POSITION SUMMARY

The Hydrovac Operator safely operates hydrovacuum equipment used for non-destructive excavation, daylighting and exposing underground utilities, trenching, slot excavation, potholing, spill response, material recovery, tank and pit cleanout, and related environmental and oil and gas field work throughout the Permian Basin and southeastern New Mexico. This position operates around active production facilities, pipelines, roadways, utilities, and remote field locations where careful equipment control and constant hazard awareness are required.

The operator is responsible for the safe operation and care of the hydrovac unit; completion of required vehicle and equipment inspections; proper handling, transport, and disposal of recovered materials; accurate field and DOT documentation; and coordination with supervisors, spotters, utility owners, client representatives, and other crew members. Work must comply with company procedures, client requirements, permits, and applicable safety, environmental, transportation, and disposal requirements.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Hydrovac Operation and Field Work

• Safely operate the hydrovac truck, high-pressure water system, vacuum system, boom, debris tank, hoses, valves, pumps, and related attachments within manufacturer limitations and company procedures.
• Perform daylighting, potholing, trenching, slot excavation, piling-hole excavation, utility exposure, material removal, spill cleanup, and other assigned hydrovac services.
• Use pressurized water and vacuum equipment to excavate around pipelines, flowlines, electrical lines, fiber-optic cable, wellheads, production equipment, and other sensitive infrastructure without causing damage.
• Confirm the work area, excavation limits, utility markings, required permits, safe-dig requirements, and designated spoil or disposal locations before beginning work.
• Position and stabilize the unit on firm ground; deploy outriggers, wheel chocks, cones, barricades, grounding or bonding equipment, and traffic-control devices as required.
• Control water pressure, temperature, nozzle selection, and excavation technique based on soil conditions, utility type, client requirements, and site hazards.
• Monitor tank levels, water supply, suction performance, filtration, pressure readings, boom clearance, hose condition, and surrounding activity throughout the operation.
• Coordinate continuously with the swamper or ground crew and stop operation immediately when communication is lost or an unsafe condition develops.
• Load, transport, unload, and dispose of recovered liquids, slurry, soil, and other materials only at approved locations and in accordance with manifests, profiles, or project instructions.

Commercial Driving and Transportation

• Safely drive the hydrovac unit to and from jobsites, disposal facilities, water sources, maintenance locations, and other assigned destinations.
• Complete required pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip inspections and promptly report vehicle, tank, pump, boom, hose, brake, tire, lighting, or safety-system defects.
• Comply with applicable Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements, including hours-of-service, electronic logging, vehicle inspection, cargo securement, and medical qualification requirements.
• Verify that gross vehicle weight, axle weight, tank capacity, and load distribution remain within legal and equipment limits.
• Operate defensively on highways, lease roads, congested work areas, soft shoulders, grades, and unimproved roads common to West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

Equipment Inspection and Maintenance

• Inspect the hydrovac unit before and after each shift, including engine fluids, tires, brakes, lights, alarms, mirrors, cameras, tanks, pumps, filters, hoses, fittings, valves, boom components, nozzles, emergency equipment, and spill-control supplies.
• Perform routine operator-level maintenance such as fueling, lubrication, filter cleaning, draining, flushing, winterization, debris removal, and minor adjustments within training and authorization.
• Immediately remove unsafe equipment from service and follow company procedures for repair notification and lockout or tagging when required.
• Prevent freezing, overheating, cavitation, overpressure, tank overfill, boom contact, hose damage, and other conditions that may cause injury, equipment failure, or environmental impact.

Safety and Environmental Compliance

• Comply with company safety policies, client requirements, job safety analyses, excavation permits, traffic-control plans, utility-owner requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Recognize overhead and underground utilities, high-pressure lines, unstable soil, excavations, traffic, H2S, electrical hazards, pinch points, high-pressure injection hazards, rotating equipment, changing weather, and restricted-access areas.
• Maintain required exclusion zones and safe clearances; never place personnel beneath a raised boom or near an unsecured hose, open tank, pressurized component, or moving vehicle.
• Use required personal protective equipment and comply with respiratory protection, hearing conservation, fall protection, H2S, and other site-specific programs when applicable.
• Exercise stop-work authority and immediately report incidents, near misses, spills, utility strikes, property damage, equipment damage, and unsafe conditions.
• Prevent releases during fueling, water transfer, vacuuming, transportation, unloading, and cleanout; deploy containment and respond to leaks or spills according to site procedures.
• Keep recovered materials separated and properly characterized when required, and prevent unauthorized discharge, mixing, or disposal.

Communication and Documentation

• Communicate clearly with supervisors, ground personnel, dispatch, utility representatives, client contacts, disposal facilities, and other contractors regarding work progress and changing conditions.
• Complete field tickets, daily logs, pre-trip and post-trip reports, electronic logs, water and disposal records, manifests, inspection forms, time records, and maintenance reports accurately and on time.
• Document quantities, service locations, disposal destinations, delays, equipment issues, and changes in field conditions or work scope.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Previous experience operating hydrovacuum, vacuum truck, industrial cleaning, environmental services, oil and gas, commercial vehicle, or comparable heavy equipment.
• Current commercial driver's license appropriate for the assigned vehicle and combination, with required endorsements and without disqualifying restrictions.
• Current DOT medical certification and an acceptable driving record consistent with company and insurance requirements.
• Working knowledge of commercial vehicle inspections, safe driving practices, hydrovac systems, high-pressure water hazards, vacuum equipment, and basic preventive maintenance.
• Ability to understand utility markings, permits, site maps, field instructions, safety procedures, equipment manuals, and shipping or disposal documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively, work closely with a ground crew, and follow written and verbal direction.
• Ability to pass required pre-employment and ongoing drug and alcohol testing and meet DOT and client site-access requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two or more years of hydrovac, vacuum truck, environmental field service, industrial cleaning, or oil and gas operating experience.
• CDL tanker endorsement and experience operating air-brake-equipped vehicles.
• Experience daylighting or excavating around active pipelines, utilities, production facilities, or congested oilfield locations.
• Experience transporting and disposing of liquid, slurry, impacted soil, or other regulated or profiled materials.
• Current H2S, First Aid and CPR, excavation safety, confined-space awareness, or related training. Standard Safety & Supply provides applicable position-based training as required.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Operate high-pressure water, vacuum, boom, and vehicle systems smoothly and safely while maintaining awareness of personnel, utilities, property, and changing site conditions.
• Recognize equipment malfunctions, utility conflicts, unstable ground, overloading, material-handling concerns, and other hazards before they result in injury, damage, downtime, or environmental impact.
• Use effective judgment to adjust excavation technique and equipment settings within assigned authority and promptly escalate conditions requiring supervisor or project-manager review.
• Work productively with limited supervision while meeting project scope, safety, quality, documentation, and schedule expectations.
• Maintain dependable attendance and report to work fit for duty and prepared for field conditions.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS

This is a safety-sensitive, field-based position. Work is performed primarily outdoors at oil and gas locations, utility corridors, remediation sites, roadways, construction areas, disposal facilities, and remote properties throughout the Permian Basin and southeastern New Mexico.

• Frequently enter and exit the truck; sit and drive for extended periods; use hand and foot controls; and tolerate vibration, noise, dust, fumes, odors, and rough terrain.
• Stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, climb, reach, push, pull, and maintain balance on wet, muddy, uneven, or unstable surfaces.
• Regularly handle hoses, fittings, nozzles, tools, chocks, covers, and supplies, and lift or carry items weighing up to approximately 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Work around pressurized water, vacuum systems, moving traffic, open excavations, recovered materials, and active oil and gas equipment.
• Work in heat, cold, wind, rain, blowing dust, and other weather conditions common to West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.
• Wear required personal protective equipment for the duration of the work assignment.
• Work extended shifts, overtime, nights, weekends, holidays, or on-call assignments when required by project or emergency-response needs.
• Travel to remote field locations and periodically stay overnight away from the employee's home location.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This position does not typically have direct supervisory responsibility. The operator directs hydrovac equipment movements and may provide task guidance to swampers, ground personnel, or less-experienced employees when trained and assigned.

DISCLAIMER

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions. Management may modify duties or assign additional responsibilities to meet business, client, safety, and operational needs. Employment remains subject to applicable company policies and requirements.

Standard Safety & Supply is an Equal Opportunity Employer.