National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2016 Version 1.1

7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

These occupations include trades supervisors and contractors, construction and mechanical tradespersons, operators of transportation and heavy equipment and trades helpers. These occupations are found in a wide range of industrial sectors, with many in the construction and transportation industries.

This category includes most of the apprenticeable trades, including all those related to the construction industry. Other occupations in this category usually require completion of college or vocational education programs combined with on-the-job training. Helpers obtain training on the job site. Progression to supervisory positions or self-employed contractor status is possible with experience. There is limited mobility or transferability of skills among occupations in this category due to specific apprenticeship, training and licensing requirements for most occupations.

75 - Transport and heavy equipment operation and related maintenance occupations

This major group comprises occupations in transport and heavy equipment operation and related maintenance which usually require completion of secondary school and a licence or certification. It includes motor vehicle and transit drivers, heavy equipment operators, other transport equipment operators and related maintenance workers.

753 - Other transport equipment operators and related maintenance workers

This minor group includes railway yard and track maintenance workers; water transport deck and engine room crew; boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations; air transport ramp attendants; and other automotive mechanical installers and servicers. They are employed by railway and marine transport companies; the federal government; cable ferry companies, ferry terminals, marine companies and canal, port and harbour authorities; airline and air services companies; automobile and truck service and repair shops; service departments of industrial establishments; and construction, mining and logging companies; or they may be self-employed.

7531 - Railway yard and track maintenance workers

Railway yard workers regulate yard traffic, couple and uncouple trains and perform related yard activities. Railway track maintenance workers operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks. They are employed by railway transport companies.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • ballast regulator operator - railway
  • car controller - railway
  • control tower operator - railway
  • machine operator - railway
  • rail saw operator
  • railway equipment operator
  • railway track patroller
  • railway trackman/woman
  • section worker - railway
  • signal tower operator - railway
  • spike machine operator - railway
  • switch tender - railway yard
  • tie tamper operator - railway
  • towerman/woman - railway transport
  • yard coupler - railway
  • yard worker - railway

  All examples

• Inclusion(s)

  • motor vehicle operator - pole yard

• Exclusion(s)

  • Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews (See 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews)
  • Railway and motor transport labourers (See 7622 Railway and motor transport labourers)
  • Railway conductors and brakemen/women (See 7362 Railway conductors and brakemen/women)
  • Supervisors of railway yard and track maintenance workers (See 7304 Supervisors, railway transport operations)

• Main duties

  Railway yard and track maintenance workers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate control panel switches from railway yard tower to set traffic signals and to activate train switches that regulate railway traffic in railway yards
  • Operate car retarders, turntables and track switches to align locomotives and cars as required for coupling, uncoupling or servicing
  • Operate machines and equipment to lay, maintain and repair railway tracks, align tracks, transfer, spread, level and tamp ballast around ties and rails and to clear snow from tracks
  • Switch cars according to instructions which indicate the location, disposition and number of cars
  • Lubricate moving parts of railway cars and locomotives
  • Clean and make minor repairs to machines and equipment
  • Patrol assigned track sections to identify and report damaged or broken track
  • Perform other track maintenance duties as directed.

• Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • Experience as a railway labourer is required.
  • On the job training is provided
  • Railway yard workers require a Canadian Rail Operating Rules certificate.

• Additional information

  • Progression to a position such as brakeman is possible with experience.

7532 - Water transport deck and engine room crew

Workers in this unit group stand watch, operate and maintain deck equipment, perform other deck and bridge duties and assist ship engineer officers to operate, maintain and repair engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment aboard ships or self-propelled vessels. They are employed by marine transportation companies and federal government departments.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • able seaman/woman (except armed forces)
  • boatswain - water transport
  • deckhand
  • engine room crew member - ship
  • helmsman/woman - water transport
  • marine engine oiler
  • marine engineering mechanic
  • ship stoker
  • ship tunnel operator

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Deck officers, water transport (See 2273 Deck officers, water transport)
  • Engineer officers, water transport (See 2274 Engineer officers, water transport)
  • Fishing vessel deckhands (See 8441 Fishing vessel deckhands)

• Main duties

  Workers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Stand watch and steer ship or self-propelled vessel under the direction of the officer on watch
  • Operate, maintain and repair deck equipment such as winches, cranes, derricks and hawsers
  • Assist ship engineer officers in performing routine maintenance work and repair to ship's engine, machinery and auxiliary equipment
  • Monitor engine, machinery and equipment indicators, record variables and report abnormalities to ship engineer officer on watch
  • Lubricate moving parts of engines, machinery and auxiliary equipment
  • Operate and maintain off-loading liquid pumps and valves
  • Clean engine parts and keep engine room clean
  • Clean, chip and paint deck surfaces
  • Handle mooring lines, and splice and repair ropes, wire cables and cordage.

• Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is required.
  • On-the-job training is provided.

• Additional information

  • Training and testing for various endorsements and certification, including the Marine Emergency Duty (MED) certificate, occur following employment as a deck crew member.
  • Senior positions in this unit group, such as able seaman/woman, require experience.
  • Progression to deck or ship engineer officer positions is possible with experience, additional training and deck officer certification by Transport Canada.

7533 - Boat and cable ferry operators and related occupations

This unit group includes workers who operate lock gates, bridges and similar equipment along canal systems and workers who operate cable ferries and ferry terminals. This group also includes boat operators, and owner-operators, who operate small motorboats or watercraft to transport passengers or freight. Workers in this group are employed by the federal government, cable ferry companies, ferry terminals, marine companies and canal, port or harbour authorities. Owner-operators of small boats are self-employed.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • bridgemaster
  • cable ferry operator
  • canal lock operator
  • charter boat operator
  • ferry terminal worker
  • launch master
  • linesman/woman - canal lock system
  • loading bridge operator
  • lockmaster
  • motorboat operator
  • scow captain
  • sightseeing boat operator
  • small craft operator
  • water taxi operator

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Deck officers, water transport (See 2273 Deck officers, water transport)
  • Water transport deck and engine room crew (See 7532 Water transport deck and engine room crew)

• Main duties

  Lock equipment operators perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate telecommunication equipment or use portable loudspeakers to direct movements of vessels in lock area
  • Operate controls to open or close lock gates
  • Operate controls to raise, lower or turn bridges
  • Observe progress of vessels passing through locks.

  Cable ferry operators perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Signal passengers and motor vehicles to embark and disembark
  • Operate cable ferry across narrow waterway
  • Perform routine maintenance and repairs to engine, cables and winches.

  Ferry terminal workers perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate controls to adjust landing bridge, position or remove gangplank, open or close doors and gates, and secure or remove docking devices
  • Signal passengers and motor vehicles to embark and disembark
  • May collect tickets or fares from passengers.

  Boat operators perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate motorboats, launches, small ferry boats and other similar vessels to transport passengers or freight
  • Maintain boats and equipment on board, such as engines, winches, derricks, fire extinguishers and life preservers
  • May perform other duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports and harbours, patrolling beaches and measuring depth of water.

• Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school education is usually required.
  • On-the-job training is provided.
  • Master of a Small Craft or Master of a Small Passenger Craft certificate, issued by Transport Canada, is required for boat operators.

• Additional information

  • There is little or no mobility among lock equipment operators, cable ferry operators and ferry terminal workers.
  • Mobility between boat operators in this unit group is possible.
  • Progression from boat operator positions to deck officer positions is possible with additional training, experience and certification.

7534 - Air transport ramp attendants

Air transport ramp attendants operate ramp-servicing vehicles and equipment, handle cargo and baggage and perform other ground support duties at airports. They are employed by airline and air services companies and the federal government.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • aircraft groomer
  • airport ramp attendant
  • cargo attendant - air transport
  • ramp agent - air transport
  • ramp attendant - air transport
  • station attendant - air transport

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Airline load planners (See 6523 Airline ticket and service agents)
  • Material handlers (See 7452 Material handlers)

• Main duties

  Air transport ramp attendants perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Drive and operate ramp-servicing vehicles and equipment such as towing tractors, food service trucks, de-icer sprayers and lavatory servicing trucks
  • Position passenger loading stairs and operate aircraft cargo doors
  • Marshal or tow aircrafts to gate positions for passenger boarding and deplaning and for loading and unloading of cargo
  • Sort and load cargo and passenger baggage according to instructions forwarded by load planner to achieve proper balance
  • Unload, sort and route cargo and baggage
  • Transport freight between aircraft and airport warehouse
  • Clean and prepare aircraft interior for passengers and wash aircraft exterior.

• Employment requirements

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required.
  • Experience operating baggage transporting equipment or warehouse experience may be required.
  • A driver's licence and a good driving record are usually required.

• Additional information

  • There is mobility among jobs in this unit group.

7535 - Other automotive mechanical installers and servicers

Workers in this group install replacement automotive mechanical parts such as mufflers, exhaust pipes, shock absorbers, springs and radiators and perform routine maintenance service such as oil changes, lubrication and tire repairs on automobiles, trucks and heavy equipment. They are employed by automobile and truck service and repair shops, service departments of industrial establishments and construction, mining and logging companies.

• Illustrative example(s)

  • crane greaser
  • heavy equipment servicer
  • muffler installer
  • radiator installer - auto repair service
  • shock absorber installer
  • spring installer
  • tire repairer

  All examples

• Exclusion(s)

  • Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers (See 7321 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers)
  • Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (See 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics)
  • Supervisors of workers in this unit group (See 7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades)

• Main duties

  Automotive mechanical installers and servicers in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Change engine oil and lubricate running gears or moving parts of automobiles, trucks and heavy equipment
  • Grease booms, pulleys, buckets and other components of heavy equipment
  • Replace oil, air and fuel filters on motor vehicles, trucks and heavy equipment
  • Install replacement mufflers, exhaust pipes, shock absorbers or radiators on motor vehicles, trucks and heavy equipment
  • Repair and balance tires
  • Add or replace hydraulic and transmission fluids in motor vehicles, trucks and heavy equipment
  • Assist mechanics and perform other duties as directed
  • Drive automobile or service truck to location of construction, logging or other industrial sites to provide services.

• Employment requirements

  • Some secondary school may be required.
  • Several months of on-the-job training are usually required.

• Additional information

  • There is some mobility among installers and servicers in this unit group.
  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.