FEATURE
HIRING A SWEEPER MACHINE OPERATOR
Getting the best qualities and skills
By Jeff Winke
O perating a sweeper machine requires a special set of skills , experience , and qualities . In today ’ s world , street sweepers come in all flavors . There are all electric , plug-in electric , mechanical , regenerative air , and vacuum sweepers , so it ’ s not simply a matter of hopping into the cab of a pick-up . “ When hiring a sweeper machine operator , you need to look for a clean DMV record and a minimum of five years driving experience ,” stated Raymond Massey , central regional sales manager at Schwarze Industries , LLC , Huntsville , Alabama . “ The candidate also needs to be able to work independently , have good communication skills , and must be dependable and able to follow company policy . They should also possess basic mechanical skills and must be very flexible … able to adjust a schedule to a customer ’ s needs on a daily basis .”
Massey continued : “ You want a heavy equipment operator , not a dump truck driver , so they can be trained to meet the daily needs of customers and someone who can take on particular routes . You want them to adopt a sense of ownership by being able to maintain daily preventive maintenance requirements on each unit they operate , including a willingness to wash the sweepers , change filters , lubricate grease points , etc .” With sweeper technology changing and evolving , it also helps if the sweeper operator is comfortable with apps found on smart phones , since some machines can receive software updates and enhancements , just like an app or a smart phone update . “ It is important to know about your fleet and your sweeper ’ s or sweepers ’ requirements before even addressing hiring an operator ,” stated Cindy Meshenky , marketing brand manager at Elgin
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