Refuse Truck Driver

TARGET CLOSE DATE:

09/19/2025

PAY GRADE:

Grade 17

TYPE:

Full time

JOB SUMMARY:

Refuse Truck Drivers within the Merit System are responsible for the efficient and safe operation of a refuse truck in order to collect household refuse along designated routes. Employees in this job class perform a variety of duties, including inspecting Refuse Trucks for necessary maintenance, operating a Refuse Truck along public roadways, overseeing the work/ensuring the safety of a crew of Laborers or Refuse Collectors, and documenting daily activities. Refuse Truck Drivers receive assigned routes from a supervisor, and are responsible for planning how to most efficiently complete the route. Work is reviewed through the completion of daily activity reports, and inspections of assigned routes by a supervisor.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Agencies provide competitive pay and comprehensive benefits packages to include medical and dental insurance, employer-sponsored retirement plan (pension), generous paid holidays, sick and vacation leave, and more.

Applications for this position will be considered for the following Merit System employing agencies. The pay range for this job varies depending upon the Merit System employing agency.

Bessemer: $17.99 - $27.91
Birmingham: $18.74 - $29.08
Fairfield: $16.57 - $25.71
Irondale: $21.65 - $33.58

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications that are required for employment consideration for this position:

• Class B CDL.         

• Experience operating equipment requiring a Class B CDL.             

• Experience following maps, GPS, or navigation instructions.

• Experience conducting pre-trip inspections on heavy duty equipment/trucks.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

The following are job-related qualifications deemed desirable by Merit System agencies. These qualifications may be considered by a hiring agency when reviewing applications and inviting candidates to participate in subsequent steps in the selection processes.

• Experience operating a loader.

• Experience leading a crew (e.g., directing and reviewing work of crew members, ensuring safety).

TYPICAL JOB DUTIES:

• Operates a refuse truck and associated equipment (e.g., lifts, compressors, radios, etc.) along designated routes in order to retrieve refuse.

• Oversees and directs the work of crew members in order to ensure efficiency and safety of crew during the retrieval of trash and garbage.

• Maintains refuse truck operations by performing routine inspections, maintaining cleanliness, and scheduling maintenance to ensure the refuse truck operates safely and efficiently.

• Operates a refuse truck equipped with a rear loading packer to remove waste along established routes.

• Operates truck’s accessory equipment (e.g., hydraulic lifts, hydraulic rams, compressors, etc.) used in trash and garbage collection.

• Operates two-way radio to communicate with and receive instructions from supervisor or dispatcher.

• Communicates with dispatcher or supervisor regarding the discovery of uncollectible refuse (e.g., dead animals, paint, gasoline, etc.) as well as safety issues (e.g., fallen trees or power lines) in order to have it removed by the proper equipment or entity.

• Delivers refuse to landfill for disposal.

• Weighs load on landfill scale before dumping in designated area.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Job involves physical exertion required for sustained periods of light physical activity such as operating a refuse truck or standing for prolonged periods of time. May involve occasional lifting of items or objects weighing up to 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is primarily performed at outdoor worksites such as residential neighborhoods, landfills, etc. Work involves use of heavy equipment such as refuse trucks, as well as a variety of hand tools. Job may require exposure to potentially hazardous work conditions (e.g., working in and around traffic, in and around landfills, working in and around heavy equipment). Job may also require exposure to inclement weather when working outdoors (e.g., extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, wind), as well as working around foul odors and potentially harmful waste.

EEO STATEMENT:

The Personnel Board of Jefferson County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran