Labourer / Equipment Operator / Heavy Equipment Operator

CN is home to opportunities for skilled tradespeople who are interested in continually learning and building a career in a safety-focused, team environment. Working on state-of-the-art equipment and train cars that carry freight from coast-to-coast-to-coast, you’ll feel proud knowing you’re a part of what makes the economy work. And with paid training, you’ll be able to evolve your skills. At CN, the careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join 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.

At CN, we are dedicated to building North America’s safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented groups often don’t apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. Even if you don’t see yourself in every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please reach out to our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.

As an equal employment opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. Please monitor your email on a regular basis, as communication is primarily made through email.