Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics

If you are interested in working as a Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic in Canada, you will be pleased to know that the job outlook for your occupation in Canada is extremely positive. You can use this overview of the Canadian employment prospects in your field to start planning your immigration and settlement in Canada.

Heavy-duty equipment mechanics are on the list of 29 eligible occupations under the Federal Skilled Worker program. A maximum of 500 applications will be accepted for processing in each of the 29 occupations, with an overall cap of 10,000 applications.

To view current number of applications received toward the cap, click here.

To find out if you qualify for a Canadian immigration (permanent resident) visa please fill out our free eligibility assessment.

NOC 7312- Click here for a description of the occupation and job duties of 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, and railway transport companies and urban transit systems.

(Description from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's National Occupation Classification, used by Canadian immigration officers, to assess an applicant's work experience.)

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 and farm equipment 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.

NOC 7312- Click here for some example titles of Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics:

apprentice farm equipment mechanic
apprentice farm machinery mechanic
apprentice mechanic, diesel engines
apprentice mechanic, farm equipment
apprentice mechanic, farm machinery
backhoe mechanic
caterpillar tractor repairer
combination mechanic, heavy equipment
construction equipment mechanic
construction equipment repairman/woman
crane repairer
crane service technician
diesel engine mechanic
diesel engine mechanic – heavy equipment
diesel engine mechanic apprentice
diesel engine repairman/woman – railway
diesel locomotive repairman/woman
diesel mechanic
diesel mechanic – heavy equipment
diesel mechanic apprentice
dredge mechanic
dredge repairer
earthmoving equipment mechanic
excavating equipment mechanic
farm equipment mechanic
farm equipment technician
farm machinery mechanic
farm tractor mechanic
farm tractor repairer
felling equipment mechanic
field mechanic, heavy equipment
fuel injection unit servicer – diesel
grading equipment mechanic
heavy diesel engine mechanic
heavy equipment combination mechanic
heavy equipment field mechanic
heavy equipment inspector-repairer
heavy equipment mechanic
heavy equipment mechanic – diesel engine
heavy mobile equipment repairer

heavy mobile equipment repairman/woman
heavy mobile logging equipment mechanic
heavy mobile mining equipment mechanic
heavy-duty equipment mechanic
heavy-duty equipment mechanic apprentice
heavy-duty equipment technician
heavy-duty equipment technician apprentice
inspector-repairer, heavy equipment
journeyman/woman heavy-duty equipment mechanic
locomotive mechanic
locomotive repairman/woman, diesel
mechanic, backhoe
mechanic, construction equipment
mechanic, earthmoving equipment
mechanic, excavating equipment
mechanic, farm equipment
mechanic, farm machinery
mechanic, farm tractors
mechanic, heavy diesel engines
mechanic, heavy equipment
mechanic, heavy equipment – diesel engine
mechanic, locomotive
mechanic, mobile logging equipment
mechanic, mobile mining equipment
mechanic, repairer
mechanic, sideboom
mechanic, tractor
mine locomotive repairman/woman
mobile farm equipment mechanic
mobile farm machinery repairer
paving equipment mechanic
power shovel mechanic
repairer, farm tractors
repairman/woman, diesel locomotives – railway
sideboom mechanic
tractor mechanic
tractor mechanic, farm
tractor repairer, farm
wheelwright, farm machinery

Why your employment prospects in Canada are excellent:

These workers are employed by companies that own and operate heavy equipment, and by heavy equipment dealers, rental and service establishments, railway transport companies and urban transit systems.
Innovation and increasingly sophisticated machinery require mechanics to upgrade their skills and keep up with technological change.

Find out about the salary ranges for Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics in different Canadian cities with our Canada Salary Calculator

Some areas of Canada where your occupation is in demand:

While there is a shortage of Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics across Canada, the following cities and provinces listed below have a particularly high demand for this occupation.

British Columbia

Demand for heavy-duty equipment mechanics is driven by activity in a wide variety of industries in B.C., such as Transportation, Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction, and Construction.

Vancouver Island and Victoria, British Columbia:

Employment prospects are good, as there is a shortage of heavy-duty equipment mechanics in this region.
Positive growth projections for the construction and transportation industries, which are major employers of heavy duty equipment mechanics, should continue to support employment demand.

Saskatchewan

Employment prospects for this occupation are good.
Most opportunities in this occupation are in the trade and forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas industries.
In 2006, nearly 45% of all heavy-duty equipment mechanics were 45 years of age or older. As a result, increase demand is expected from older workers retiring.

Manitoba

Employment prospects for heavy duty equipment mechanics in the 2010 - 2014 period are expected to be good.
There are a number of other large construction projects planned or underway in Manitoba in the next five years which will increase the demand for heavy-duty equipment mechanics. For example, as part of Manitoba's Highway Renewal Plan, an estimated $366 million will be spent on major highways and bridges in 2010.

Northern Manitoba:

Employment prospects are good for heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Northern Manitoba.
In Northern Manitoba the mining industry (which is expected to continue with positive growth) and industries that support mining employ the most mechanics by far. Mechanics are also employed by companies that rent or lease heavy equipment, wood and paper product manufacturers, transportation companies and local governments.
There are proportionally more jobs for heavy duty equipment mechanics in Northern Manitoba than in the rest of the province.
There are a number of major industrial projects planned or underway in northern Manitoba, including road construction and repair, hydro-electric dams and transmission lines and mining development, which will increase demand for this occupation.

Selkirk, Manitoba:

Employment prospects are good for heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Selkirk.

Winnipeg, Manitoba:

Employment prospects are good for heavy-duty equipment mechanics in Winnipeg.
Large projects related to highway and road infrastructure improvements will add to the demand for experienced heavy duty equipment mechanics.

Ontario

The federal fiscal stimulus (which includes investment in infrastructure projects) is expected to provide good employment opportunities for heavy-duty mechanics over the period from 2010 to 2013.

Nova Scotia
Halifax and Surrounding Areas:

The employment outlook for heavy-duty equipment mechanics is good.
Demand is predicted to remain stable, and retirements will contribute to job opportunities.

Prince Edward Island

Employment prospects are good for heavy-duty equipment mechanics.
Experienced workers with computer skills may have an advantage over others due to the increasing use of computers in this type of work.
You do not need to be licensed to do this work in PEI, however, employers generally prefer workers who have their license.
Approximately 40 percent of workers in this occupation were 50 years of age or older in 2006. As a result, a number of replacement positions are expected to result from older workers retiring.

Yukon

Employment prospects are good for heavy-duty equipment mechanics throughout the Province.
Positive growth projections for the construction and transportation industries, which are major employers of heavy duty equipment mechanics, will continue to support employment demand.

You can start looking for a job in Canada by using our Canada Job Search Tool.