Fleming College: Experience More

This program is also known as Heavy Equipment Technician

Fascinated by large machinery and equipment? There's never been a better time to build a career in this growing sector. Throughout your program, you will study the overhaul, maintenance and repair of heavy equipment. Upon completion, you will have a comprehensive background in mechanical studies, preventative maintenance, safe shop practices, and equipment management systems.

Word from the Workplace

“I took the Heavy Equipment program almost 10 years ago. When I finished, Toromont hired me. Shortly afterwards, I realized that one day I would like to be a trainer. Recently, I moved to Grande Prairie, Alberta for a mechanics position with Finning. A year later, I applied for a job as the Regional Trainer for North Western Alberta, and I got it. The Heavy Equipment program gave me the foundation needed to get here. Thanks for everything.”

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Studying Heavy Equipment skills at Fleming College pays off in several ways. The Centre for Heavy Equipment Technology at Fleming College is the only one of its kind. We're sponsored by the Canadian Association of Equipment Distributors (CAED), Ontario Chapter - with its 200 member companies who sell, service, and use heavy equipment. We are known for our up-to-date equipment, quality programs, high industry placement rate, and skilled, knowledgeable instructors. Excellent relationships with the industry mean jobs - linking students to potential employment opportunities upon graduation. You'll use the latest, state-of-the-art equipment, supplied by our sponsors - no point in learning on outdated equipment, is there?

Tours of the Heavy Equipment Centre are available every Wednesday from 10 am to 12:30 pm. Tours are approximately 30 minutes. Book a tour by calling 866-353-6464 ext. 3301 and you can also arrange a tour of the main campus and residence either before or afterwards.

Are you a recent high school grad from the Greater Toronto Area? You may be eligible for a scholarship from Toromont CAT aimed at students who are entering this program. Please check out your eligibility and application details at the Toromont CAT website for the Think Big Scholarship.  A bursary is also available from Premier Peterbilt (value $1000). Check the Bursaries and Scholarships page for more information and other bursary and scholarship opportunities.

Work Experience

*Students complete their paid internship over the summer semester.

What it Takes to Succeed

Besides a desire to work with large equipment, it would help if you had the following skills and personal qualities:

• math skills
• computing ability
• a strong customer service orientation
• self-motivation, discipline
• good manual dexterity
• willingness to work long/various hours

Students would benefit by having basic computer skills including e-mail, word processing, file management and internet web browsing. Previous experience with heavy equipment, machinery, or vehicles would be an asset.

Career Opportunities

There are opportunities for graduates, particularly for women considering a non-traditional trade. Whether you want to work close to home, or want to try out a new locale and culture, there are many jobs, and the starting wage is about $16.00 per hour. A good technician can make a living in the high $50,000.00 to low $60,000.00 per year, and with overtime, significantly more. The jobs are to be found in repairing earth moving, aggregate extraction, forest harvesting, materials handling, transportation, and mining equipment. With experience, you may become a:

• heavy equipment technician
• field service technician
• product specialist
• business owner

Besides hands-on jobs involving the repair of equipment, there are other career opportunities - such as positions in product support, sales, or parts.

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)
• 1 College (C) Math course (Grade 11)

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission. Additional testing or academic upgrading may be neccessary to meet specific course requirements for this program.

Related Programs

Upon graduation, you can enter directly into the fourth semester of the new Electrical Power Generation Technician program. With this one additional semester of study, you can obtain an Ontario College Diploma, expand your skills, and your career opportunities.

Additional Costs

Plan on spending about $1,150 for books, tools and supplies.

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Professional Portfolio Development	45.00
Basic Shop Practice	42.00
Electrical Systems I	75.00
Engines I	75.00
Hydraulic Systems I	75.00
Parts, Maintenance and Service	45.00
Powertrains I	75.00
Welding & Materials	18.00
Semester 2
HET Internship	450.00
Semester 3
Environmental Issues for Industry	45.00
Electrical Systems II	75.00
Electronic Engine Management	60.00
Engines II	75.00
Hydraulic Systems II	75.00
Powertrains II	75.00
Shop Practice	45.00

Semester 1

Professional Portfolio Development

Course Number: GNED033

Get the Work You Want! This course will assist post-secondary students to locate and win positions they want in the workplace. The use and development of a professional portfolio will be emphasized. Through career analysis self-assessment, goal setting, and portfolio development participants will improve their ability to link their skills and knowledge to appropriate career positions. The basics of job searching will be enhanced with sessions on electronic resume posting, web site searches, and online job links. Participants will complete this course with the foundation of a professional portfolio and the knowledge to find the work they want.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Basic Shop Practice

Course Number: MECH006

This introductory level course will consist of equipment circle checks, and identification of machine controls. A review of the operator's manual as well as safe manoeuvring procedures for equipment will be emphasized. This course will also consist of hands-on maintenance of engines, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and drive lines of heavy equipment. Emphasis will be placed on the safe procedures and practices during the servicing of various pieces of equipment. This course will help to better prepare the student for their summer internship placement.

Units: 42.00
Hours: 42.00

Electrical Systems I

Course Number: ELCT008

This course studies electrical fundamentals including magnetism, current, voltage, resistance, series and parallel circuits. Meter usage, test equipment and electrical schematics will be emphasized. Electrical systems on heavy equipment such as batteries, starters, and alternators will be tested and evaluated.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Engines I

Course Number: MECH019

This Engines I course covers the theory and overhaul of diesel and gasoline engines. Wear measurements, valve grinding, cylinder honing, component evaluation, plastigauging, and cylinder bore measurements are some of the skills developed. Lubrication, cooling, fuel, intake and exhaust systems are also discussed with practical testing and diagnosis of system operation. Within a lab group, students will perform a complete disassembly and reassembly of an internal combustion engine. The shop work, which is part of this course, is designed to amplify the students' understanding of the topics discussed in the theory part of the course.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Hydraulic Systems I

Course Number: MECH030

This course begins with general hydraulic fundamentals and leads into a detailed study of hydraulic systems on heavy mobile equipment. Topics include pumps, cylinders, control valves, reservoirs, actuators, lines and fittings, fluids, hydraulic control circuits for machine implement, drive and steering functions, and troubleshooting of hydraulic systems on machines.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Parts, Maintenance and Service

Course Number: MECH046

This course introduces the student to the preventative maintenance required to minimize down-time on heavy equipment. Fuels, lubricants, synthetics, and their appropriate applications are studied along with oil analysis for wear particles. Safe hoisting, blocking, and handling of heavy components is included, along with safe use of tools, fire suppression equipment, and the appropriate use of fasteners, fittings, tubing, hoses and other shop equipment.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Powertrains I

Course Number: MECH048

This is the first of a two-part course (Powertrains I and Powertrains II) and it covers clutches, standard transmissions, planetary gearing, propeller shafts and U-joints, standard, no spin and limited slip differentials, planetary and non-planetary axles, final drives, air, hydraulic and disc brakes, tires and tire sizes, undercarriages, winches, suspension systems, machine safety, and maintenance procedures. The shop work, which is part of this course, is designed to amplify the students' understanding of the topics discussed in the theory part of the course.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Welding & Materials

Course Number: MECH071

Students' skills will be developed in all types of gas welding and cutting. Arc welding including MIG and hard facing will be practiced. In addition, students will study basic metallurgy and strength of materials.

Units: 18.00
Hours: 18.00

Semester 2

HET Internship

Course Number: APST031

The internship is an integral part of the learning and mentoring process for the trainees. Students will be required to complete a minimum of 15 weeks (450 hours) of work placement in a related field. This portion of the program will let students apply the skills they have obtained in the first semester. This credit must be earned before a diploma can be granted. To obtain a credit for the internship placement students must have their employer sign and complete the Heavy Equipment Technician Intern Evaluation Form and return it to the college no later than one month after completion of the work term.

Units: 450.00
Hours: 450.00

Semester 3

Environmental Issues for Industry

Course Number: GNED014

This course is designed for students who will work in an industrial setting. The course takes a broad look at environmental issues relating to industrial practices. In some cases, technical details of recovery/recycling processes are covered. Topics include industry's effect on and remediation of natural resources such as water, air, soil, and biotic life. New approaches by industry toward sustainability and waste management are also included.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Electrical Systems II

Course Number: ELCT009

This course is a continuance of Electrical Systems I. Students will study more in-depth electrical fundamentals. Electronic devices such as semiconductors and other solid state devices will be emphasized and their applications in alternators, regulators and controls. Oscilloscope usage and proper wiring repair will be studied. Various types of wiring schematics and their interception will be analyzed.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Electronic Engine Management

Course Number: ELCT011

This course is an in-depth study of electronic engine controls including fuel and emission management for both gasoline and diesel engines. The focus will be to evaluate engine computer systems and their components including input and output devices such as sensors, actuators and stepper motors, etc. Other subsystems such as electronic transmission controls and antilock braking systems will be studied. System diagnosis and schematic interruption will be the main emphasis.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Engines II

Course Number: MECH020

This is the second of a two-part course (Engines I and Engines II) which it covers the theory, operation and adjustment of diesel fuel injection systems. Students test and calibrate a Cummins PT fuel pump, a Stanadyne distributor fuel injection pump, a Bosch in-line fuel injection pump, perform a Detroit and Cummins injector test on a Bacharach comparitor, perform a Cummins tune-up using dial indicators, and perform a Detroit Diesel engine tune-up, and then dyno test the engine on our Clayton Engine Dynamometer. Along with these projects students will remove, analyze and install a fuel system on a live diesel engine assigned to their group. The engine must then be ran to ensure proper procedures and that the engine runs properly by the completion of the course.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Hydraulic Systems II

Course Number: MECH031

This is the second of a two-part course (Hydraulic Systems I and Hydraulic Systems II) which is a detailed study of advanced hydraulic systems used in the heavy equipment industry. The study begins with a review of hydraulic principles and culminates with a comprehensive study of systems containing pressure and temperature compensating systems and load sensing capabilities. Also detailed will be the theory and operation of pneumatic circuits for brakes, schematics and ISO symbols. Students will receive extensive hydrostatic drive systems training and evaluation of operating systems.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Powertrains II

Course Number: MECH049

This is the concluding part of a two-part course which covers torque converters, clutch packs, powershift, automatic and hydrostatic transmissions. It also covers electronically controlled powershift transmissions, hydraulic propulsion systems and electronically controlled hydrostatic drives, as well as machine safety and maintenance procedures. The shop work, which is part of this course, is designed to amplify students' understanding of the topics discussed in the theory portion of the course.

Units: 75.00
Hours: 75.00

Shop Practice

Course Number: MECH052

This course will consist of hands-on practice in maintenance and repair of engines, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and drive lines of heavy equipment. Air conditioning systems, climate control systems, ozone depletion prevention techniques and refrigerant handling will be the focus of this program.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00