Equipment Operator

CN offers many opportunities for skilled tradespeople who enjoy continuous learning and want to build a career in a safety-focused team. You’ll work with state-of-the-art equipment and railcars that transport goods from the Pacific to the Atlantic and down to the Gulf of Mexico. You’ll take pride in your work, knowing you're contributing to the strength of the economy. You'll also have the chance to enhance your skills through paid training. We offer meaningful careers because our work makes a difference. Come on board with us!

Job Summary 

The Intermodal Labourer (also known as Labourer, Equipment Operator or Heavy Equipment Operator) is responsible for performing the same tasks as a Helper or Attendant Equipment Operator and Heavy Equipment Operator. The incumbent begins employment at CN as a Spareboard employee. The position works on-call and receives a minimum of 2 hours' notice before the shift as the incumbent does not have a pre-set schedule for the week. 

Major Responsibilities 

Perform basic hand and horn signals to guide the Heavy Equipment Operators 

Lift, carry, place and remove inter-box connectors (IBCs) 

Drive pickups, hitch trucks, and yard tractors 

Perform various tasks to ensure the proper setup of guides on the rail cars 

Setup rail cars and assist Heavy Equipment Operators in loading and unloading containers and empty chassis and trailers to and from rail cars 

Shunt inbound and outbound loads to and from railcars 

Lift rail car hitches 

Load reefers from carters 

Connect and disconnect gensets (portable fossil-fuel powered generators) 

Place, remove, and lock and unlock train connectors 

Ensure proper container and trailer placement on rail cars 

Drive pickup and hitch trucks 

Operate yard tractors, forklifts, and small cranes 

Complete paperwork associated with the loading and unloading of railcars and trailers 

Operate heavy equipment, including mobile cranes (primarily ‘reach stackers’) that lift containers to and from railcars and truck chassis 

Working Conditions 

Available to work shifts, weekends, holidays, nights and occasional overtime when necessary 

Available on-call 24/7, 24 hours a day with a minimum of 2 hours’ notice 

Partially performed outdoors in various types of weather and environmental conditions 

Regular exposure to dust, pollen, noise and vibrations 

Physical: lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently, and up to 70 pounds occasionally 

Climb and balance, grip handholds while working at heights of 4-8 feet (1-2 meters) off the ground 

Bend, stoop, squat, kneel, and perform overhead work 

Requirements 

High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) 

Valid driver’s licence 

Lift-truck operator certification 

Must be at least 18 years of age 

Ability to work autonomously, adapt to different situations and manage stress 

Demonstrate good teamwork and maintain positive interactions with others 

Good verbal, reading comprehension, and writing skills 

Be dedicated to meeting established standards of quality, safety, productivity and client satisfaction 

Hand-eye coordination 

Proficiency with shovels, rods and pry bars, sledgehammers, jackhammers, wrenches, hand and power drills, hand tools and technical instruments (meters) 

Ability to use heavy equipment such as a backhoe, trencher, and directional barring machine 

Proficiency in the operation of lift trucks, up to 21,000 pounds (10,000 kg) capacity 

Vocational and technical training or knowledge of Rail Operating Rules 

Training 

The incumbent receives 40 hours of paid training (classroom training and 120 hours of on-the-job training). The role must remain in the position (Spareboard) for a minimum of 3 months after hire date. 

This position is a unionized position. As such, pay and benefits are governed by the applicable collective agreement. 

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.