On this page:
Overview
Learn how to maintain, repair and overhaul heavy vehicles, transport trailers, heavy-duty off-road vehicles and industrial equipment.
If you enjoy mechanics, precise work and problem-solving, you'll enjoy working as a heavy equipment technician. You'll interpret orders, and diagnose faults and malfunctions before adjusting equipment or repairing and replacing defective parts or systems.
In Alberta, you may specialize as transport-trailer mechanics, truck and transport mechanics, heavy-duty equipment mechanics (off-road) or an overall heavy equipment technician.
To work in this trade, certification is required. This means that you must either be a registered apprentice who is working under the guidance of a certified journeyperson or you must be a certified journeyperson yourself.
Heavy equipment technicians are skilled tradespeople who are self-motivated and comfortable working alone or collaborating with others. This line of work is most fulfilling for those who enjoy working with their hands and are mechanically inclined.
To thrive in this career, it is important to have the following traits:
- good vision, hearing and sense of smell to diagnose problems
- the strength and stamina required to work with heavy equipment and work in cramped or awkward positions
- comfort in working alone or with a team
- mechanical ability and an interest in all types of machinery, engines, electronics and precision equipment
- problem-solving skills, logical thinking and keeping up to date with the changes in technology
- a valid driver’s license is required to operate equipment for testing purposes
- commitment to safe work practices
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Heavy equipment technicians and their select specialties are Red Seal Endorsed trades – a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada.
- Transport trailer technicians: transport trailer technicians maintain, repair and overhaul commercial transport devices that are connected to or moved by a power unit. They provide maintenance and repair flat decks, dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, tankers, converters, boosters, pole trailers, jeeps, steering dollies, dump trailers and other commercial pull-type devices.
- Truck and transport mechanics: truck and transport mechanics maintain, repair and overhaul on-highway vehicles. They will work on internal combustion engines and components, on-highway vehicles including buses and trucks, towed on-highway and off-highway vehicles including semi-trailers.
- Heavy equipment technician (off-road): heavy-duty equipment technicians (off-road) maintain, repair and overhaul heavy equipment vehicles and industrial equipment that is off-road. They will repair internal combustion engines and components, crawler tractors, ground-engaging equipment, earth-moving equipment, off-highway motor vehicles and towed off-highway vehicles.
- Heavy equipment technician (overall): heavy equipment technicians are trained to work on transport trailers, trucks and transport vehicles and off-road vehicles. They will maintain, repair and overhaul heavy vehicles and industrial equipment in a variety of settings.
Careers and opportunities
Apprenticeship training
Depending on the specialization, apprentices will spend two to four periods of apprenticeship education and on-the-job training before becoming a journeyperson.
The term of apprenticeship for a Heavy Equipment Technician is four years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of classroom instruction each year.
Year 1 | Period 1
You will start by learning workplace safety, materials and tools. You will then learn suspension, wheels, systems, hydraulics level one, hydraulic brake systems, electrical level one, electronics level one as well as airbrakes.
Year 2 | Period 2
You will learn engine fundamentals, service, repair, engine systems, diesel fuel injection systems, electronic fuel management as well as heavy-duty charging and cranking systems.
Year 3 | Period 3
You will learn hydraulics level two, steering and suspension systems (specific to off-road), accessories (specific to off-road) and powertrain (specific to off-road).
Year 4 | Period 4
You will learn about powertrain (specific to truck and transport), steering, antilock brake systems, air conditioning as well as vehicle electrical diagnosis, failure and analysis.
The term of apprenticeship for a Heavy Equipment Technician is four years (four 12-month periods), including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of classroom instruction each year.
Year 1 | Period 1
You will start by learning workplace safety, materials and tools. You will then learn suspension, wheels, systems, hydraulics level one, hydraulic brake systems, electrical level one, electronics level one as well as airbrakes.
Year 2 | Period 2
You will learn engine fundamentals, service, repair, engine systems, diesel fuel injection systems, electronic fuel management as well as heavy duty charging and cranking systems.
Year 4 | Period 4
You will learn powertrain (specific to truck and transport), steering, antilock brake systems, air conditioning as well as vehicle electrical diagnosis, failure and analysis.
The term of apprenticeship for a heavy-duty equipment mechanic (Off-road) is three years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of classroom instruction each year.
Year 1 | Period 1
You will start by learning workplace safety, materials and tools. You will then learn suspension, wheels, systems, hydraulics level one, hydraulic brake systems, electrical level one, electronics level one as well as airbrakes.
Year 2 | Period 2
You will learn engine fundamentals, service, repair, engine systems, diesel fuel injection systems, electronic fuel management as well as heavy duty charging and cranking systems.
Year 3 | Period 3
You will learn powertrain (specific to truck and transport), steering, antilock brake systems, air conditioning as well as vehicle electrical diagnosis, failure and analysis.
Year 1 | Period 1
You will start by learning workplace safety and tools. You will then learn welding technology and properties of metals, GMAW, SMAW and trade math. You will then learn suspension, wheels, systems, hydraulics level one, hydraulic brake systems, electrical level one, electronics level one as well as air brakes.
The term of apprenticeship for a truck and transport mechanic is three years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and eight weeks of classroom instruction each year.
Year 1 | Period 1
You will start by learning workplace safety, materials and tools. You will then learn suspension, wheels, systems, hydraulics level one, hydraulic brake systems, electrical level one, electronics level one as well as air brakes.
Apprenticeship education performance
To succeed in apprenticeship education, you must pass each section of the course and the AIT exam.
The passing grade for each section in a course is 65%. A passing mark on each provincial exam and the interprovincial qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
View Alberta's Apprenticeship and Industry Training procedures
Training pathways
You can earn your journeyperson designation in the following way.
The traditional training pathway begins with finding a job with an employer willing to indenture you as an apprentice. Once you are an apprentice, you will alternate between on-the-job training and educational periods.
You must apply for an apprenticeship through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training before attending your first education period at SAIT.
SAIT’s two-year Transport and Heavy Equipment Technology diploma program equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully challenge the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) exams for Heavy Equipment Technician periods 1 through 4 as well as the Journeyman apprenticeship exam.
Admission requirements
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
Successful completion of the following courses:
- English 20-2
- Math 20-3
- Science 10
OR
A pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests
OR
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Entrance Exam
Recommended requirements
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 20 OR Chemistry 20 OR Science 20
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
MyTradeSecrets
Once you have begun working as an apprentice, you can attend SAIT to complete your technical training.
You'll register for technical training at SAIT on MyTradeSecrets or you can register by phone.
How to registerAvailable intakes
Costs
2023/24 tuition and fees
The following costs are effective as of July 1, 2023.
Domestic students
| Period | Number of weeks | Tuition fees | Additional fees |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | $1,056 | $319 | $1,375 |
| 2 | 8 | $1,056 | $319 | $1,375 |
| 3 | 8 | $1,056 | $319 | $1,375 |
| 4 | 8 | $1,056 | $319 | $1,375 |
|
Total cost:
|
$5,500 | |||
Books or modules, along with other items for classes, are approximately $600 per period.
It's recommended you don't purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes, and they cannot be returned to the Bookstore.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
Funding options for apprentices
Apprentices get to learn while they earn, but there are still costs to consider. Many resources are available at SAIT and federally to help support apprentices.
Financial aidInformation sessions
Prepare for a strong start in your chosen program or get the details you need to decide your future path.
Our expert staff and faculty are ready to answer your questions and provide information about the following:
- What sets SAIT apart
- An introduction to the program and area of study
- Admission requirements
- Future career paths
- Information on the earning potential and graduate employment rates.
Contact
Have more questions?
Apprenticeship training and registration
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services