Green Card Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs
Heavy Equipment Operator green card sponsorship follows the EB-3 skilled worker path: your employer files PERM labor certification with DOL, then submits an I-140 petition with USCIS, leading to lawful permanent residence. Construction, mining, and infrastructure employers sponsor foreign operators with documented CDL credentials and equipment certifications.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary: The Operator – Heavy Equipment is responsible for the safe operation of heavy equipment at a recycling center, landfill or transfer station for the purpose of transferring, spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in an efficient and safe manner.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform pre- and post-operation inspection of the equipment in accordance with Company policy to ensure windows, lights, mirrors and rear view camera are clean. Safely and efficiently operate equipment that may include: forklift, excavator, bulldozer, front-end loader and other equipment using proper safety standards.
- Continuously monitor waste for evidence of unacceptable waste in materials.
- Continuously monitor the condition of the equipment to ensure it is operationally ready at all times to minimize down time; clean tracks or wheels on equipment, as needed.
- Perform and document minor service on equipment, referring more complicated mechanical issues to Maintenance Shop for repair.
- Complete Equipment Condition Report and other reports, as necessary; report any necessary repairs to supervisor, as needed.
- Follow all required safety policies and procedures.
- Ensure that shop is clean, serviced and stored at the completion of each shift.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Good customer services skills to meet and exceed customer expectations; acts in a professional, courteous and cooperative manner toward customers and co-workers; works with a sense of honesty and trustworthiness.
- Good time management skills to ensure assigned responsibilities are completed in an efficient and safe manner.
- Good follow through ability; ability to adhere to work schedule and follows through on challenges as they arise.
- Ability to adhere to Company policies and rules set forth; promotes the Company’s safety standards; does not take inappropriate risks.
- Maintains a feeling of pride in work; strives to achieve all goals.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Two years of prior related experience in heavy equipment operation.
- One year of prior experience working at sites regulated by OSHA.
Rewarding Compensation and Benefits
Eligible employees can elect to participate in:
- Comprehensive medical benefits coverage, dental plans and vision coverage.
- Health care and dependent care spending accounts.
- Short- and long-term disability.
- Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP).
- Employee discount programs.
- Retirement plan with a generous company match.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
The statements used herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee in this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required by an incumbent so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company.
EEO STATEMENT: Republic Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association with a protected veteran (spouses or other family members), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. For any concerns relating to Republic Services’ commitment to equal opportunity employment, you may contact the AWARE Line at 1-866-3-AWARE-4.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is a leader in the environmental services industry. We provide customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Our industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on our vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.
In 2025, Republic’s total company revenue was $16.6 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $5.3 billion. We serve 13 million customers and operate more than 1,000 locations, including collection and transfer stations, recycling and polymer centers, treatment facilities, and landfills.
Although we operate across North America, the collection, recycling, treatment, or disposal of materials is a local business, and the dynamics and opportunities differ in each market we serve. By combining local operational management with standardized business practices, we drive greater operating efficiencies across the company while maintaining day-to-day operational decisions at the local level, closest to the customer.
Our customers, including small businesses, major corporations and municipalities, want a partner with the expertise and capabilities to effectively manage their multiple recycling and waste streams. They choose Republic Services because we are committed to exceeding their expectations and helping them achieve their sustainability goals. Our 42,000 team members understand that it's not just what we do that matters, but how we do it.
Our company values guide our daily actions:
- Safe: We protect the livelihoods of our colleagues and communities.
- Committed to Serve: We go above and beyond to exceed our customers’ expectations.
- Environmentally Responsible: We take action to improve our environment.
- Driven: We deliver results in the right way.
- Human-Centered: We respect the dignity and unique potential of every person.
We are proud of our high employee engagement score of 86. We have an inclusive and diverse culture where every voice counts. In addition, our team positively impacted 5.1 million people in 2024 through the Republic Services Charitable Foundation and local community grants. These projects are designed to meet the specific needs of the communities we serve, with a focus on building sustainable neighborhoods.
STRATEGY
Republic Services’ strategy is designed to generate profitable growth. Through acquisitions and industry advancements, we safely and sustainably manage our customers’ multiple waste streams through a North American footprint of vertically integrated assets.
We focus on three areas of growth to meet the increasing needs of our customers: recycling and waste, environmental solutions and sustainability innovation.
With our integrated approach, strengthening our position in one area advances other areas of our business. For example, as we grow volume in recycling and waste, we collect additional material to bolster our circularity capabilities. And as we expand environmental solutions, we drive additional opportunities to provide these services to our existing recycling and waste customers.
Recycling and Waste
We continue to expand our recycling and waste business footprint throughout North America through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The 13 million customers we serve and our more than 5 million pick-ups per day provide us with a distinct advantage. We aggregate materials at scale, unlocking new opportunities for advanced recycling. In addition, we are cross-selling new products and services to better meet our customers’ specific needs.
Environmental Solutions
Our comprehensive environmental solutions capabilities help customers safely manage their most technical waste streams. We are expanding both our capabilities and our geographic footprint. We see strong growth opportunities for our offerings, including PFAS remediation, an increasing customer need.
Sustainability Innovation
Republic’s recent innovations to advance circularity and decarbonization demonstrate our unique ability to leverage sustainability as a platform for growth.
The Republic Services Polymer Center is the nation’s first integrated plastics recycling facility. These innovative sites process rigid plastics from our recycling centers, producing recycled materials that promote true bottle-to-bottle circularity. We also formed Blue Polymers, a joint venture with Ravago, to develop facilities that will further process plastic material from our Polymer Centers to help meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging. We are building a network of Polymer Centers and Blue Polymer facilities across North America.
Our customers are increasingly looking for decarbonization solutions, and we are leveraging our network of landfills to meet that need. Republic is committed to harnessing landfill gas, a natural byproduct of decomposing waste, and converting it to energy. Republic has partnered with renewable gas developers to construct Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plants at our landfills, expanding beyond the 77 projects we currently have to make progress towards our goal to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas by 2030 (2017 baseline year).
RECENT RECOGNITION
- Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies
- CDP Discloser
- Dow Jones Best-In-Class Indices
- Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies
- Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies
- Great Place to Work
- Sustainability Yearbook S&P Global
Position Summary: The Operator – Heavy Equipment is responsible for the safe operation of heavy equipment at a recycling center, landfill or transfer station for the purpose of transferring, spreading, covering, loading and/or compacting waste or soil in an efficient and safe manner.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Perform pre- and post-operation inspection of the equipment in accordance with Company policy to ensure windows, lights, mirrors and rear view camera are clean. Safely and efficiently operate equipment that may include: forklift, excavator, bulldozer, front-end loader and other equipment using proper safety standards.
- Continuously monitor waste for evidence of unacceptable waste in materials.
- Continuously monitor the condition of the equipment to ensure it is operationally ready at all times to minimize down time; clean tracks or wheels on equipment, as needed.
- Perform and document minor service on equipment, referring more complicated mechanical issues to Maintenance Shop for repair.
- Complete Equipment Condition Report and other reports, as necessary; report any necessary repairs to supervisor, as needed.
- Follow all required safety policies and procedures.
- Ensure that shop is clean, serviced and stored at the completion of each shift.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Good customer services skills to meet and exceed customer expectations; acts in a professional, courteous and cooperative manner toward customers and co-workers; works with a sense of honesty and trustworthiness.
- Good time management skills to ensure assigned responsibilities are completed in an efficient and safe manner.
- Good follow through ability; ability to adhere to work schedule and follows through on challenges as they arise.
- Ability to adhere to Company policies and rules set forth; promotes the Company’s safety standards; does not take inappropriate risks.
- Maintains a feeling of pride in work; strives to achieve all goals.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
- Two years of prior related experience in heavy equipment operation.
- One year of prior experience working at sites regulated by OSHA.
Rewarding Compensation and Benefits
Eligible employees can elect to participate in:
- Comprehensive medical benefits coverage, dental plans and vision coverage.
- Health care and dependent care spending accounts.
- Short- and long-term disability.
- Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment insurance.
- Employee and Family Assistance Program (EAP).
- Employee discount programs.
- Retirement plan with a generous company match.
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
The statements used herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by an employee in this position, and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties and skills required by an incumbent so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the Company.
EEO STATEMENT: Republic Services is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, relationship or association with a protected veteran (spouses or other family members), genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. For any concerns relating to Republic Services’ commitment to equal opportunity employment, you may contact the AWARE Line at 1-866-3-AWARE-4.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is a leader in the environmental services industry. We provide customers with the most complete set of products and services, including recycling, waste, special waste, hazardous waste and field services. Our industry-leading commitments to advance circularity and support decarbonization are helping deliver on our vision to partner with customers to create a more sustainable world.
In 2025, Republic’s total company revenue was $16.6 billion, and adjusted EBITDA was $5.3 billion. We serve 13 million customers and operate more than 1,000 locations, including collection and transfer stations, recycling and polymer centers, treatment facilities, and landfills.
Although we operate across North America, the collection, recycling, treatment, or disposal of materials is a local business, and the dynamics and opportunities differ in each market we serve. By combining local operational management with standardized business practices, we drive greater operating efficiencies across the company while maintaining day-to-day operational decisions at the local level, closest to the customer.
Our customers, including small businesses, major corporations and municipalities, want a partner with the expertise and capabilities to effectively manage their multiple recycling and waste streams. They choose Republic Services because we are committed to exceeding their expectations and helping them achieve their sustainability goals. Our 42,000 team members understand that it's not just what we do that matters, but how we do it.
Our company values guide our daily actions:
- Safe: We protect the livelihoods of our colleagues and communities.
- Committed to Serve: We go above and beyond to exceed our customers’ expectations.
- Environmentally Responsible: We take action to improve our environment.
- Driven: We deliver results in the right way.
- Human-Centered: We respect the dignity and unique potential of every person.
We are proud of our high employee engagement score of 86. We have an inclusive and diverse culture where every voice counts. In addition, our team positively impacted 5.1 million people in 2024 through the Republic Services Charitable Foundation and local community grants. These projects are designed to meet the specific needs of the communities we serve, with a focus on building sustainable neighborhoods.
STRATEGY
Republic Services’ strategy is designed to generate profitable growth. Through acquisitions and industry advancements, we safely and sustainably manage our customers’ multiple waste streams through a North American footprint of vertically integrated assets.
We focus on three areas of growth to meet the increasing needs of our customers: recycling and waste, environmental solutions and sustainability innovation.
With our integrated approach, strengthening our position in one area advances other areas of our business. For example, as we grow volume in recycling and waste, we collect additional material to bolster our circularity capabilities. And as we expand environmental solutions, we drive additional opportunities to provide these services to our existing recycling and waste customers.
Recycling and Waste
We continue to expand our recycling and waste business footprint throughout North America through organic growth and targeted acquisitions. The 13 million customers we serve and our more than 5 million pick-ups per day provide us with a distinct advantage. We aggregate materials at scale, unlocking new opportunities for advanced recycling. In addition, we are cross-selling new products and services to better meet our customers’ specific needs.
Environmental Solutions
Our comprehensive environmental solutions capabilities help customers safely manage their most technical waste streams. We are expanding both our capabilities and our geographic footprint. We see strong growth opportunities for our offerings, including PFAS remediation, an increasing customer need.
Sustainability Innovation
Republic’s recent innovations to advance circularity and decarbonization demonstrate our unique ability to leverage sustainability as a platform for growth.
The Republic Services Polymer Center is the nation’s first integrated plastics recycling facility. These innovative sites process rigid plastics from our recycling centers, producing recycled materials that promote true bottle-to-bottle circularity. We also formed Blue Polymers, a joint venture with Ravago, to develop facilities that will further process plastic material from our Polymer Centers to help meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging. We are building a network of Polymer Centers and Blue Polymer facilities across North America.
Our customers are increasingly looking for decarbonization solutions, and we are leveraging our network of landfills to meet that need. Republic is committed to harnessing landfill gas, a natural byproduct of decomposing waste, and converting it to energy. Republic has partnered with renewable gas developers to construct Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) plants at our landfills, expanding beyond the 77 projects we currently have to make progress towards our goal to beneficially reuse 50% more biogas by 2030 (2017 baseline year).
RECENT RECOGNITION
- Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies
- CDP Discloser
- Dow Jones Best-In-Class Indices
- Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies
- Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies
- Great Place to Work
- Sustainability Yearbook S&P Global
See all 91+ Green Card Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Green Card Heavy Equipment Operator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Heavy Equipment Operator
Document every equipment certification you hold
PERM labor certification requires your employer to prove you meet the job's minimum requirements. Compile your CDL class, crane or excavator operator certifications, and OSHA safety cards before any sponsor begins the recruitment test.
Target infrastructure and civil construction contractors
Federal highway, transit, and utility contractors regularly file EB-3 PERM cases for heavy equipment operators. These employers have dedicated HR teams that understand multi-year sponsorship timelines and can sustain the PERM recruitment and filing process.
Search Migrate Mate for verified green card sponsors
Find heavy equipment operator roles at employers with active green card sponsorship history by searching Migrate Mate. The platform surfaces construction and infrastructure companies that have filed employment-based petitions, so you're not guessing at willingness to sponsor.
Understand how prevailing wage shapes your offer
Your employer must pay the DOL-determined prevailing wage for your occupation and location before PERM is filed. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the wage level for your specific equipment type and metro area before accepting an offer.
File I-485 promptly once your priority date is current
Per-country backlogs mean nationals from India and China can wait years before their EB-3 priority date becomes current. Once USCIS publishes a current date for your country, file your I-485 adjustment of status application without delay.
Know your AC21 portability rights before switching employers
If your I-485 has been pending 180 days or more, AC21 portability lets you change to a new employer in the same or similar occupation without losing your place in line. Confirm your O*NET SOC code matches the new role before making a move.
Green Card Heavy Equipment Operator: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a foreign heavy equipment operator qualify for EB-2 or EB-3 green card sponsorship?
Most heavy equipment operators qualify under EB-3 as skilled workers, since the role typically requires at least two years of training or experience rather than an advanced degree. EB-2 is available if the position genuinely requires an advanced degree or the candidate has a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience in a supervisory or specialized equipment capacity.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for this role?
Green card sponsorship through PERM leads to lawful permanent residence, not a temporary status. Your employer files PERM labor certification with DOL, proving no qualified U.S. worker is available, then submits an I-140 petition with USCIS. There is no lottery, but per-country annual limits mean nationals from high-demand countries can face priority-date backlogs before their I-485 can be filed. H-1B visa, by contrast, is a temporary visa requiring annual renewals and a lottery for most applicants, and heavy equipment operator roles rarely qualify as specialty occupations under H-1B standards.
What does the PERM recruitment process look like for a heavy equipment operator position?
Before filing PERM with DOL, your sponsoring employer must conduct a good-faith recruitment test to demonstrate no minimally qualified U.S. worker is available. This includes mandatory job postings, often in a Sunday newspaper, on DOL's job bank, and through additional steps. The employer documents every applicant and reason for rejection, then submits the PERM application. The prevailing wage determination must be completed first.
Where can I find employers who sponsor green cards for heavy equipment operators?
Migrate Mate lists construction, mining, and infrastructure employers with verified employment-based sponsorship history, so you can focus your search on companies that have already navigated the PERM and I-140 process for similar roles. Applying to employers with a track record of green card sponsorship significantly reduces the risk of pursuing a position only to find the company is unwilling or unable to file.
Can I change employers after my green card case is filed?
Yes, under AC21 portability, once your I-485 has been pending for 180 days or more you can change to a new employer in the same or a similar occupation without losing your priority date or place in the queue. If you switch before the 180-day mark, the new employer must restart the PERM and I-140 process, though an already-approved I-140 priority date can often be carried over to the new petition.