Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
Career Overview
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (often called heavy duty equipment technicians) repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in transportation, construction, forestry, manufacturing, farming, mining, oil, gas, material handling, landscaping and land clearing.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, heavy-duty equipment mechanics:
- Check bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy construction, agricultural, logging and mining equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment for faults and malfunctions
- Use computer diagnostic and other testing equipment to diagnose faults or malfunctions
- Adjust equipment and repair/replace bad parts, pieces or systems using hand and power tools
- Test repaired equipment for proper performance and make sure that work meets manufacturer specifications
- Clean, lubricate and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment
- Service attachments, such as harvesting and tillage equipment, blades, ploughs, winches and side booms
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics may also:
- Perform repair work on heavy trucks
- Attach components and adjust new equipment
- Prepare new equipment for customer delivery
- Overhaul engines and work on power shift transmissions, fuel injection, hydraulics or electronics
- Work on specific types of machinery, including farm equipment, such as combines or tracked vehicles
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
7,025% Employed Full Time
67%Heavy-duty equipment mechanics work for companies that own and operate, sell, rent or service heavy equipment. They may also work for airlines, mining, forestry railway transport companies and urban transit systems.
They generally work a regular 40-hour work week. Overtime and longer hours are common when working to a deadline or if repairs to a critical piece of equipment are needed. Some jobs require temporary relocation to remote work sites.
Some mechanics work outdoors at construction, mining and forestry sites, where they experience a range of weather conditions. Others may work indoors in workshops and production plants. Work sites can be dirty, dusty and noisy.
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics need to lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy, dirty parts and stand and lie in awkward positions. Working around heavy machinery poses a hazard and mechanics are trained to take safety precautions to protect themselves from injury.
People with this job should have mechanical ability and be comfortable working with small electronics and heavy, bulky mechanical linkages (for example, bulldozer tracks), since heavy equipment also involves the use of micro-processor controls and high-pressure hydraulics. They should have critical thinking, be able to troubleshoot, solve problems and have attention to detail.
Career Pathways
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics may choose to focus on specific types of machinery such as combines or tracked vehicles, or in diesel engines, power shift transmissions, fuel injection, hydraulics or electronics.
With experience, individuals may advance to senior positions, such as supervisor or service manager, or they may open their own businesses.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Completion of secondary school is generally required to work as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic.
Certification is not required to work as a heavy-duty equipment mechanic. Those who wish to be certified must complete a four-year apprenticeship program. The B.C. government is introducing skilled trades certification beginning with a total of 10 trades, including heavy-duty equipment technicians. Certification will be implemented in phases between 2022 and 2024. Learn more about skilled trades certification.
Apprenticeship programs
Work experience and in-class instruction are part of the apprenticeship programs. Some part-time and online programs may be available. To apprentice, workers must be sponsored by an employer. A person who successfully completes an apprenticeship program and the final certification exam earns a Certificate of Qualification. Workers with significant experience in the trade may be able to challenge the certification exam to earn the Certificate of Qualification without completing a formal apprenticeship. For more information on earning a Certificate of Qualification, visit SkilledTradesBC.
To work in other provinces
Heavy-duty equipment technicians may need Red Seal certification to work in other provinces. This can be earned by passing an exam and proving significant work experience.
Workers coming to B.C.
Heavy-duty equipment technicians who are certified by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information, such as a letter of good standing, references or a criminal record check.
Workers who trained outside of Canada
Heavy-duty equipment technicians who trained outside of Canada and have never received certification from a Canadian jurisdiction will likely need a full assessment. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants. Contact SkilledTradesBC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Determining the kinds of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
7,025Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 720 | 10.2% |
| Kootenay | 715 | 10.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 2,300 | 32.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 445 | 6.3% |
| Northeast | 395 | 5.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 1,235 | 17.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 1,210 | 17.2% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
2,440Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 190 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | 280 | 0.4% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 910 | 1.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 170 | 0.9% |
| Northeast | 150 | 0.9% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 430 | 0.8% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 320 | 0.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 550 |
| Wholesale Trade | 420 |
| Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction | 360 |
| Construction | 320 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 280 |
Insights from Industry
Due to the large size of this workforce, many jobs will become available due to worker turnover. Demand for heavy-duty equipment mechanics is driven by activity in a variety of industries, such as transportation, forestry, construction, mining, and oil and gas extraction. There is great opportunity for people in this career.
New technology, such as the growing use of diagnostic computers, are making the role of heavy-duty mechanics more efficient. Technology can reduce the number of workers needed to do the same amount of work in a company. As equipment becomes more complicated, heavy-duty equipment mechanics with up-to-date electronics training are in greatest demand.
With the trucking industry using new technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of diesel engines, heavy-duty equipment mechanics with skill in this area will be preferred.
Resources
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Associated Equipment Distributors – British Columbia Provincial Chapterbcaed.com
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B.C. Road Builders & Heavy Construction Associationwww.roadbuilders.bc.ca
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BC Building Tradeswww.bcbuildingtrades.org
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British Columbia Construction Association (BCCA)www.bccassn.com
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BuildForce Canadawww.buildforce.ca/en
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Canadian Home Builders' Association of British Columbia (CHBA BC) - Continuing Educationeducation.chbabc.org/home.php
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Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA)www.icba.ca
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Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC)www.mining.bc.ca
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Operating Engineers Local 115 (IUOE)www.iuoe115.ca
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Red Seal Programwww.red-seal.ca/eng/welcome.shtml
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Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP)www.stepbc.ca
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SkilledTradesBCskilledtradesbc.ca/
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Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA)vrca.ca
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a heavy-duty equipment mechanic does in a day.
Watch the video below to see what a heavy-duty equipment mechanic does in a day.
