Skanska USA is deploying an Equipment Manager to its Los Angeles operations. In the world of heavy civil construction, a project is only as fast as its slowest machine. This is not a traditional “fleet management” role—it is a high-stakes logistics and compliance directive. In Southern California, you are not just battling machine wear; you are fighting the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the most stringent environmental regulations in the country. If you cannot keep the iron moving while strictly adhering to regulatory codes, you will not survive a quarter here.
Operational Context & The Cost of Downtime
Heavy civil construction lives and dies by equipment availability. A broken excavator is not an inconvenience; it is a schedule delay that burns thousands of dollars per hour in lost production. At Skanska, you act as the critical link between the maintenance shop and the project superintendent. Your objective is to maximize fleet uptime, slash third-party rental expenditures, and execute the heavy-haul logistics of moving oversized loads through congested Los Angeles transit corridors.
Core Deliverables & Field Execution
- Fleet Logistics & Dispatch: Coordinate daily transportation and allocation of heavy earthmoving equipment. Dispatching a Cat 349 or a 980 loader in LA requires securing complex heavy-haul permits and pilot cars to ensure the iron reaches the site before crews stand idle at $150 per hour.
- Preventative Maintenance Strategy: Enforce rigorous PM schedules. You must possess a master-mechanic operational mindset, spotting hydraulic leaks or undercarriage wear before they become catastrophic field failures that halt $100M projects.
- CARB Compliance: Audit and guarantee fleet adherence to California Air Resources Board regulations. Off-road diesel tier compliance is your highest legal liability; a single non-compliant engine can trigger severe fines and debarment from state projects.
- Rental Vendor Management: Manage relationships and negotiate rates with external rental houses.
- CapEx Planning: Analyze equipment utilization rates and repair-versus-replace metrics.
Required Hardware & Logistics Expertise
- Industry Experience: 7+ years in heavy equipment management or as a Master Mechanic transitioning into operations management.
- Systems Fluency: Practical proficiency with telematics software (HCSS Equipment360, Viewpoint). You must utilize telematics data to track idle time and fuel burn for rigorous lifecycle analysis.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Deep understanding of CARB off-road compliance, DOT load securing, and OSHA safety standards.
- Mechanical Aptitude: Foundational knowledge of diesel mechanics, hydraulics, and diagnostics. You must have the technical authority to challenge third-party repair shops on inflated quotes.
Compensation & Field Reality
The base salary is highly competitive for the LA market, but for an Equipment Manager, your work-life balance is dictated entirely by the fleet’s operational health.
- Base Salary Range: $110,000 – $145,000 USD / Year.
- Operational Asset: Company truck or generous vehicle allowance provided. You will spend a significant portion of your week operating from this truck, traveling between the yard and active job sites.
- Career Growth: Proven pathways to Regional Director of Operations.
- Corporate Benefits: Top-tier medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, and robust PTO.
Yard Logistics & Hiring Details
- The Physical Presence Directive
- Location: Los Angeles, CA. Status: Full-Time, 100% On-Site. Equipment management is a tactile operation. You must be in the yard to inspect diesel hardware and on the job site to identify operator abuse. Expect to be localized at the facilities 5+ days a week.
- Relocation Posture
- Zero relocation assistance. Skanska requires a local operator who already commands the Los Angeles vendor network and understands the friction of Southern California’s DOT and CARB environment.
Green Flags
- Advantage: Skanska Resume Equity: Managing the iron for a global heavy civil construction titan provides elite operational credibility. Success here proves you can handle complex logistics at the highest tier of the industry.
- Advantage: Total Asset Compensation: The $110,000–$145,000 base salary is significantly augmented by the provision of a company truck, absorbing your local commuting costs, fuel, and vehicle depreciation.
Red Flags
- Warning Sign: CARB Legal Friction: California off-road emissions laws are unforgiving. You carry the burden of absolute compliance; an oversight in reporting or a failed diesel particulate filter can result in severe financial penalties and project shutdowns.
- Warning Sign: The Asphalt Grind: You will practically live in your company truck. Managing logistics between the central yard and active job sites from Long Beach to the Valley means absorbing the daily physical toll of Los Angeles traffic.
