Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics work on industrial and construction vehicles, such as mining trucks and bulldozers; on heavy equipment used in construction, forestry, materials handling, landscaping, and land clearing; as well as on buses and large trucks. Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic is a nationally designated trade under the Inter-provincial Red Seal program. (Find out about Red Seal in the Trades Lingo section.)

What do these workers do?
(Source: BC Work Futures)

Service and make reports on the condition of heavy equipment. Expensive heavy equipment must be carefully maintained. Maintenance includes a regular service cycle to replace parts, filters and fluids. Inspections and servicing are recorded in log books.

Perform fluid analyses. The microscopic and chemical analysis of oil and coolant is a new technique that allows engine and hydraulic problems to be detected and corrected before they cause costly damage. Only a few heavy-duty mechanics are trained to do these analyses but all mechanics become familiar with reading the computerized analysis results.

Machine and manufacture parts. Sometimes a worn part will be need to be re-machined. Complex machining work, such as fabricating parts from blueprints, will likely be done by machinists, but mechanics can reuse many parts by modifying them on standard machine tools, such as grinders and drill presses.

Weld and reinforce components. Because heavy equipment is often used in rough terrain, parts can sometimes break or bend. The heavy-duty mechanic will be familiar with welding techniques, in the field and shop, to repair broken equipment.

Troubleshoot electrical systems. Troubleshooting electrical problems requires knowledge of electrical and micro electronic principles and a good understanding of the equipment's entire electrical system.

Fix and overhaul hydraulic systems. Hydraulics, while simple in theory, involve complex electronic interfaces that ensure ultra precise movement and sensitive precision. Hand-held computer interface equipment and special training from the manufacturer is required to troubleshoot these systems.

Read the full Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Profile (64kb pdf).

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