HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR

Definition

Under supervision of a Master Mechanic, Regional Equipment Supervisor, Transportation, or other supervisory official in a state department, institution, or agency, operates large concrete mixers, large cranes, gasoline shovels, tractors, trailers, and other large, heavy, mechanized highway construction and maintenance equipment; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Operates complex, mechanized equipment requiring a highly specialized operator skill level including cranes (truck mounted and crawler mounted), bulldozers, excavator trucks, selfpropelled asphalt spreaders, rollers on asphalt paving (steel wheel and rubber tires), track-mounted frontend loaders, tractor trucks, semitrailers (5-wheel type), and specialized snow removal equipment.
• Performs operator level lubrication and maintenance in accord with the operator's manual and/or lubrication and maintenance manual(s) including machine adjustments. Installs and removes accessories related to the complex equipment including boom extensions, buckets, platforms, cutting teeth, blades, and cables.
• Assists in field or garage maintenance and repair of complex equipment. Loads, unloads, and delivers equipment and plows using semitrailers (5-wheel type). Performs work at heights on equipment such as underbridge equipment (snoopers), platform trucks, aerial ladders and baskets, crane booms, and other equipment of this type.
• Assists in the repair of snow removal equipment and in the installation of snow plow attachments to trucks and equipment.
• May function as the lead worker within a small group of employees, inmates, or seasonal workers.
• Performs other work as assigned when not engaged in operating complex equipment including operation of department equipment normally requiring the equipment operator skill level, and performs maintenance and repair tasks under direction of a garage supervisor.
• Prepares basic reports and maintenance records. Using complex, mechanized equipment, performs tasks including erection, demolition, excavation, grading, filling, asphalt paving, or other construction and maintenance tasks.
• Performs snow removal, ice control, and/or is available for other emergency situations, day or night.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

One (1) year of experience in work involving the operation, adjustment, and maintenance of cranes, tractors, bulldozers, gasoline shovels, and/or other large, heavy, mechanized construction and maintenance equipment.

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

CDL

Applicants may also be required to possess a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and applicable endorsements for the class and type of vehicle being operated.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of procedures for operating heavy, complex, mechanized equipment in accord with the operator's manual, safety regulations, and other instructions.
• Knowledge of procedures, regulations, and problems involved in driving well mounted, complex, mechanized equipment on public routes.
• Knowledge of procedures, regulations, and problems involved in moving equipment and/or plows via semitrailers (5-wheel type).
• Ability to operate heavy, complex, mechanized equipment requiring a highly specialized operator skill level in accord with the operator's manual, safety regulations, and other instructions.
• Ability to properly operate selfpropelled asphalt pavers and rollers (in asphalt pavement construction) at acceptable production rates.
• Ability to use cranes, excavator trucks, bulldozers, track-mounted frontend loaders, specialized snow removal and other types of complex, mechanized equipment to excavate and/or fill at acceptable production rates.
• Ability to work at heights on equipment such as underbridge equipment, (snoopers), platform trucks, aerial ladders and baskets, crane booms, and other equipment of this type.
• Ability to load, unload, and deliver equipment of varied types.
• Ability to analyze fairly complex problems involved in the operation of complex, mechanized equipment.
• Ability to analyze assigned tasks and determine the most efficient method of utilizing a piece of complex, mechanized equipment to complete the task. Ability to perform operator level maintenance and adjustment on the complex equipment in accord with the operator's manual, maintenance manuals, and other instructions.
• Ability to install and remove accessories related to the complex, mechanized equipment such as booms, extensions, cable, cutting teeth, buckets, and blades.
• Ability to learn quickly from written or oral explanations and from demonstrations.
• Ability to drive well mounted, complex, mechanized equipment on public routes and have knowledge of the procedures, regulations, and problems associated with such movements.
• Ability to complete simple reports and keep simple records.
• Ability to lead workers in the performance of maintenance and related functions.
• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• CODES: 15/C16- RKR/cah 12/7/96 15/C14-

Note

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

The responsibility for ensuring that employees possess the required motor vehicle license, commensurate with the class and type of vehicles they operate, rests with the Appointing Authority.