Motor Equipment Operator I - Public Works, Bureau of Highways/Maintenance

Posting number: 26-00409

Department: Public Works

Division: DPW - Highways Dayton Shop

Job classification: Motor Equipment Operator I- Public Works, Bureau of Highways/Maintenance

Posting type: Open

Categories: Public Works

Summary

Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
 
Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2025, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 83 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making. 
 
What are we looking for?
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.
 
What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.  
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!  
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs. 
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:
This is a semi-skilled position operating motorized fleet and less complex construction equipment to haul material and personnel to job sites and provide operational support in the maintenance of the County's Highway network.

SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$22.08 - $24.39
$45,933 - $50,732

*This is the anticipated starting salary range for this position. Please note that the final salary will be determined by the Office of Human Resources, commensurate with experience and aligned to ensure internal equity with similarly situated roles.*

CLASS DESCRIPTION:
This is work involving the driving of trucks; the operating of less complex types of motor and mechanical equipment; the performing of a variety of skilled and semi-skilled manual tasks involving such equipment and a variety of hand and power tools. Work includes tasks needed in the construction and maintenance of public works projects.

*This is a Classified position, meaning that it is a part of the Howard County Classified Service upon completion of a probationary period of at least six (6) months*

*Please note that this position falls within a collective bargaining unit and is represented by AFSCME Local 3085, Local 3888, or Local 1810. *

Examples of duties

Equipment Operation

• Operates dump trucks hauling sand, stone, pipe, tools and other materials used in road construction and maintenance.
• Operates motor vehicles and equipment with attachments/tools (such as chipper, compressor, tamping machine, trencher) for spreading salt and sand on icy roads, installing pipes, cutting grass, and similar activities.
• Operates forklift or loader to load and unload heavy materials; manually loads and unloads other materials; performs both routine and skilled laboring tasks.
• May operate more complex motor equipment, hand tools, and power tools; may direct and instruct other employees in the safe use of motor equipment, hand tools, power tools, and related work (i.e. loader, roller, skid loader, compactor, and chipper.)

• Operates snow plow and salt spreader; plows and salts road.

Road & Site Maintenance

• Trims rural roadside trees.
• Patches roads and shoulders.
• Performs semi-skilled manual tasks such as painting, raking and shoveling  stone, mixing cement, flagging traffic, mulching and seeding, jack hammering, laying brick.
• Shore up ditches and install pipes.
• Cuts grass and performs related ground maintenance.

Safety & Compliance

• Directs traffic flow during work activities.
• Inspects and performs minor routine maintenance on vehicle, equipment and tools.
• Keeps log of vehicle operation; makes reports of equipment defects, accidents, traffic violations, and other mishaps.
• Checks for damaged or worn tires or tracks, proper air pressure in tires, and other elements affecting safe equipment operation; 

Maintenance & Inspection

• Performs routine and preventive maintenance as established by unit.
• Inspects and performs minor routine maintenance on vehicles, equipment, and tools.
• Leadership & Oversight
• May direct and instruct other employees in the safe use of motor equipment, hand tools, and power tools.
• May oversee the work of subordinate employees.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of the tenth school grade and one year of experience operating large dump trucks and/or other motor equipment of the same complexity; or one year of experience in progressively responsible manual laboring work, some of which has included the operation of such motor equipment.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, AND REGISTRATIONS:

• Shall have a valid CDL Class B license, issued by the State of Maryland during tenure of appointment as Motor Equipment Operator I.
• Valid DOT physical card.
• Possession of a valid Maryland Approved Flagger program card may be required, depending upon work assignment, or the ability to obtain within six (6) months from hire and maintained during tenure of employment. 
• Confined space training certification may also be required, when required by work assignment.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of traffic laws, truck related laws, and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of motor equipment operation.
• Knowledge of the hazards and safety rules and regulations involved in laboring and equipment operation activities in the unit to which assigned.
• Some knowledge of carpentry and form building.
• Skill in the safe and efficient operation of dump trucks and other motor equipment of the same complexity both on and off the highway.
• Skilled in the operation of hand and power tools.
• Knowledge with the operation of mechanical equipment such as forklifts, backhoes, hydraulic excavator, front end loaders, and other heavy construction equipment.
• Knowledge of the geography of the County.
• Experience in performing preventive maintenance on equipment and vehicles as referenced in this posting.
• Preferred to have basic computer operations skills (e.g., data entry Microsoft Office products, e-mail, equipment control software). 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands 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. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions, directions, and traffic signals. Ability to perform heavy labor for prolonged period of time often under adverse weather conditions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus. The employee shall work overtime under emergency conditions or as circumstances warrant.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is very loud. The employee may be exposed to high temperatures given off by various materials.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization in a professional manner.

Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Supplemental information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands 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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee isfrequentlyrequired to stand; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employeeis occasionally required towalk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee mustfrequentlylift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.The employee shall work overtime under emergency conditions or as circumstances warrant.

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee isfrequentlyexposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is very loud. The employee may be exposed tohigh temperaturesgiven off by various materials.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICALSKILLSAND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read andcomprehendsimple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization in a professional manner.

Ability to add and subtracttwo digitnumbers and to multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructionsfurnishedin written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.