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Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
Put your mechanical and problem-solving skills to work as a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician. You'll inspect, repair, and maintain a wide range of equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, agriculture, and transportation. If you enjoy working with your hands and solving challenges, this dynamic career may be the right fit for you.
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 qualifications will you receive upon graduation?
- 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 70% or higher
- Math 10 with 70% or higher
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 2 | August 10, 2026 | October 2, 2026 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | August 17, 2026 | September 25, 2026 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | September 28, 2026 | October 23, 2026 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | October 26, 2026 | December 18, 2026 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | November 9, 2026 | December 18, 2026 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 1 | January 4, 2027 | March 12, 2027 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | March 30, 2027 | May 7, 2027 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | August 9, 2027 | October 1, 2027 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | September 13, 2027 | October 22, 2027 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | October 25, 2027 | December 17, 2027 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | November 8, 2027 | December 17, 2027 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 3 | January 4, 2028 | February 11, 2028 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 1 | February 7, 2028 | April 13, 2028 | Kamloops | Available |
| Heavy Mechanical Apprentice - Level 2 | February 22, 2028 | April 13, 2028 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| From | To | Location | Availability (updated weekly) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | October 5, 2026 | November 6, 2026 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | January 4, 2027 | February 5, 2027 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | February 8, 2027 | March 12, 2027 | Kamloops | Waitlist |
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | October 4, 2027 | November 5, 2027 | Kamloops | Limited Space |
| Heavy Mechanical - Heavy Duty Mechanics - Level 4 | January 4, 2028 | February 4, 2028 | Kamloops | Available |
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 |
| Level 4: Five weeks tuition and fees | {{ formatPrice(appr.five) }} |
| Level 3: Six weeks tuition and fees | $821.09 |
| Level 2: Eight weeks tuition and fees | $1,093.81 |
| Level 1: Ten weeks tuition and fees | {{ formatPrice(appr.ten) }} |
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
