Automotive Loader Operator

LKQ•Albuquerque, NM

1d•Onsite

About The Position

LKQ Corporation is seeking a motivated Automotive Loader Operator to join their team. This role involves safely and responsibly operating heavy equipment to move salvage vehicles through various operational phases, maintaining facility grounds, and performing snow removal. The operator will also ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, support dismantling and yard operations, and update inventory systems using scan guns and tablets. Key responsibilities include performing pre-operational inspections, operating equipment such as wheel loaders, car crushers, skid loaders, backhoes, and forklifts, and communicating findings to management. The position requires prioritizing workload, using specialized forks and buckets for vehicle handling and ground maintenance, assisting with quality assurance of dismantled vehicles, and processing/crushing end-of-life vehicles. Additionally, the operator will help ensure facility safety and regulation compliance, maintain vehicle location accuracy, and perform dispatch-assigned tasks like location and part checks.

Requirements

1+ years of experience
Must have heavy equipment operations experience
Some automotive background
Must possess basic technology competence (scan gun, tablet/phone applications)
Must have good oral and written communication skills
Must possess the ability to stay calm, cool and collected in a high-pressure fast-paced work environment
Must be a smooth operator and work well with others
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
Basic computer skills
Basic messages communicated orally
May write brief messages and keep simple records
Problems encountered are routine, somewhat repetitive and generally solved by following clear directions and procedures
Decisions generally affect own job or assigned functional area
Results are defined; sets personal own goals and determines how to achieve results with few or no guidelines to follow; supervisor/manager provides broad guidance and overall direction
Handle multiple tasks or projects simultaneously with moderate complexity
Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds

Nice To Haves

High School Diploma/GED
Previous heavy equipment operation
Some computer skills
General maintenance and understanding of mechanical equipment
Understanding of automotive components and disassembly
Experience in rigging/lifting operations a plus

Responsibilities

Operate equipment safely and responsibly to move salvage vehicles through all phases of the operation
Maintain facility grounds and perform snow removal
Help ensure compliance with all federal, state and local regulations
Support dismantling and yard operations
Use scan gun and tablet/phone to update the inventory system on the location of vehicles
Help ensure fulfillment of daily work orders
Communicate written and verbally with management and other team members
Perform pre-operational inspections to ensure equipment is safe for work
Operate equipment safely and courteously in work areas with pedestrians and other vehicle traffic
Check fluids each day equipment is used and lubricate equipment at recommended intervals
Communicate any findings and equipment hours to management
Prioritize and plan workload to prevent delays to operations
Use long and short auto salvage forks on the wheel loader to unload car haulers and stage upcoming cars for inventory, dismantling and cuts
Use bucket to remove snow, spread stone and maintain grounds such as access roads, water drainage, vehicle holding areas and salvage yard
Assist with regulation compliance and quality assurance of dismantled vehicles before unloading from bay and placing in the salvage yard
Load dismantle bays with unprocessed cars
Process and crush vehicles that have reached their useful life and load onto scrap haulers for final disposal
Assist with safety and regulation compliance for the facility in general
Maintain location accuracy and integrity of vehicles placed in the yard
Perform tasks assigned by dispatch which may include: location checks, part checks, part pulls, etc.
Communicate delays and problems promptly with management and affected coworkers
Assume other duties as assigned