Heavy Duty/ Commercial Transport certificate
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 large 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 heavy equipment industry. Potential employers include logging, trucking, busing companies, mining, and agricultural shops.
Graduates can also apply to the provincial apprenticeship office. (ITAC) for information regarding credit toward the Heavy Duty, Commercial Transport, or Agriculture Apprenticeship program. Call (604) 852-5922.
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:
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
Trades & Technology programs at UCFV include Auto Technician, Carpentry, Drafting Technician, Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport Technician, Joinery, Parts and Warehousing, and Welding.
All Trades programs, shops and labs, are located in the Trades & Technology Centre at the Abbotsford campus, which is open 7:30 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. Make an appointment with the Trades & Technology receptionist to write the entrance exam by calling (604) 854-4548. There is no fee for writing this exam.
2. Read the program description and information carefully. If you wish to speak to the instructor, call Joe Kovacs at (604) 853-7441, local 4342.
3. Students may schedule an appointment to pretest for the program while they are completing their prerequisites if they provide a statement from their counsellor or high school principal indicating that they are in their last semester of studies, and are likely to complete them successfully.
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.
5. Students must attend an orientation session one week prior to the start date of the program. Students will be notified by telephone as to the date and time of orientation. Registration fees and required textbooks must be purchased prior to the first day of classes.
6. Stand-by status will be offered to some wait-listed students prior to the orientation date. Spaces available because of “no-shows” will be offered to stand-by students, according to their wait-list status.
Fees and other expenses
The fees are about $35 per week, which includes 6% for Student Activities fee, Student Society fee, and the Legacy Fund. Fees are payable on a 15-week basis. The total fee is about $528 every 15 weeks. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required with the first payment. Students will also be charged a $15 application fee, plus a $12.50 per semester technology fee. Fees are subject to change.
Heavy Duty/Commercial Transport Technician students should also budget approximately $500 for basic hand tools, $850 for required textbooks, and $125 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
Program Advisory committee
Gino Amato, Coast
Tractor
Brent Balluff, Finning Ltd.
Dan Bell, Summit Logistics
Bryan Bouchir, District of Mission
Kent Douglas, Pacific Northern Rail Contractors Corp.
Rick Flegg, City of Abbotsford, UCFV Board – Trades Representative
Bob Herd, Parker Pacific Equipment Sales
Ron Keeping, Friesen Equipment
John Kuznik, Wajax Industries
Jim Laird, Central Valley Farm Equipment Ltd.
Will MacKiver, Freightliner Trucks
Jim McMillan, Transportation and Highways Equipment Services
Ivan Mills, Central Valley Farm Equipment Ltd.
Don Pasiuk, Peterbilt Trucks Pacific Inc.
Dave Polack, Orion Western Star Ltd.
Dan Pollard, Eagle Trailer
Larry Rempel, Emil Anderson Construction
Dave Senchal, Mainroad Contracting
Dave Shelford, Canadian Forest Products
Jim Trainor, T.E.K. Truck Services
Randy Trainor, T.E.K. Truck Services
Jake Wiebe, Avenue Farm Machinery Ltd.
Bob Wilson, Co-Van International Truck Inc.
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