Job Summary

We are seeking four General-Purpose Tractor Operators to manage medium-power tractor operations including amendment haulage, light field haulage, and gypsum application on our expanding sugarcane estate. You will operate 120-140 hp MFWD tractors equipped with tipping trailers, gypsum applicators, and complementary attachments. This role supports broader land preparation and development operations while maintaining equipment in optimal condition.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operate 120–140 HP MFWD agricultural tractors fitted with a tipping trailers, gypsum applicators, and other approved implements to support land preparation, soil amendment application, material haulage, and general estate development activities.

2. Tow a tipping trailers fitted with flotation tires across soft, uneven, muddy, and partially formed fields to transport gypsum, filter mud, cleared brush, soil, and other approved materials, while maintaining safe and efficient loading, transportation, tipping, and return cycles.

3. Operate a gypsum applicator while to achieve the planned application rate, ensuring accurate calibration, consistent material flow, and uniform field coverage as instructed by your superior(s).

4. Adjust tractor speed, gear selection, applicator settings, material flow, and other operating parameters according to the prescribed gypsum application rate, soil conditions, terrain, moisture levels, and agronomic requirements.

5. Coordinate with Agronomy, Land Development, Logistics, loaders, excavator operators, and other tractor operators to ensure timely movement and application of materials and uninterrupted support to active field operations.

6. Support fleet productivity by undertaking haulage and amendment application duties, allowing higher-horsepower tractors to remain focused on primary land preparation and cultivation activities.

7. Conduct comprehensive pre-start inspections of the tractor, trailer, gypsum applicator, PTO, hydraulic systems, tires, brakes, hitching equipment, lighting, and other safety-critical components before commencing operations.

8. Safely couple and uncouple trailers and implements, ensuring correct hitching, hydraulic and PTO connections, brake lines, safety chains, implement security, and appropriate load distribution.

9. Operate safely on soft and partially prepared ground, applying appropriate speed, gear, braking, turning, and traction techniques to minimize rutting, soil compaction, trailer instability, and equipment damage.

10. Monitor trailer loads and ensure materials are transported within approved equipment capacities and safe operating limits, exercising particular caution when reversing, tipping, turning, negotiating slopes, or operating near other machinery and personnel.

11. Monitor tractor, trailer, and applicator performance throughout operations and promptly identify and report hydraulic, PTO, braking, tire, trailer, engine, or implement defects to the maintenance team.

12. Maintain appropriate equipment-care practices, including cleaning and inspecting machinery after handling gypsum and other soil amendments to minimize material accumulation, corrosion, and premature equipment deterioration.

13. Monitor fuel consumption, operating hours, field productivity, and equipment utilization and adopt efficient operating practices to maximize output while minimizing unnecessary fuel consumption, tire wear, and machine downtime.

14. Maintain accurate daily operation records covering hectares completed, material transported, haulage trips/cycles, gypsum application rates, operating hours, fuel consumption, field conditions, equipment adjustments, breakdowns, delays, and safety incidents.

15. Communicate promptly with the Equipment Operations Supervisor regarding equipment performance, field conditions, operational delays, maintenance requirements, and any risks affecting productivity or safety.

16. Participate in toolbox talks, equipment inspections, safety briefings, and other operational activities as required.

17. Comply fully with company HSE procedures, traffic management requirements, machinery operating standards, and safe working practices.

18. Perform any other tractor operation, haulage, soil amendment application, or related field duties assigned by the Supervisor.

Required Qualifications

1. NTSA class G12 Valid heavy agricultural equipment operator license.

2. Minimum three (3) years' hands-on experience operating agricultural tractors, preferably 120 HP or above.

3. Demonstrated experience towing heavy agricultural or tipping trailers in commercial farming, plantation, quarry, earthworks, or similar field environments.

4. Demonstrated ability to operate tractors safely on soft, uneven, muddy, and partially prepared terrain.

5. Experience operating gypsum, fertilizer, lime, manure, or other soil amendment applicators will be an added advantage.

6. Experience in large-scale commercial agriculture, sugarcane production, plantation development, or land development will be an added advantage.

Technical Knowledge & Skills

1. Understand tractor mechanics, safe towing procedures, trailer braking systems, and weight distribution principles.

2. Proficiency with implement PTO systems is required.

3. You should possess basic knowledge of soil amendments, application rates, and the relationship between amendment application and soil improvement.

4. Understanding of flotation tire advantages in soft ground is important for safe operation on partially prepared fields.