Apprentice Teamster

Apprentice Teamster

City of Carbondale, Illinois Job Opening Announcement/Job Description

Dept./Division:
Public Works/Refuse & Recycling (6 months of satisfactory probationary employment; the employee may be moved to the Teamsters Union Rate)

Nature of Work:
This is a regular, full-time position involving the collection and disposal of solid waste (garbage, recyclables, landscape waste, & other refuse) included in the City's Solid Waste Collection Programs. The Apprentice Teamster is responsible for the physical collection and proper disposal of solid waste, which may include garbage and other refuse, recyclables, and landscape waste. Work requires strenuous manual labor in the form of lifting and carrying, requiring good hand and eye coordination in the use of equipment control levers used for volume reduction and loading assistance.

Driving and operating solid waste vehicles and equipment is required. The Apprentice Teamster follows the lead of the refuse truck driver while on the collection route, but reports, is directly responsible to and is evaluated by the Refuse and Recycling Supervisor under the direction of the Director of Public Works.

1. Collect and Dispose of Solid Waste and Recycling:

• Climb frequently in and out of truck; ride standing on rear worker step and/or walk briskly between stops
• Visually locate and manually pick-up and carry solid waste in approved containers, bundles or as individual items weighing up to 50 pounds from set-out location to the truck
• Lift items to heights of 3 to 4 feet and deposit them into the truck hopper in bulk or by visually identifying recyclables and sorting into specified truck tubs
• Verbally request assistance from the truck driver when items may weigh over 50 pounds.
• Manually return containers to their original location in a manner that does not obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic
• Manually operate the hydraulic control levers or buttons to activate compaction, dumping or unloading mechanisms
• Visually watch for and direct driver when the truck is backing
• Accompany refuse driver to landfill, or remain at yard to perform additional duties as assigned
• Traverse daily routes while driving and operating solid waste collection equipment w/standard or automatic transmission including those having custom right hand drive with capacities up to and including a 50,000-pound dual axle truck refuse compaction truck
• Drive refuse compaction truck continuously for up to 8 hours each day. Memorize and recall established collection routes to promote efficient and effective customer service
• Load recyclable igloo containers onto truck by manually affixing the appropriate hooks and cables of the knuckle-boom crane to the igloo and operating the appropriate hydraulic control mechanisms of the crane

2. Service and Clean Equipment:

• Manually conduct pre-operation visual and manual check of vehicles and equipment prior to use
• Adjust equipment fluid levels and tire pressures; replace inoperative light bulbs; check radio for proper operation
• Operate compaction mechanism to warm fluids and check for hydraulic leaks
• Apply lubricants to daily lube points
• Perform walk-around visual inspection checking for pre-operation physical damage
• Present truck to the garage when deficiencies cannot be resolved without assistance from mechanic
• Manually clean truck cab and body, or other equipment after each day's use, using high-pressure washer, brush, and required soaps and solvents
• Climb a 12-foot ladder to wash and access service locations at top of certain trucks and equipment
• Clean up maintenance garage wash bay and operator maintenance bay in after each use

3. Clean and Maintain Public Works Maintenance Facility

• Perform manual janitorial work to clean facility buildings requiring use of standard janitorial procedures and appropriate tools, such as, brooms, mops, squeegees, power vacuums, etc.
• Pick up litter, sweep, remove snow and ice from walks and drive, mow grass, and trim shrubs about the Public Works Maintenance Facility requiring basic knowledge of the proper use of small manual and power equipment including by not limited to shovels, rakes, power mowers, hedge trimmers and edgers, snow blowers, etc.

4. Practice Good Safety

• Exercise extreme caution and good judgment when working around and operating vehicles and other related equipment and when performing other work assignments
• Comply with both verbal and written policies concerning safe operation of vehicles and other equipment and other work assignments

5. Communicate effectively

• Comprehend and follow both verbal and written instructions and sometimes over two-way radio and/or telephone
• Speak clearly and distinctly into microphone, two-way radio and telephone in order to be clearly understood
• Follow specific individual instructions closely, so that proper routing and customer service can be monitored and maintained
• Keep minor handwritten legible records while traversing collection route
• Use tact and good judgment and utilize strong and effective…