About the trade

A Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor Loader Backhoe) operates a tractor loader backhoe, its attachments and ground engaging equipment in various types of projects across multiple industries, such as road construction and maintenance, mining, quarrying, land clearing, forestry, logging, as well as gas and oil. Specifically, a Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor Loader Backhoe):

  • inspects, maintains, transports and operates this equipment and attachments
  • performs pre-operational inspections, safety and operational checks and preventative maintenance
  • monitors equipment performance, loads and unloads, transports and cleans, oils and refills equipment
  • reads and interprets government legislation, site plans and manufacturers’ manuals (for example, survey indicators)
  • installs, operates and removes attachments (for example, quick attach, buckets, bucket thumbs, quick couplers, splitters, grapples, teeth and adapters)
  • performs operations such as excavating, grading, ramp building, stockpiling, backfilling and towing ensuring maximum productivity
  • clears ice and snow, checks grades, performs cut and fill operations, backfills trenches and excavations, stockpiles and places materials, excavates trenches and ditches, loads trucks, lifts materials, performs clean-up operations, performs logging and surface mining operations and performs demolitions
  • communicates through various techniques including hand signals

In Ontario this trade is voluntary, which means completion of an apprenticeship program is optional and certification is not legally required to practice the trade.

Apprenticeship program

The Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor Loader Backhoe) (636A) apprenticeship program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. The program typically takes one and a half years to complete and consists of:

  • 2,260 hours of on-the-job training/work experience
  • 240 hours of in-school training

A minimum of Grade 12 high school education or its equivalent is required to qualify for the Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor Loader Backhoe) apprenticeship program. 

On-the-job training

A Heavy Equipment Operator apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed through this training include:

  • wearing, maintaining and adjusting personal protective equipment
  • demonstrating appropriate workplace actions
  • mounting and dismounting tractor loader backhoe
  • demonstrating safe operating practices
  • demonstrating appropriate worksite communications skills
  • performing preoperational inspection (circle check)

See all skills and competencies in the Schedule of Training (PDF) and Competency Analysis Profile (CAP Chart) (PDF).

In-school training

A Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor Loader Backhoe) apprenticeship includes one level of theoretical training delivered in a classroom, which includes subjects such as:

  • safety
  • pre-operation inspection
  • general preventative maintenance
  • operate excavator
  • transporting equipment

See all in-school training subjects in the Schedule of Training (PDF) and Competency Analysis Profile (CAP Chart) (PDF).

Red Seal Program

The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program is the nationally recognized standard for skilled trades workers in Canada. In Ontario, this trade is part of the Red Seal Program under the title Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe).

If you are a tradesperson who holds a Red Seal-endorsed trade certificate, learn how you can apply to obtain an Ontario Certificate of Qualification in that trade without further training or examination. 

Trade certification for experienced workers 

If you have work experience and/or training in a skilled trade, from another province or territory in Canada, or from another country, you may be eligible for certification through a Trade Equivalency Assessment.