What Does a Heavy Equipment Mechanic Do?

Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics repair, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in construction, forestry, mining, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, farming and similar activities.

Job -Related Skills, Interests and Values

  • Checking and determining problems in the functioning of bulldozers, cranes, graders and other heavy construction, logging and mining equipment
  • Cleaning, lubricating and maintaining equipment according to maintenance schedules
  • Adjusting equipment or repairing or replacing defective parts, components or systems
  • Testing repaired equipment for proper performance
  • Communicating with customers, co-workers and service managers
  • Reading owner/operator/manufacturer operating manuals and service specifications

What Preparation and Training Do You Need?

You must complete Grade 12 with your secondary school diploma, with credits in Math, English and Science, as well as technical courses such as electrical systems or auto mechanics. You must complete an apprenticeship of @ 9000 hours, a combination of on-the-job and in-school training, prior to successfully passing a written examination for your Certificate of Qualification.

What’s Your Future as Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic?

Some Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics work in modern laboratories overhauling fuel injection pumps, while others work in construction fields, in oily or greasy environments or in all sorts of weather. Most work full-time, with the risk of injury involved in working around heavy equipment and power tools. Some travel may be involved as well as weekend or overtime work. Employers that hire Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics include:

  • Heavy Equipment firms that lease or own this equipment
  • Construction, Mining, Forestry, Material Handling businesses
  • Farming and Transportation companies

Wage Rate

  • Apprentices generally earn less than fully qualified journeypeople
  • As your skills and expertise increase, so does your wage
  • Fully qualified Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics can earn from $18-25/hour

Self-Rating

Ask Yourself: Is Working as a Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic For You?

Can you lift, stoop, bend, kneel and work in confined spaces?

Yes      No

Do you enjoy tinkering and fixing machinery and equipment?

Yes      No

Do you have good vision and good hearing?

Yes      No

Do you like finding out why a problem exists, and implementing solutions?

Yes      No

Can you work independently or as a member of a team?

Yes      No

Do you enjoy learning about and keeping up with changes in technology?

Yes      No

Do you like working with your hands using a variety of hand and power tools?

Yes      No

If you answered Yes to most of these questions, a career as a Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic may be for you!

You may also want to explore other careers that require similar interests and skills, such as:

  • Farm Equipment Mechanic
  • Motor Vehicle Mechanic
  • Aircraft Mechanic/Avionics Technician
  • Millwright
  • Welder