Applying to be a Truck and Transport Technician

Calgary Transit buses on lifts in shop

Working as a Truck and Transport Technician is a rewarding career. You help keep our fleet of buses and vehicles running safely so we can provide excellent service to the citizens of Calgary.

Who should apply?

  • You are committed to creating a safe work environment.
  • You work well individually and within a team.
  • You are able to interpret and apply information from vehicle manuals.
  • You possess a sound judgment and problem-solving skills.
  • You are mechanically inclined.
  • You enjoy learning new skills and honing current ones.

Job requirements

Duties and responsibilities

  • Perform all types of repair and maintenance of bus and heavy-duty equipment.
  • Requisition parts, materials, and equipment as needed.
  • Complete fleet logs, work orders, service ability records, etc.
  • Provide training and assistance to apprentices in unit.
  • Maintain order, cleanliness, work output, and safe working conditions in own work area.
  • Assist foreman in checking and diagnosing mechanical faults of incoming vehicles or related equipment.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Minimum requirements

  • A completed Journeyman Certificate as a Truck and Transport Technician or a Heavy Duty Technician or equivalent recognized by the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board; or equivalent Red Seal.
  • A valid class 5 driver’s licence (or provincial equivalent), with no more than six demerits and no current suspensions or charges pending.
  • A valid Q endorsement is considered an asset; all successful applicants must be able to obtain a Q endorsement within two months of employment.
  • Ability to obtain a City of Calgary operator’s permit.
  • A high school diploma or equivalency (e.g. GED); advanced technical or mechanical trades training in the heavy duty field; and previous experience with diesel buses will be considered assets.

Recruitment process

Applications for the Truck and Transport Technician position are only accepted when there is an open job posting.

As this is a competitive process, only the most qualified applicants will be invited in for an interview.

Aptitude test

Currently there is no aptitude test. A mechanical aptitude test may be added in the future.

Interview

The interview uses The City of Calgary’s Targeted Selection interview method. Please bring:

  • Proof of education. If Certification is obtained from a different province, please bring your inter-provincial Red Seal.
  • Two pieces of identification: A driver’s license and another form of government identification, one which must be picture identification.
  • A current (no older than 60 days) driver’s abstract with six demerits or less from all jurisdictions that you have been a licensed driver in the last two years.

Three work-related references who have directly supervised you for a minimum of six months.

Pre-hire employment requirements 

Reference checks

References must be someone who has directly supervised you for a minimum of six months.

Security clearance

Once you have passed the interview, you must complete an electronic police information check with our agency. You may be required to attend in person for security reasons.

Medical exam and tests

Applicants selected for training will be required to take a pre-employment drug test. This will be conducted at a specific medical facility and paid for by Calgary Transit.

Job offer

Once everything is completed successfully, a job offer will conducted a minimum of two weeks prior to start. 


FAQs

Recruitment process

When can I apply?

Applications are only accepted when there is an open competition.

I met all the minimum qualifications; why wasn’t I chosen?

Minimum qualifications are the minimum required for your application to be considered. As this is a competitive process, we choose the most qualified applicants for the position. This may include a combination of factors such as: pre-hire qualifications, previous experience, training, and education.

How long does the recruitment process take?

The whole process can take eight to twelve weeks. Once the top qualified applicants are identified, you will then be invited in for an interview. If you are successful, we would then contact your references, and you must complete a pre-employment drug test and a security clearance. This would be followed by a job offer two weeks prior to the start of employment.

What type of certifications would I need to be a Truck and Transport Technician?

You would need either a 4 year Heavy Equipment Technician Certification or year 1, 2, and 4 of the HET which is the Truck and Transport certificate.

Is there a written test as part of the recruitment process?

At this time, there is no written test. Currently, those chosen to move forward in the Recruitment process move directly to the interview stage. A mechanical aptitude test may be added in the future.

Working conditions

What shifts will I work?

Shifts are based on seniority. Calgary Transit has a wide variety of shifts including afternoons, midnights and weekend shifts

Are tools provided?

You would need to provide your own tools. Calgary Transit does provide a yearly tool allowance.

Where would I work?

The City has bus garages in different quadrants of the city. You could work in any of these.

How does vacation work?

Vacation selection is based on seniority.

How long is each shift?

Shifts are eight to nine hours, depending on schedule.

What days of the week would I get off?

We have a variety of shifts, most days off are paired together and could be a weekday.

Is there a training period or would I start immediately as a Truck and Transport Technician?

You will be paired with an existing employee for the first week or two until all new employee training is complete.

Do I need a class 2 driver’s license?

You may be required to get a class 2 driver’s license depending on the facility you work in. You will be required get a bus, no passenger qualification from Calgary Transit.

Do I need a Q endorsement?

Q endorsement is considered an asset, all successful applicants must be able to obtain a Q endorsement within two months of employment.