Road Equipment Operator 1 at Saline County in Benton, AR

2026 Saline County

Road Equipment Operator 1

Job Description

Exempt: No

Department: Road Department

Reports To: Road Foreman/Road Assistant Supt/Road Supt

Location: 555 Cynamide Road, Benton, AR 72015

Safety Sensitive: This position is designated as safety/security sensitive and is subject to pre-employment, reasonable suspicion and random drug and alcohol screening.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

An equipment operator works under the direction of the Road Foreman, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. The incumbent primarily performs labor tasks in the construction, improvement, and maintenance of county roads. Also, operates road department equipment including dump trucks and dozers for mass pushing and topsoil replacement, running an excavator to load trucks, dig on grad and dig for storm sewer, operate a skid-steer and log loader (grapple truck), roller and tractor. The incumbent is responsible for the procurement and maintenance of the parts inventory, assist with two-way radio communications, and maintain the physical condition of the shop building. The incumbent has the responsibility to monitor identification and informational signing, make and install the highway signs, as needed, and perform other miscellaneous duties related to the installation of signs. The incumbent is responsible for the maintenance of assigned tools and equipment.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Dump truck operation to haul gravel and operate the snowplow or chip spreader truck in the winter, water truck operation in summer, and spreader truck operations for blacktop material.
2. Makes minor on site repairs and preventive maintenance on equipment, i.e., change oil, lubricate, tire repairs, to insure proper operation.
3. The ability to operate a truck and trailer such as a lowboy for moving equipment used in road maintenance.
4. The ability to work with all hand tools such as chain saws, concrete saws, etc. required in road maintenance and repair.
5. The knowledge, ability and experience to operate road maintenance equipment such as a patch truck, tractor, ditching equipment, grader, etc.
6. The ability to make minor equipment repairs on the job site.
7. The ability to perform preventive maintenance checks to ensure safe and proper operation of County equipment.
8. The knowledge and ability to operate all equipment involved in ditching and other related duties to determine and maintain grades to facilitate water flow.
9. Ensure that all equipment operations are performed in an efficient and safe manner for the construction, improvement, or maintenance of county roads to guard against accidents to fellow employees and the public at large.
10. Attends department meetings, functions and safety training as required.
11. Respond to after hour emergencies.
12. Continuing education when made available by the County.
13. Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

High school or GED, plus specialized schooling and/or on the job education in a specific skill area; e.g., commercial driver's license, equipment operations, etc. plus 3 years related experience and/or training and 12 to 18 months management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Management experience does not necessarily mean the management of people but the ability to plan, manage and execute multiple tasks within a specific timeframe.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Required to pass a physical and pre-employment drug screen and random drug screens throughout employment with Saline County.

• Already possess a Class A CDL prior to employment required throughout employment; must possess knowledge of equipment operations numerous pieces of machinery.

• Registered under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and give consent to Saline County or Saline County’s third-party administrator to conduct a full query to check if prospective employees are prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions such as operating commercial motor vehicles due to an unresolved drug and alcohol program violation. An annual query is conducted on all CDL employees.

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Class B CDL

USE OF MACHINES, EQUIPMENT AND/OR COMPUTERS

Regular use of complex machines and equipment (road and production machines and equipment, driver's license/cdl, etc.)

WORKING CONDITIONS

Outside working environment, wherein there are extremely disagreeable working conditions most of the time (e.g., Hot mix paving in constant sun).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, outdoor weather conditions; occasionally exposed to work in high, precarious places, toxic or caustic chemicals, wet or humid conditions, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

Highly repetitive, moderately physical. Highly repetitive type of work which requires somewhat diversified physical demands of the employee.

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear; and occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision; distance vision; color vision; peripheral vision; and depth perception.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Knowledge of street drainage, repair and maintenance.
• Knowledge of construction work in concrete and asphalt.
• Ability to judge conditions of the road and ditches for grading.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.
• Ability to operate equipment used in road construction and maintenance.
• Ability to operate chainsaws, power tools, lawn equipment for right of way maintenance and storm clean up.
• Ability to work outdoors and occasionally in cold or inclement weather.
• Ability to follow simple oral and written instructions.

Work hours maybe extended in the event of an emergency, disaster, manpower shortage, workload and work-in-progress. This position is designated as a "safety sensitive position" as defined by Act 593 of 2017.

Work hours may be extended in the event of an emergency, disaster, manpower shortage, workload and work-in-progress. This position is designated as a "safety sensitive position" as defined by Act 593 of 2017. An essential function of the position is the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

The duties listed above are intended only to show the various types of duties that will be performed. The omission of specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. All positions within the Road Department are assigned by the Road Superintendent or Assistant Road Superintendent or a designated representative and are subject to be changed when deem in the best interest of the Road Department.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between Saline County and the employee and is subject to change by the employer if the need of the employer and requirements of the job change.

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR 1

• Starting rate of $37,784 annually for a new hire.

• Promotion rate for an established employee of $41,982 annually (an individual who has been a fulltime Saline County employee for more than 90 days).

• This position requires the applicant to possess or have the ability to obtain and keep a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A throughout employment with Saline County.

• Applicants are required to pass a pre-employment physical and drug screen along with random drug screens throughout employment with Saline County.

• This position works Monday/Thursday, 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM with holidays off, dependent upon work load and inclement weather. This position is considered an essential employee during weather events and required to report to work as scheduled.

• Opportunities for promotion are available within the department.

• This position is designated as a “safety sensitive” position as defined by Act 593 of 2017. An essential function of this position is the ability to work in a contact state of alertness and in a safe manner.

• The applicant must be registered on the FMSCA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol clearinghouse prior to employment or after obtaining a CDL to ensure the driver is not prohibited from performing safety sensitive functions.

• Group health, dental and life insurance is paid by the County for the employee’s coverage provided the employee obtains a wellness check within the designated time frame.

• The County contributes 15.32% towards the employee’s retirement through the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System

SALINE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR 1

• Starting rate of $37,784 annually for a new hire.

• Promotion rate for an established employee of $41,982 annually (an individual who has been a full-time Saline County employee for more than 90 days).

• This position requires the applicant to possess or have the ability to obtain and keep a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class A throughout employment with Saline County.

• Applicants are required to pass a pre-employment physical and drug screen along with random drug screens throughout employment with Saline County.

• This position works Monday/Thursday, 6:30 AM to 4:30 PM with holidays off, dependent upon workload and inclement weather. This position is considered an essential employee during weather events and required to report to work as scheduled.

• Opportunities for promotion are available within the department.

• This position is designated as a “safety sensitive” position as defined by Act 593 of 2017. An essential function of this position is the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

• The applicant must be registered on the FMSCA Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol clearinghouse prior to employment or after obtaining a CDL to ensure the driver is not prohibited from performing safety sensitive functions.

• Group health, dental and life insurance is paid by the County for the employee’s coverage provided the employee obtains a wellness check within the designated time frame.

• The County contributes 15.32% towards the employee’s retirement through the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System

This position will close AT 4:30 PM on 7/29/2026 or will remain open until filled.