Applied & Technical Studies
Applied & Technical Studies
Rising global demand for heavy duty mechanics has created a shortage of workers.
With demand outstripping supply in some countries, including Canada, Australia, and the U.S., trained heavy mechanical trades people have excellent employment prospects and earn high salaries.
Heavy duty and commercial transport technicians work in a variety of settings, for companies servicing equipment used in construction, mining, forestry, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, road building, agriculture, or transportation. They may work in a shop, but may also service equipment in the field, sometimes in remote locations.
UFV's Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation program is designed to prepare you to diagnose, service, and repair heavy mobile equipment wherever it is used. In our well-equipped facility, under the supervision of knowledgeable instructors, you learn to service gas and diesel engines and related equipment, including transmissions and hydraulics, as well as electronic and electrical systems.
The UFV Heavy Mechanical Trades Foundation program prepares you to enter the provincial apprenticeship program, or move directly into employment.
Heavy equipment is indispensable to construction, logging, farming, surface mining, oil and gas, and other industrial activities. In recent years, the upswing in resource exploitation has resulted in a global shortage of heavy mechanical trades people.
The problem is compounded by the retirement of older workers, leaving employers desperate to find qualified heavy mechanical candidates to maintain or repair heavy duty equipment.
According to Work BC, employment opportunities are good for heavy-duty equipment mechanics.Demand is driven by activity in a wide variety of industries, which provides abroad employment base to diversify work opportunities. Heavy-duty equipment mechanics with up-to-date electronics training and knowledge of new technologies to reduce greenhouse diesel emissions are expected to be in greatest demand.