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Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
Heavy duty equipment technicians work on industrial and construction vehicles, such as mining trucks and bulldozers; on heavy equipment used in construction, forestry, materials handling, landscaping, and land clearing.Heavy duty equipment technicians overhaul, repair and service equipment such as graders, loaders, shovels, tractors, trucks, forklifts, drills, and wheeled and tracked vehicles. Working from manufacturers' specifications, they identify and repair problems in structural, mechanical, or hydraulic systems.
Heavy Mechanical Foundation
The Heavy Mechanical Foundation program can lead to various pathways including three Red Seal Trades: Truck and Transport Mechanic, Heavy Duty Equipment Technician and Transport Trailer Technician; and to the Diesel Engine Mechanic Provincial Certification of Qualification
What you’ll learn:
- Heavy duty equipment technician training to enter trade as an apprentice.
- Diesel engine mechanic training to enter trade as an apprentice.
- Truck and transport mechanic training to enter trade as an apprentice.
What makes our program unique:
- Our instructors are OEM trained and certified Red Seal technicians, who understand the trade and how to help you succeed.
- Work on a large selection of on and off road trucks and equipment, and the latest training simulators.
- Benefit from a small school feel that puts the student first.
What you'll graduate with:
- Heavy Mechanical Foundation Certificate of Completion
- The in-school technical training required for Level 1 Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, Diesel Engine Mechanic, Transport Trailer Technician, and Truck and Transport Mechanic Apprenticeships
- 450 hours of work-based training time towards Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, Diesel Engine Mechanic, Transport Trailer Technician, and Truck and Transport Mechanic Apprenticeships
Program requirements:
- High school graduation (or equivalent) or mature student status
- English 11 with a minimum grade of C (or equivalent)
- Math 10 with a minimum grade of C (any Math 10 or equivalent)
Stats:
- 82% of graduates from this program are in labour force
- 69% of graduates from this program satisfied with training
- 70% quality of instruction rated by program graduates
Heavy Duty Equipment
Program overview
The Heavy Mechanical Trades apprentice program is common training for Level 1 through Level 3, followed by Level 4 trade-specific training. Apprentices register in their trade with SkilledTradesBC and attend the required common and trade-specific technical training at TRU, depending on their pathway.
Opportunities are unlimited for the heavy duty mechanic who has acquired journeyperson status. Personal benefits as well as monetary rewards make this trade a lucrative vocation. In addition, trained people are always in great demand.
Heavy duty equipment technicians work in the full range of environmental conditions; from comfortable shops to remote sites where inclement weather can be a factor. Shift work is common. Good physical condition is important because the work often requires considerable standing, bending, crawling, lifting, climbing, pulling and reaching.
Due to the size and complexity of the equipment, safety is of prime importance. The student must be conscious of the impact on people, equipment, work area and environment when performing their work.
TRU offers:
- Level 1 — 300 hours delivered over 10 weeks
- Level 2 — 240 hours delivered over eight weeks
- Level 3 — 180 hours delivered over six weeks
- Level 4 — 120 hours delivered over four weeks
Technical training levels required for completion of each of the apprenticeship programs:
Truck and Transport Mechanic (TTM) – Red Seal
Level 1, 2, 3 Heavy Mechanical Trades (HMT)
Level 4 Truck and Transport Mechanic (TTM)
Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (HDET) – Red Seal
Level 1, 2, 3 Heavy Mechanical Trades (HMT)
Level 4 Heavy Duty Equipment Technician (HDET)
Diesel Engine Mechanic (DEM) – C of Q
Level 1, 2 Heavy Mechanical Trades (HMT)
Note: Registration in this trade will be at SkilledTradesBC only. Apprentices complete the HMT levels at TRU.
Transport Trailer Technician (TTT) – Red Seal
Level 1 Heavy Mechanical Trades (HMT)
Level 2 Transport Trailer Technician (TTT)
Apprenticeship training dates
| From | To | Location | Availability (updated weekly) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | January 6, 2025 | February 14, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | January 6, 2025 | February 28, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | February 10, 2025 | March 21, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 1 | March 3, 2025 | May 9, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | May 26, 2025 | July 4, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | June 2, 2025 | July 25, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | August 5, 2025 | September 12, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | August 11, 2025 | October 3, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | October 27, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | November 10, 2025 | December 19, 2025 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | January 5, 2026 | February 27, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 1 | March 9, 2026 | May 15, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | March 9, 2026 | April 17, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
| From | To | Location | Availability (updated weekly) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | January 6, 2025 | February 7, 2025 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | October 6, 2025 | November 7, 2025 | Kamloops | Available |
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | January 5, 2026 | February 6, 2026 | Kamloops | Available |
to the interest list for an apprenticeship course
Contact
apprenticeship@tru.caCosts for Heavy Mechanical programs
Fees are subject to change.
Costs include items such as student/ancillary fees, books, personal tools and safety gear, which are kept by students when they graduate from the program.
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| Forklift | $200 |
| Airbrakes | $150 |
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| Level 3: Six weeks tuition and fees | $790.51 |
| Level 2: Eight weeks tuition and fees | $1,053.07 |
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Instructors
Lyle Hirowatari
Lyle has been involved with the heavy mechanical trades for over 36 years. He holds Heavy Duty Mechanics and Part Person Red Seal qualifications and his Provincial Instructor Diploma, and is a certified forklift and aisle truck instructor, CVSE inspector and instructor, and LPG/CNG installation technician.
Instructing at TRU has been the highlight of his long career, during which he’s also worked at the Ministry of Transportation & Highways, Yellow Deere Equipment Repair, Interior Roads Maintenance, IRL Truck Center and Kamloops Freightliner.
When not instructing, you’ll find Lyle golfing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, hiking and camping.
Kyle Doiron
