Heavy Equipment Mechanics
Job description
These individuals repair and maintain heavy mobile equipment. This equipment is required for many jobs (construction, transportation, natural resource development, etc.).
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Equipment, machinery, tools
- Noise
Main tasks
- Inspect machines for malfunctions and determine their nature.
- Adjust equipment and repair or replace defective components.
- Make sure that the repaired item is working properly.
- Clean, lubricate, and perform routine machine maintenance.
- Repair heavy trucks, as required.
- Attach components and adjust new farm machinery, as required.
Advancement and mobility
- Qualified Heavy Equipment Technicians and Farm Machinery Technicians receive a Red Seal endorsement upon successful completion of the Interprovincial Examination.
- These individuals may specialize in different types of machinery (e.g. crawler vehicles), settings (e.g. transmissions) and technologies (e.g. hydraulics).
- Experience leads to supervisory positions.
Hourly wage
The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2022 to 2024.- Minimum
- $22.00
- Median
- $32.00
- Maximum
- $46.00
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 1% Female
- 99% Male
- 1% Female
- 99% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 2320% of jobs
-
NAICS 2116% of jobs
-
NAICS 4116% of jobs
-
NAICS 8114% of jobs
-
NAICS 111, 112, 114, 1151, 11527% of jobs
-
Others27% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 2320% of jobs
-
NAICS 2116% of jobs
-
NAICS 4116% of jobs
-
NAICS 8114% of jobs
-
NAICS 111, 112, 114, 1151, 11527% of jobs
-
Others27% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
Secondary
DVS in mécanique agricole
Placement rate: 87.5%
10.7% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in mécanique d'engins de chantier
Placement rate: 88.6%
8.1% of graduates pursue further studies
DVS in mécanique de véhicules lourds routiers
Placement rate: 87.4%
10.6% of graduates pursue further studies
AVS in mécanique spécialisée d'équipement lourd
Placement rate: 69.8%
26.4% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Certificate of qualification.
WAP
This occupation is targeted by a Workplace Apprenticeship Program
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Troubleshooting
- Repair
- Equipment maintenance
- Monitoring operations
- Information processing
- Operations and control
- Quality control analysis
- Equipment selection
- Critical thought
- Reading comprehension
- Judgment and decision-making
- Solving complex problems
- Active learning
- Active listening
- Result evaluation
- Written expression
- Oral expression
- Time management
Abilities
- Manual dexterity
- Control accuracy
- Digital dexterity
- Physical flexibility in extension
- Near vision
- Awareness of issues
- Hand-arm stability
- Limb coordination
- Visualization
- Information organization
- Deductive reasoning
- Reaction time
- Static muscle power
- Inductive reasoning
- Perception speed
- Processing flexibility
- Selective attention
- Classification
- Written comprehension
- Speed control
- Core strength
- Colour perception and distinction
- Distance vision
- Auditory attention
- Speech clarity
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Speech recognition
- Response orientation
- Hearing sensitivity
Knowledge and attributes
- Capacity to work under pressure
- Critical thinking
- Focussed on results
- Autonomy
- Capacity to work in a team
- Knowledge of production and treatment
- Knowledge of mathematics
- Versatility
- Sense of observation
- Knowledge of mechanics
Interests
- Work in transportation and maintenance
- Make, build, install
- Work manually
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 72401
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
Job titles
- Construction Equipment Mechanics
- Construction equipment mechanic
- Heavy equipment mechanic
- Farm machinery mechanic
- Heavy-duty equipment technician
- Heavy mobile equipment repairer
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanic apprentice
- Apprentice farm machinery mechanic
- Apprentice farm equipment mechanic
- Diesel engine mechanic apprentice
- Heavy-duty equipment technician apprentice
- Farm machinery wheelwright
- Journeyman/woman heavy-duty equipment mechanic
- Heavy equipment inspector-repairer
- Heavy equipment field mechanic
- Heavy equipment combination mechanic
- Farm equipment mechanic
- Mobile farm equipment mechanic
- Felling equipment mechanic
- Heavy equipment mechanic - diesel engine
- Mobile logging equipment mechanic
- Mobile mining equipment mechanic
- Heavy mobile logging equipment mechanic
- Heavy mobile mining equipment mechanic
- Dredge mechanic
- Sideboom mechanic
- Locomotive mechanic
- Excavating equipment mechanic
- Grading equipment mechanic
- Paving equipment mechanic
- Earthmoving equipment mechanic
- Diesel engine mechanic
- Diesel engine mechanic - heavy equipment
- Heavy diesel engine mechanic
- Power shovel mechanic
- Backhoe mechanic
- Tractor mechanic
- Farm tractor mechanic
- Fuel injection unit servicer - diesel
- Construction equipment repairman/woman
- Dredge repairer
- Crane repairer
- Diesel locomotive repairman/woman
- Mine locomotive repairman/woman
- Mobile farm machinery repairer
- Diesel engine repairman/woman - railway
- Repairer mechanic
- Caterpillar tractor repairer
- Farm tractor repairer
- Crane service technician
- Agricultural equipment technician
- Farm equipment technician
Skill type
Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026