Equipment Operator

Job Summary

The Intermodal Labourer (also known as Labourer, Equipment Operator or Heavy Equipment Operator) is responsible for performing the same tasks as a Helper or Attendant Equipment Operator and Heavy Equipment Operator. The incumbent begins employment at CN as a Spareboard employee. The position works on-call and receives a minimum of 2 hours' notice before the shift as the incumbent does not have a pre-set schedule for the week.

Major Responsibilities

• Perform basic hand and horn signals to guide the Heavy Equipment Operators.
• Lift, carry, place and remove inter-box connectors (IBCs).
• Drive pickups, hitch trucks, and yard tractors.
• Perform various tasks to ensure the proper setup of guides on the rail cars.
• Setup rail cars and assist Heavy Equipment Operators in loading and unloading containers and empty chassis and trailers to and from rail cars.
• Shunt inbound and outbound loads to and from railcars.
• Lift rail car hitches.
• Load reefers from carters.
• Connect and disconnect gensets (portable fossil-fuel powered generators).
• Place, remove, and lock and unlock train connectors.
• Ensure proper container and trailer placement on rail cars.
• Drive pickup and hitch trucks.
• Operate yard tractors, forklifts, and small cranes.
• Complete paperwork associated with the loading and unloading of railcars and trailers.
• Operate heavy equipment, including mobile cranes (primarily ‘reach stackers’) that lift containers to and from railcars and truck chassis.

Working Conditions

• Available to work shifts, weekends, holidays, nights and occasional overtime when necessary.
• Available on-call 24/7, 24 hours a day with a minimum of 2 hours’ notice.
• Partially performed outdoors in various types of weather and environmental conditions.
• Regular exposure to dust, pollen, noise and vibrations.
• Physical: lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently, and up to 70 pounds occasionally.
• Climb and balance, grip handholds while working at heights of 4–8 feet (1–2 meters) off the ground.
• Bend, stoop, squat, kneel, and perform overhead work.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Lift-truck operator certification.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Ability to work autonomously, adapt to different situations and manage stress.
• Demonstrate good teamwork and maintain positive interactions with others.
• Good verbal, reading comprehension, and writing skills.
• Be dedicated to meeting established standards of quality, safety, productivity and client satisfaction.
• Hand-eye coordination.
• Proficiency with shovels, rods and pry bars, sledgehammers, jackhammers, wrenches, hand and power drills, hand tools and technical instruments (meters).
• Ability to use heavy equipment such as a backhoe, trencher, and directional barring machine.
• Proficiency in the operation of lift trucks, up to 21,000 pounds (10,000 kg) capacity.
• Vocational and technical training or knowledge of Rail Operating Rules.

Training

The incumbent receives 40 hours of paid training (classroom training and 120 hours of on-the-job training). The role must remain in the position (Spareboard) for a minimum of 3 months after hire date.

This position is a unionized position. As such, pay and benefits are governed by the applicable collective agreement.