Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport certificate

Entry-level trades training

At UCFV, we can put students on the road towards a career as a heavy duty, commercial transport, or agriculture technician by teaching them how to service and repair equipment such as trucks, crawler units, and farm tractors. The Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport program will prepare students for entry into the provincial apprenticeship program, or for entry directly into employment. Students will develop skills needed to work in the trade.
    Theory and shop procedures are set up to simulate job conditions, so punctuality and good work habits are essential. This program is part of the entry-level provincial standard taught throughout B.C.

Employment opportunities
After successfully completing the program, students will be prepared for employment in the equipment industry. Potential employers include logging, trucking, busing companies, mining, and agricultural shops.

Program outline
The Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport program starts in September and ends approximately the end of June.
Students must show that they understand the theory by successfully completing a written test for each unit and then applying it to an acceptable level of practical skills as assigned in that unit. The learning materials may include printed handouts, worksheets, video tapes, display boards, lab manuals, and instruction.
    At regular stages you will be required to move to a shop or lab area to perform various tasks in order to develop your practical skills. As much as possible, study lab and shop instruction is patterned after “on-the-job” situations, where a limited amount of direct supervision is required.
    The training follows a modular system that begins by developing a wide variety of basic skills, and builds on these to develop intermediate and specialized skills required in this industry.

Sample topics:
    • Using specialty equipment
    • Starting and moving selected vehicles
    • Servicing hydraulic systems
    • Servicing truck components
    • Servicing track type equipment
    • Servicing working attachments
    • Servicing gas and diesel engine support systems
    • Servicing air-brake systems
    • Basic oxy-acetylene and arc welding
    • Technical Communications 115 (three academic credits).
    All unit tests and assigned practicals must be completed with a passing grade before writing the final exam, which is scheduled in June.

General information
The Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport program is located in the Trades & Technology Centre at the Abbotsford campus, which is open 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Classes and shops are in session 7.30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Entrance requirements
1. B.C. secondary school graduation or equivalent

2. A math and reading comprehension entrance exam.

How to apply
1. Submit a UCFV application form, along with the $45 application fee to the Admissions and Records office. Students currently in Grade 12 may apply beginning in January of their Grade 12 year. A statement from the school counsellor or principal, indicating that you are likely to meet graduation requirements by June, must be included with the application.

2. You will be notified of your entrance exam date by the Trades and Technology department. If you have not been contacted within two weeks call 604-854-4548. There is no fee for writing these exams.

3. Read the program description and information carefully. If you wish to speak to the instructor,
call Joe Kovacs at 604-504-7441, local 4342.

4. Prior to the classes starting in September, students will be notified by telephone of the registration procedures. Students who cannot be reached by telephone after three attempts will be removed from the wait list.

Fees and other expenses
Fees stated are in effect for 2004/05 and are subject to change for 2005/06.
The program fees are approximately $100 per week, which includes the tuition fees plus 10% of the tuition for ancillary fees. In addition, each semester (fall, winter, and spring) students will pay a $25 Student Union Society membership fee of $25 and a $4.50 Cascade student newspaper fee. Full payment of fees is required before the start of classes each semester, by the beginning of September, January, and April.
Note: A deposit (currently $150) must be paid at the time of registration, which typically takes place one or two months before the start of each semester.
    Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport Technician students should also budget approximately $500 for basic hand tools, $675 for required textbooks, and up to $200 for appropriate working apparel.

Medical requirement
A medical statement from a qualified physician may be required at any time before or during the program. Students will be notified by a UCFV official if/when the statement is required.

Faculty
Joe Kovacs, Journeyman Heavy Duty and Commercial Transport, Instructor Diploma (UBC), Vehicle Inspection Certificate

Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport upgrading
Interested parties should contact the instructor for information regarding the possibility of upgrading.

Fee for upgrading students
Fees stated are in effect for 2004/05 and are subject to change for 2005/06.
    Fees are based on one-week blocks of training at approximately $100 per week, which includes the tuition fees plus 10% of the tuition for ancillary fees. In addition, students will pay a $25 Student Union Society membership fee and a $4.50 Cascade student newspaper fee. Additional fees may be charged, depending on the topic of the upgrade.

Program Advisory Committee
Bruce Alsop, B.C. Hydro
Brent Balluff, Finning Ltd.
Ivan Boychuk, District of Mission
John Crabb, Co-Van International Trucks Inc.
Jody Fleming, Excavator Repair Co.
Parker Pacific Equipment Sales
Holger Hermann, Summit Logistics
Ron Keeping, Friesen Equipment Ltd.
Jim Laird, Central Valley Farm Equipment
Jim McMillan, BC Hydro
Darrel Mattus, and Jim and Randy Trainor, T.E.K. Truck Services
Andy Mitchell, Friesen Equipment Ltd.
John Nicholls and Don Pasiuk, Peterbilt Trucks Pacific Inc.
Bernie Oonk, Fraser Surrey Docks
Dan Pollard, Eagle Trailer
Dave Senchal, Mainroad Contracting
 

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