The trade
What a heavy equipment mechanic does.
Heavy equipment mechanics repair and maintain cranes, excavators, graders, pavers, rollers, tractors, and off-road trucks, plus any motorized construction equipment used for grading, material handling, or excavation. They work directly on site to keep the equipment fleet running.
CCQ rate
$47.57 / hour (journeyperson, civil engineering and roads, May 2025)
Hourly rates are set by CCQ collective agreements and vary by sector: $47.57/h in civil engineering and roads, $46.61/h in industrial and institutional-commercial, $43.91/h in residential (journeyperson rate, May 2025). Check the official grid and wage rate tool at ccq.org for current amounts and apprentice rates by period.
Why it's tight
The pool is thin. Speed makes the difference.
In 2024, only 16 new apprentices were admitted into the trade industry-wide, well under the 2020-2023 annual average of 29 (source: CCQ, releve.ccq.org). The average age of active mechanics is 42.6, signalling an accelerated aging of the workforce. Of the 371 mechanics active in 2024, 149 companies were recruiting at the same time — heavy pressure on a small pool of workers. Civil engineering and roads accounts for 84% of the work volume, and major infrastructure projects (roads, dams, industrial sites) keep demand steady.
That's exactly where Aplomb wins: Audrey activates candidates in under 2 minutes, 24/7. While others call back the next day, your heavy equipment mechanic is already talking to us.
What we check
Before it lands on your desk.
- Hold a valid CCQ competency certificate (apprentice or journeyperson) in heavy equipment mechanics
- Master diesel, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, and electronic systems on construction equipment
- Have the ASP Construction course (general health and safety on construction sites)
- Experience on equipment in civil engineering and roads (dominant sector at 84% of volume)
- Willingness to work and travel to the regions: 42% of mechanics in this trade work in a region different from where they live
Competency card
How a heavy equipment mechanic qualifies.
This trade is subject to mandatory qualification (R-20 Act). To earn the apprentice competency certificate (CCA), you need to have completed the DEP in Heavy Equipment Mechanics (5331, 1,800 hours) and secured a job guarantee of at least 150 hours over 3 months. Reaching the journeyperson competency certificate (CCC) then requires 3 apprenticeship periods of 2,000 hours each (6,000 hours total), followed by passing the CCQ's provincial qualification exam (65 questions, 3 hours, 60% pass threshold). The apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio is 1:1 — every journeyperson on site can supervise one apprentice.
Frequently asked questions
Hiring a heavy equipment mechanic, plainly.
How many heavy equipment mechanics are available on the market in Quebec?
The pool is small: 371 mechanics were active on job sites in 2024, against 149 companies recruiting at the same time. New talent is entering slowly (16 new apprentices in 2024 vs. an average of 29). This trade is under real pressure — you need to position yourself early and retain your people.
What apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio do I need to respect on my sites?
For this trade, the CCQ sets a 1:1 ratio — every journeyperson on site can supervise one apprentice. Under certain conditions (apprentice in final period or a female apprentice), that ratio can go up to 2 apprentices per journeyperson. It's important to factor that into your staffing plans.
Which CCQ sectors cover this trade?
Heavy equipment mechanics work mainly in civil engineering and roads (84% of volume), but also in industrial and institutional-commercial. Residential is marginal (practically 0%). Make sure your CCQ agreements actually cover the sectors you operate in.
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Also by region
heavy equipment mechanics in your area.
We recruit across Québec. See the candidate job pages by region for this trade.