Canadian Utility Fleet Council Online

and began work. Their goals, develop a trades matrix which accurately reflects the tasks required of a modern day Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanic and from that matrix, develop and implement a national certification process. The matrix titled the "Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanic Learning Guide" was published in 1997 and served as a blueprint for tradesmen training. Using the tasks identified in the learning guide, a certification process has now been developed. Beginning in the fall of 2002, mechanics who presently maintain this type of equipment and who meet the qualifying criteria, will be allowed to challenge the certification examination.

In May of 2002 the annual meeting of the Canadian Utility Fleet Council (known as the CUFF meeting) was held in Calgary. At that meeting the audience, consisting of Utility Fleet Managers, Equipment Manufacturers and Equipment Suppliers from across Canada, was polled to determine when certification should become mandatory for those repairing and maintaining utility fleet equipment in Canada. The consensus was that by the year 2005 all mechanics involved in the maintenance of utility equipment be certified.

Purpose

Certification of the personnel who build, service, repair and inspect modern day utility equipment accomplishes the following:

For equipment owners, -it means having their equipment maintained by only competent people and provides a means of proving they are following the best practices possible.
For equipment manufacturers, -it means having their product maintained in the fashion they had intended.
For the technician repairing, maintaining or inspecting the equipment,-it means getting the necessary training to enable them to adequately perform their jobs.
For the equipment operator, -it means having a comfort level, knowing the equipment they use is maintained by a trained and certified professional.

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The Process

Certification under the direction of the Canadian Utility Fleet Council is a voluntary process, aimed towards the "best practices" available principle. The program is driven by utilities, equipment manufacturers, owners and operators, requiring that only certified technicians are allowed to service, inspect and maintain their equipment. The process for certification is simple. When a technician meets the qualifying criteria as outlined as follows, he or she is are allowed to challenge the examination. The examination is scored and technicians achieving a grade of 70 percent or higher are issued a Certificate of Qualification. Names of successful technicians are entered into the official database of "Certified Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanics". The release of any information from the database is under the strict control of the Canadian Utility Fleet Council "Mechanic Training and Certification Steering Committee". Robert Borer Enterprises Ltd. has developed and will administer the process, under the direction and control of the Canadian Utility Fleet Council "Mechanic Training and Certification Committee."

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Task List

All tasks the Mechanic will be tested on are found in the "Utility Fleet Mechanic Learning Guide". The "Guide" identifies task criticality as well as how to go about learning the required skills. The "Guide" also provides a section with sign-off sheets. When a technician has performed a task to the satisfaction of the company's observer, the observer and technician both sign the sheet, indicating that the task has been satisfactorily completed. When the technician has completed all of the tasks, and spent appropriate time to gain experience, he or she should be ready to challenge the examination.

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Training

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The Examination

The examination is comprised of a combination of 100 multiple choice and true or false questions. Tasks viewed as critical have more questions dedicated to them. Questions pertaining to tasks considered critical are worth more marks in the determination of the technician's final score. Each applicant's examination is unique, being made up of questions randomly selected by computer from a data base of approved questions. Each student is expected to complete the examination within a time period of two hours, without the aid of any written material or coaching. Students are allowed to use a calculator in the examination. Completed examinations are scored with results forwarded to the CUFC. Mechanic Training Certification Committee for review. Upon successful completion of the process, a certificate is forwarded to the new certified "Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanic."

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Appeal Process

Appeal of examination results or any other area of dispute, must be made directly to the CUFC Mechanic Training and Certification Committee. In all cases, the decision of the committee will be final.

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Qualification Criteria

Since the integrity of the program is of utmost importance, only those meeting or exceeding the qualification criteria will be eligible to challenge the examination. There will be absolutely no "Grand Fathering" of any technician. The Committee fully realizes there are personnel working in the industry who are not "licensed mechanics" and that those individuals, because of their past experience, should be considered. Due to the wide diversity of technicians presently working in the industry, there are a number of ways in which an applicant may qualify to write the examination, Minimum qualifying criteria is as follows:

Hold a valid Provincial Mechanic's License (or equivalent) in automotive, truck and coach or heavy duty equipment, and further, have a minimum, of two years dedicated practical experience on utility type equipment.
In the absence of possessing a valid mechanic license (or equivalent), the applicant must, at minimum, have 5 years experience actively servicing, inspecting and repairing utility type equipment.
Hold a valid Engineering or Technologist degree and have at minimum, two years dedicated practical experience on utility type equipment.

Applications for certification will require photocopies of valid mechanic licenses, Engineering Degree or Technologist Degree and a letter from the applicant's employer attesting to the industry experience, including the completion and sign off of tasks indicated with a criticality of three or higher in the "Utility Fleet Mechanic Learning Guide". Any detected falsifications submitted will result the applicant being ineligible for certification until such time as approval is granted by the "Steering Committee".

Further information regarding the process can be obtained by contacting any of the Mechanic Certification committee:

Jack Abraham, Nova Scotia Power, 902 428 7591 (Committee Chair)
Trevor Philpot, Newfoundland Power, 709 292 8014
Ron Dion, Toronto Hydro, 416 542 8036
Doug Reilly, Hydro One, 905 608 4272
Klaus Wetzel, K-Line Maintenance & Construction 905 640 2002

Download the technician certification application form.

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Utility Fleet Equipment Mechanic Certification

Purpose

The Process

Task List

Training

The Examination

Appeal Process

Qualification Criteria