National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0

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72401 - Heavy-duty equipment mechanics

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in construction, transportation, forestry, mining, oil and gas, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, farming and similar activities. They are employed by companies which own and operate heavy equipment, and by heavy equipment dealers, rental and service establishments, railway transport companies and urban transit systems. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • agricultural equipment technician
    • construction equipment mechanic
    • diesel mechanic - heavy equipment
    • farm equipment mechanic
    • heavy equipment mechanic
    • heavy mobile logging equipment mechanic
    • heavy mobile mining equipment mechanic
    • heavy-duty equipment mechanic apprentice
    • heavy-duty equipment technician
    • locomotive mechanic
    • tractor mechanic

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (See 72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics)
    • Heavy equipment mechanics supervisor (See 72020 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades)
    • Motor vehicle diesel engine mechanic (See 72410 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers)
  • Main duties

    This group performs some or all of the following duties:

    • Check bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy construction, agricultural, logging and mining equipment for proper performance and inspect equipment to detect faults and malfunctions
    • Diagnose faults or malfunctions using computerized and other testing equipment to determine extent of repair required
    • Adjust equipment and repair or replace defective parts, components or systems, using hand and power tools
    • Test repaired equipment for proper performance and to ensure that work meets manufacturers' specifications
    • Clean, lubricate and perform other routine maintenance work on equipment
    • Service attachments and working tools such as harvesting and tillage equipment, blades, ploughs, winches and side booms
    • May perform repair work on heavy trucks
    • May attach components and adjust new farm equipment.

    Heavy-duty mechanics may specialize in specific types of machinery such as combines or tracked vehicles, or in engine overhaul, power shift transmissions, fuel injection, hydraulics or electronics.

  • Employment requirements

    • Completion of secondary school and training courses or a vocational program is usually required.
    • Completion of a three- to five-year apprenticeship program
      or
      A combination of over four years of work experience and industry courses in heavy equipment repair is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
    • Heavy-duty equipment technician trade certification is compulsory in Quebec (only in the construction industry) and Alberta and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and the territories.
    • Agricultural equipment technician trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
    • Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified heavy duty equipment technicians and agricultural equipment technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
  • Additional information

    • The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
    • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
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