Sanitation Equipment Operator III

This position performs highly skilled routine work operating heavy motorized equipment in the City’s Sanitation Division of the Public Works Department.

An employee in this class is proficient in operating a wide variety of heavy equipment for garbage and debris collection. Equipment may include an automated side-loading garbage truck, rear-loading garbage truck, boom loader truck, dump truck, leaf vacuum truck, and a mechanical street sweeper. The emphasis of the work is on operating large vehicles to collect garbage in the city’s residential and business districts.

The employee this class can operate all sanitation equipment based on the degree of skill demonstrated by the employee and the equipment for which the employee has been safely trained to operate. Another factor that differentiates the Sanitation Equipment Operator III position from the Sanitation Equipment Operator II is the level of skill and experience the employee demonstrates in operating heavy equipment, knowledge of city streets and routes, and accomplished experience to the extent the employee may be asked to train new staff.

Work is performed as a member of a sanitation collection crew and includes safely operating and controlling the equipment, work order management, supervising sanitation workers on the crew, and daily inspections of sanitation equipment. Work is performed under the supervision of an operations manager, or crew leader, and is evaluated for efficient and effective completion of work assignments, public complaints, and by visual inspection of the employee’s assigned route and feedback.

• Operate a sanitation truck for an assigned route for curbside collection of waste from residences and businesses.
• Operate various trucks including side loading garbage truck to grab, lift, and dump garbage containers; rear-loading garbage truck which compresses garbage; boom loader truck (knuckle boom) to pick up piles of brush and large white goods and other bulky items; leaf vacuum truck to collect leaves; mechanical street sweeper to sweep along street curbing; and other heavy equipment such as backhoes to excavate trenches or dig holes.
• Supervise maintenance workers operating the vacuum boom suction pipe.
• Enter and close work order requests, compile reports for supervisors of brush and waste to be collected.
• Notify customers or citizens of collection policies/procedures.
• Participate in street and parking lot snow and ice plowing operations.
• Inspect vital working parts of the trucks and report any maintenance needs to the sanitation superintendent.
• Work as a crew team on a rear-loading garbage truck, possibly as a laborer if needed.
• Participate in routine cleaning or garbage collection vehicles including washing, steaming, and cleaning interior.
• Perform related duties as assigned and required.

• Knowledge of garbage truck operation characteristics and other related special heavy equipment.
• Knowledge of municipal street locations, safety procedures, and city policies regarding equipment operation, and OSHA safety regulations.
• Knowledge of traffic laws and regulations related to heavy equipment operations.
• Knowledge of effective communication techniques sufficient to explain City policies and procedures.
• Ability to operate and perform preventive maintenance on various types of heavy equipment.
• Ability to work as a member of a work crew or team on assignments.
• Ability to successfully perform duties with little direct supervision.
• Ability to perform duties in heavy traffic and under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to identify and report maintenance…