Equipment Operator

Job description

Farm Equipment Operator:
General farm equipment operators will be required to operate different types of farm machinery used for orchard and field maintenance, harvest and post-harvest tasks. Mechanical skills and aptitude are needed to operate various machines including tractors, forklifts, spray attachments, mowers, discs, planters, transplanters, cultivator, trailers, side-by-side UTV, and other farm equipment. Equipment/tractors range in size from 40 HP to 250 HP. Employer will provide training.
• Tractor driver: Worker may be asked to drive tractor for harvest and orchard maintenance purposes. Worker may be asked to drive tractor with trailer, mower, disc, hedger or drag equipment attached. Worker may be asked to check equipment used for harvest and orchard maintenance purposes. Tasks include fueling equipment, checking and filling fluids and using grease gun on equipment as instructed by supervisor. Employer will provide additional training for these tasks. Spraying: Worker may be selected to spray trees in assigned fruit tree blocks/middles as directed by supervisor, using tractor and large 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 supervisor’s instructions. Worker will be required to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with company policies. Worker must complete paperwork required for precise record keeping purposes. Worker will complete preparation tasks including measuring and pouring chemicals into tank and greasing tractor. Worker will clean sprayer mixing facilities. Worker will prepare chemical containers for recycling. 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.
• Trucks/Trailers: Worker may be required to drive truck and other farm vehicles with or without trailer.
• Forklift: 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 storage areas. Worker will be trained to operate forklift machines.
• Vehicle Driver: Worker required to possess a valid driver’s license and be eligible to drive under Michigan law with proof of no infractions from official source. Employer may require worker to drive Employer-provided vehicle to and from the worksite and to locations within 40 miles as directed.

SEE ADDENDUM C FOR ADDITIONAL JOB DUTIES

Special Requirements

Experience Requirement: 3 verifiable month of commercial agriculture experience driving farm tractors of minimum 80 horse power required. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the last 3 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Drug testing not utilized as pre-employment tool. See work rules for more information regarding post-employment drug testing.

Season Commitment: Job offered requires worker be available for and worker agrees to work every day that work is available for entire employment period.

Worker must be able to perform job description duties in safe manner consistent with established safety procedures.