Block A – Common Occupational Skills

Trends

The truck and transport mechanic trade is seeing an increase in the need for more advanced computer skills, as there is more electronic communication, equipment and documentation. Health, safety and environmental considerations are also gaining importance, with improved equipment and regulations. New specialized tools, lubricants and fasteners are becoming more common, as are non-serviceable components such as sealed bearings, joints and drive shafts.

Related Components

All components apply.

Tools and Equipment

ASee Appendix A.

Task 1 Performs safety-related functions

Context

Truck and transport mechanics maintain a safe work environment to ensure safety of equipment and personnel. They must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and use safety equipment when performing certain tasks.

Required Knowledge

• K 1 types and operation of fire extinguishing equipment
• K 2 emergency phone numbers
• K 3 industry-related safety acts and regulations
• K 4 disposal and recycling procedures
• K 5 types of PPE such as respiratory, hearing, eye and body protection
• K 6 PPE and safety equipment operations
• K 7 workplace safety and health regulations such as fall protection and WHMIS
• K 8 company policies and procedures such as evacuation routes, location of safety equipment and safety training
• K 9 potential hazards such as ceiling heights, overhead wires and uneven surfaces

Sub-task - A-1.01 Maintains safe work environment.

Key Competencies

• A-1.01.01 perform visual inspection of vehicles and surrounding work area to identify potential hazards such as air lines, light cords and broken equipment, and fluids and gases under high pressure in hydraulic, pneumatic and air conditioning systems
• A-1.01.02 handle and store hazardous materials according to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and workplace and jurisdictional policies
• A-1.01.03 perform general housekeeping duties such as sweeping, discarding defective components and keeping area clear of obstacles
• A-1.01.04 utilize ventilation equipment to contain and extract fumes, smoke and dust
• A-1.01.05 recognize safe lifting locations or points according to manufacturers’ specifications

Sub-task - A-1.02 Uses personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.

Key Competencies

• A-1.02.01 store PPE and safety equipment according to company policy and manufacturers’ recommendations
• A-1.02.02 recognize worn, damaged or defective PPE and safety equipment
• A-1.02.03 ensure proper fit of PPE and safety equipment
• A-1.02.04 identify location of safety stations, first aid kits and fire extinguishing equipment
• A-1.02.05 select PPE according to work conditions and requirements such as wearing coveralls, footwear, gloves, and eye and hearing protection

Task 2 Uses and maintains tools and equipment.

Context

Truck and transport mechanics maintain tools and equipment to ensure longevity and safe operation of tooling. They use these tools and equipment to carry out all activities of the trade.

Required Knowledge

• K 1 types of hand tools such as wrenches, punches and hammers
• K 2 tools and equipment operating procedures
• K 3 imperial system and metric system
• K 4 types of power tools such as impact guns, drills and grinders
• K 5 basic repairs of power tools
• K 6 manufacturers' maintenance specifications such as lubrication and calibration schedules
• K 7 jurisdictional regulations in regards to shop equipment maintenance and welding procedures
• K 8 measuring devices such as micrometers, calipers and tape measures
• K 9 testing devices such as pressure gauges, flowmeters and temperature gauges
• K 10 diagnostic tools such as computers and handheld diagnostic tools
• K 11 types of shop equipment such as pullers, presses, axle stands and blocking
• K 12 limitations of hoisting and lifting equipment
• K 13 load limitations of shop equipment and supporting devices
• K 14 types of hoisting and lifting equipment such as jacks, chain hoists and vehicle hoists
• K 15 types of welding equipment such as oxy-acetylene welding (OAW), metal inert gas (MIG) gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
• K 16 welding materials such as electrodes, wires and shielding gases
• K 17 welding principles and considerations
• K 18 basic welding procedures
• K 19 types of cutting equipment such as OAW and plasma
• K 20 cutting principles and considerations
• K 21 basic cutting procedures

Sub-task - A-2.01 Maintains hand, power, measuring, testing and diagnostic tools.

Key Competencies

• A-2.01.01 store hand, power, measuring, testing and diagnostic tools
• A-2.01.02 clean hand, power, measuring, testing and diagnostic tools
• A-2.01.03 recognize worn, damaged or defective hand, power, measuring, testing and diagnostic tools, and tag, repair or remove from service
• A-2.01.04 lubricate power tools according to manufacturers’ specifications
• A-2.01.05 calibrate measuring tools according to manufacturers’ specifications

Sub-task - A-2.02 Maintains shop equipment.

Key Competencies

• A-2.02.01 recognize and interpret tags on shop equipment identifying load limits
• A-2.02.02 visually inspect shop equipment to recognize worn, damaged or defective equipment, and remove from service
• A-2.02.03 store shop equipment
• A-2.02.04 maintain solvent washers and biological parts washers
• A-2.02.05 recognize potential hazards such as ceiling heights, overhead wires and uneven surfaces
• A-2.02.06 ensure certification dates are current, according to jurisdictional regulations
• A-2.02.07 lubricate and clean shop equipment according to manufacturers’ specifications

Sub-task - A-2.03 Uses hoisting and lifting equipment.

Key Competencies

• A-2.03.01 inspect hoisting and lifting equipment for wear, damage, leaks and defects
• A-2.03.02 repair or replace worn, damaged and defective components on hoisting and lifting equipment
• A-2.03.03 store hoisting and lifting equipment
• A-2.03.04 position and connect hoisting and lifting equipment
• A-2.03.05 operate hoisting and lifting equipment
• A-2.03.06 secure hoisting and lifting to prevent movement
• A-2.03.07 select hoisting and lifting equipment according to equipment limitations and job requirements

Sub-task - A-2.04 Uses welding and cutting equipment.

Key Competencies

• A-2.04.01 clean welding and cutting tips according to manufacturers’ guidelines
• A-2.04.02 transport welding and cutting equipment according to jurisdictional regulations such as Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
• A-2.04.03 recognize and remove worn, damaged or defective cutting and welding equipment from service
• A-2.04.04 determine when repair task should be completed by a certified welder
• A-2.04.05 determine equipment and material selection according to materials being worked on, such as aluminum or steel
• A-2.04.06 set up welding and cutting equipment such as adjusting voltages and regulators for task being performed
• A-2.04.07 prepare vehicle for welding according to manufacturers’ recommendations to prevent damage to vehicle and electronic components
• A-2.04.08 prepare work area for welding such as removing combustibles and placing flash curtains
• A-2.04.09 perform basic welding and cutting procedures

Task 3 Performs routine trade activities.

Context

Truck and transport mechanics reference different sources of documentation to diagnose, service and repair systems. Truck and transport mechanics must have knowledge of materials and hardware such as fasteners, bearings, bushings and lubricants, and their application.

Required Knowledge

• K 1 various types of lubricants such as synthetic, semi-synthetic and non-synthetic, and application
• K 2 types of coolants and additives, and range of protection
• K 3 limitation of mixing types of fluids, lubricants and coolants
• K 4 disposal and recycling of fluids, lubricants and coolants
• K 5 types of fasteners, sealing devices, adhesives and gaskets
• K 6 chemical reaction of sealants
• K 7 torque specification of fasteners
• K 8 taps, dies and thread repair kits
• K 9 types of hoses, tubing and fittings such as plastic, rubber, neoprene and steel
• K 10 jurisdictional/industry regulations such as regulations for hoses, tubing and fittings
• K 11 types of bearings
• K 12 types of bushings
• K 13 types of seals such as static and dynamic
• K 14 the application of bearings, bushings and seals
• K 15 types of shaft repairs such as installing wear sleeves and re-machining of the shaft
• K 16 types of filters such as wash-out and pre-cleaners
• K 17 application of filters such as air, fuel and oil
• K 18 disposal and recycling of filters
• K 19 use of reference material to locate serviceable items such as screens, filters, breathers and lubrication points
• K 20 preventative maintenance schedules
• K 21 company policies and procedures such as work orders and checklists
• K 22 repair procedures
• K 23 types of documents and reference tools materials such as service manuals, MSDS and check lists
• K 24 documentation and reference material formats (paper and electronic)

Sub-task - A-3.01 Uses documentation and reference materials.

Key Competencies

• A-3.01.01 locate information on vehicle such as vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and component serial numbers
• A-3.01.02 locate and reference most recent original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manuals, service bulletins and support documentation (paper or electronic) for diagnostic, servicing and repair procedures
• A-3.01.03 interpret shop service and parts manuals, troubleshooting trees, schematics, technical drawings and regulations
• A-3.01.04 complete service records, motor vehicle inspections and warranty forms according to manufacturers’ requirements and jurisdictional regulations
• A-3.01.05 create parts lists according to repair required
• A-3.01.06 match replacement part to original part

Sub-task - A-3.02 Maintains fluids, lubricants and coolants.

Key Competencies

• A-3.02.01 verify fluid levels such as engine, transmission, differentials and hydraulic using tools and equipment such as dip sticks and sight glass to ensure fluid is within operating range
• A-3.02.02 select types and grades of fluids and lubricants according to manufacturers’ specifications
• A-3.02.03 select types of coolants and additives according to manufacturers’ specifications
• A-3.02.04 verify coolant has been mixed properly using tools and equipment such as refractometers and test strips
• A-3.02.05 store fluids, lubricants and coolants according to regulations
• A-3.02.06 take fluid samples according to instructions
• A-3.02.07 interpret fluid sample results to indicate issues such as contamination, abnormal wear or signs of premature failure

Sub-task - A-3.03 Services hoses, tubing and fittings.

Key Competencies

• A-3.03.01 relieve pressure from air and fluid systems before disconnecting hoses, tubing and fittings
• A-3.03.02 identify and replace hoses and tubing according to the application such as size and pressure limits
• A-3.03.03 identify and replace fittings and clamping devices according to the application such as thread and fitting size compatibility
• A-3.03.04 construct hose/tube assemblies using tools and equipment such as crimping tools and tube flaring tools

Sub-task - A-3.04 Services filters.

Key Competencies

• A-3.04.01 relieve system pressure before removing filters
• A-3.04.02 remove filters using appropriate tool for the application
• A-3.04.03 identify performance issues and symptoms related to plugged filters to determine if replacement of filter is required
• A-3.04.04 select and install filters according to manufacturers’ specifications
• A-3.04.05 dispose of filters according to jurisdictional regulations

Sub-task - A-3.05 Services bearings, bushings and seals.

Key Competencies

• A-3.05.01 inspect bearings and bushings for defects such as pitting, scoring, discolouration and excessive wear
• A-3.05.02 inspect seals and sealing surfaces for damage
• A-3.05.03 lubricate and install bearings and bushings to the allowable tolerances according to application
• A-3.05.04 install seals according to manufacturers’ specifications
• A-3.05.05 adjust bearing according to manufacturers’ specifications

Sub-task - A-3.06 Uses fasteners, sealing devices, adhesives and gaskets.

Key Competencies

• A-3.06.01 select and install fasteners for the application according to type, grade, thread pitch and size
• A-3.06.02 select and apply sealing devices such as weather-stripping and window channel, aerobic and anaerobic sealants, gaskets, and adhesives for the application
• A-3.06.03 verify quality product selected such as OEM item
• A-3.06.04 remove broken fasteners while minimizing damage to threads
• A-3.06.05 repair threads using tools such as taps, dies, chasers and thread inserts
• A-3.06.06 remove sealants, gaskets and adhesives while minimizing damage to sealing surface
• A-3.06.07 fabricate gaskets for application