Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics inspect, service, and repair the brakes, engines, and other parts of trucks and heavy machinery. They also perform routine maintenance to prevent future breakdowns. Diagnosing problems quickly and accurately requires critical and analytical thinking ability. It also requires a thorough knowledge of truck mechanical, hydraulic, electronic and air braking systems. Good knowledge with a variety of electronic tools, such as infrared engine analyzers and computers. After locating the source of the malfunctions, mechanics often need to replace or repair faulty parts or equipment.

Adjust, repair or replace parts and components of heavy equipment systems including fuel, air brake systems, hydraulic, steering and suspension, engine and drive train, emission control and exhaust, cooling and climate control, electrical and electronic systems using hand tools and other specialized repair equipment.

Most technicians work in truck repair shops, dealerships, and service stations. Many others are employed by federal, state, and local government agencies such as transport trucking and heavy equipment leasing companies and other businesses that repair their own trucks and heavy duty equipment. Truck manufacturers hire these technicians to make adjustments and repairs after heavy duty equipment come off the assembly line. Other technicians work for large department stores that have facilities for servicing heavy equipment.

 

Industry Changes

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The Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic is constantly learning and updating their knowledge. With new technology on the rise from all different competitors, improving automotive knowledge will always be incredibly important.

The government has recently set targets for greater energy efficiency to combat climate change. With further training, you may be able to install and maintain renewable energy technologies such as solar powered heating systems.

Over the next ten years, the employment outlook is considered to be excellent. The lack of trained and qualified servicemen and the expected increased retirement rate in these trades over the next decade highlight the opportunities within the industry for good potential jobs.

Employment for Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics is expected to increase as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. Turnover in this field is high, so many openings occur each year. Automotive technology is becoming increasingly complex, so technicians who have had formal training may find the most opportunities. Demand should also be high for those who stay informed about new developments in this field, such as alternate fuels technology.

 

Safety

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Safe working practices and accident prevention are the primary importance to the health and safety of all person(s) at any or all work place environments. All person(s) including employee, employer and government, share this responsibility in order to keep everyone free of any dangers or accidents that may cause an individual(s) serious bodily harm or death.

The Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations, should be consistently reviewed and enforced in every work place environment. Educating and understanding these regulations is everyone’s responsibility in order to keep a safe work place environment.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) has contributed to a safer work place environment. Health and safety has become a high priority in the workplace due to increased awareness of dangers and the identifications of hazardous materials.

Practicing health and safety is a tremendous contribution to a safe and accident free work place environment.

 

Job Tasks

• Air-conditioning and Heating equipment

• Air braking systems

• Accessories such as radio, heaters interior lighting

• Bearings

• Blowers

• Brakes

• Cabs

• Carburetors

• Computers

• Cooling systems

• Crankshafts

• Cylinder blocks

• Differential

• Distributors

• Drilling

• Engine repair

• Electrical

• Gears

• Generators

• Hydraulic systems

• Hydraulic jack or hoist

• Infrared engine analyzers

• Leaks

• Machining

• Pistons

• Pumps

• Radiator

• Rods

• Starters

• Shocks and struts

• Tire Installation and repair

• Trailers

• Transmission Repair

• Valves

• Welding

• Wiper and motors

 

Tools

• Adjustable wrench

• Allen keys

• Ball peen hammer

• Crow bar

• Electrical multi-meter

• Grinder

• Hack saw

• Hammer

• Lathes

• Micrometers, calipers and thickness gauges

• Mini pipe cutters

• Multi meter

• Needle nose pliers

• Safety equipment (goggles, boots, face shield etc)

• Screw driver set

• Shapers

• Socket set

• Sparking igniter

• Tin snips

• Vice grips

• Wrenches

• Wire strippers

• …and much more

 

Skills

• Critical Thinking

• Decision Making

• Analytical Thinking

• Numerical

• Oral Communication

• Problem Solving

• Reading Blueprints and schematics

• Writing

• Computer Knowledge

 

General Wages

• Average -   $25.00

• Minimum -  $15.50

• Maximum - $33.00​

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Sample Q&A

 

1. All of the following can cause the temperature lamp to remain off when the ignition switch is turned to the run position, with the engine not running, except?

a. defective lamp.

b. open prove-out (test) circuit.

c. blown fuse.

d. defective sending unit.

Ans. D

 

2. Which of the following would cause a crawler tractor with a clutch and brake steering system to track to the left all the time?

a. Worn steering clutch friction disks.

b. Low hydraulic pressure to the steering clutches.

c. Steering clutch control lever linkage is worn.

d. Incorrect pinion-to-bevel gear position.

Ans. A

 

3. Which of the following conditions will cause a complete failure of the hydrostatic axial piston drive motor?

a. Overloading the motor.

b. Restricted inlet line or filters.

c. Runaway load over speeding the motor.

d. Low oil levels in the reservoir.

Ans. C

 

4. A condition of too much fuel and too little air in a diesel engine means what?

a. running rich

b. turbo charged

c. efficient

d. running lean

Ans. A

 

5. What type of truck spring suspension system would be mounted above the main leaf spring assembly and only be utilized under heavy loads?

a. air spring suspension.

b. constant spring suspension.

c. auxiliary spring suspension.

d. coil spring suspension.

Ans. C

 

6. On dozer blade cylinders, what device is installed at the base end?

a. cylinder cushions

b. wiper seal

c. piston relief valves

d. quick drop valve

Ans. D

 

7. When testing diesel fuel supply system inlet restrictions, a reading of 4in of Hg on a vacuum gauge is equal to how many mm of Hg?

a. 65.8

b. 43.2

c. 101.6

d. 118

Ans. C