Archive - Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics - NOC 7312

Published: 6 July 2020

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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.

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

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 Employment and Social 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 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.