life, flex spending plan, and HSA.
• Generous paid time off plans, including Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) and 11 paid holidays.
• MN Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) pension.
• Deferred compensation plan.
• Continuing education opportunities.
• Positive, friendly, and team-oriented culture.
• Flexibility to support work-life balance.
• Ongoing training and career development.

Pre-screening process includes acceptable supervisor references, criminal background check, driving record check, drug test, and job function test.