Equipment Operator

Job description

Worker will be required to drive tractors ranging from 50 to 150 horse power. Worker will transfer harvested fruit using tractor and box-hauler attachment. Worker will spray fruit trees using tractor with air-blast sprayer attachment. Worker will safely drive tractor on road, in orchards and around storage areas. Employer will provide additional training for this task.

Worker will be required to spray fruit trees in assigned orchard blocks/middles as directed by supervisor, using tractor and air-blast spray attachment. Worker must be able to safely drive tractor, exercising caution to not damage fruit trees or other objects. Worker must be able to read measurements including quarts, pints, ounces, and accurately combine chemicals according to supervisors instructions. Worker will be required to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with company policies.

Worker will complete preparation tasks including measuring and pouring chemicals into tank and greasing tractor. During peak spray season, worker may be required to occasionally work overnight shifts and offered shifts up to 18 hours long due to weather conditions. Worker may not use phone while spraying.

Worker will be required to drive truck and other farm vehicles with or without trailer. Worker will load and unload trucks or trailers with harvested produce and deliver to designated loading areas. Workers may operate agricultural equipment on farm premises only to perform general farm duties as listed in the contract. Workers may load or unload product to/from a trailer. Harvested produce is loaded onto the trailer to be delivered to the Employer’s market/storage facility which is on the farm and connected to the Employer’s fields where produce is harvested. All work performed is on farm and does not cross any state lines. All vehicles, trucks with and without trailers that the workers will be operating fall under a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds, and primarily are a forklift weighing 5,700 pounds and a Bobcat weighing 5,000 pounds. Employer will provide additional training for this task.

Worker will operate forklifts to complete harvest tasks as directed by supervisor. This includes loading, unloading, and transferring harvest bins to/from trucks and trailers or from orchard to storage areas. Employer will provide additional training for this task.

Worker required to possess a valid driver's license and be eligible to drive under Michigan law. Worker will drive Employer-provided vehicle to and from the worksite and to other locations within 45 miles as directed. Worker must understand and agree to driving rules, as outlined in work rules.

Worker will check equipment used for harvest and orchard purposes. Tasks include fueling equipment, checking and filling fluids and using grease gun on equipment, cleaning using pressure-washer and other maintenance tasks as instructed by supervisor.

Pay will be hourly.

Special Requirements

Job requires worker to complete tasks in: agriculture equipment operation, pesticide application, general farm labor, hand harvest and packing of apples, cherries, peaches and plums.

Experience Requirement: 2 verifiable months of commercial agriculture equipment operator experience required and pesticide application on commercial fruit farm. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the past 5 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Employer reserves right to conduct for cause, non-discriminatory drug testing at employer expense and drug testing will not be utilized as pre-employment tool.