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HEAVY EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN – TRANSPORT TRAILER MECHANIC |
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Select Alternate Year - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008
There have been no changes to this trade in the year of 2009.
Heavy Equipment Technician - Transport Trailer Mechanics maintain, repair and overhaul commercial transport devices connected to or moved by a power unit.
Maintenance and repair of transport devices may include flat decks, dry freight vans, refrigerated vans, tankers, converters, boosters, pole trailers, jeeps, steering dollies, dump trailers and any other commercial pull type devices.
In general, heavy equipment technicians:
The working environment for heavy equipment technician – transport trailer mechanics varies considerably from one job to another. Some transport trailer mechanics work in modern laboratories overhauling fuel injection pumps and delivery systems. Others work at construction or industrial sites, sometimes outdoors in all types of weather conditions. Travel requirements and hours of work may also vary.
There is some risk of injury involved in working with heavy equipment and power tools. However, proper safety standards are maintained at all times.
The work is most rewarding for those who enjoy achieving expertise with precise work, problem solving and working with their hands.
To be successful in the trade, truck – trailer mechanics need:
Transport trailer mechanics are employed in transportation company fleet repair shops, trailer dealerships, general mechanical repair shops, manufacturers' repair shops and specialized repair shops. In industries that are sensitive to economic changes, transport trailer mechanics may experience periods of unemployment.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $18 to $30 an hour plus benefits - rates vary depending on the region.
Experienced journeypersons may advance to supervisor or service manager positions.
To work as aTransport Trailer Mechanic in Alberta, a person must be a registered apprentice or a certified journeyperson or hold a recognized trade certificate. (see Recognized Trade Certificates)
Transport trailer mechanics learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training and, upon successful completion, are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
A transport trailer mechanic who holds a certificate that was issued by another recognized apprenticeship authority in Canada (province, territory or federal jurisdiction) may apply for an Alberta Equivalency document under the Equivalency Program.
Transport trailer mechanics who:
may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a credential that is recognized as equivalent to an Alberta trade or occupational certificate are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The term of apprenticeship for a transport trailer mechanic is two years (two 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1500 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training in the first period, and a minimum of 1800 hours of on-the-job training in the second period.
To learn the skills required of a transport trailer mechanic in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates or technical school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice transport trailer mechanics earn at least 60 percent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year and 70 percent in the second year. Apprentices are generally required to provide their own basic hand tools.
- apprentices are required to provide their own tools (costs range from $10,000 to $25,000)
- select an educational institution that offers training for transport trailer mechanic apprentices, and a time to attend training (see Technical Training Locations and Schedule)
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution (see Enrollment Instructions)
successfully complete all required exams (see Exam Counselling Sheets)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. More information is available at www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca or by contacting an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
The Transport Trailer Mechanic trade does not participate in the Interprovincial Standards (Red Seal) Program.
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:
A person who has a recognized certificate, as described above, does not require an Alberta Equivalency document to work in the trade in Alberta. However, some employers may require an Alberta Equivalency document as proof that the certificate is equivalent to the requirements of the trade in Alberta.
To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on Canadian credentials, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
This application fee covers the verification and assessment of the applicant's work experience hours/months as well as one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
