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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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74205.00 – Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers

Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers operate vehicles and equipment to maintain streets, highways and sewer systems and operate trucks to collect garbage and recyclable materials. This unit group also includes workers who clear vegetation close to power lines.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Garbage truck driver
  • Municipal maintenance equipment operator
  • Public works maintenance equipment operator
  • Salt truck operator
  • Sand spreader operator
  • Sewer-flushing truck operator - public works
  • Snow removal equipment operator - public works
  • Street flusher operator
  • Street sweeper operator
  • Utility arborist

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to drive garbage trucks, street cleaning equipment such as street sweepers and other vehicles equipped with rotating brushes, snowploughs and plough blades
  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to ensure any potential issues or malfunctions in machinery and equipment are detected early, preventing accidents that could harm the operator, other workers or the public
  • Rate Control and Reaction Time to quickly and precisely adjust garbage truck, snowplows or other equipment controls to maintain speed and positioning
  • Control of Settings to manipulate levers and other controls to remove garbage, refuse and snow from streets, highways, parking lots and similar areas
  • Attention to Detail to accurately follow procedures, operate and maintain equipment safely and maintain public infrastructure standards
  • Knowledge in Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations to understand safe, efficient and accurate operation and maintenance of specialized machinery like snowplows, graders and dump trucks

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate garbage trucks to remove garbage and other refuse and dump loads at designated sites
  • Operate street cleaning equipment such as street sweepers or other vehicles equipped with rotating brushes to remove sand, litter and trash
  • Operate snowplows or trucks fitted with plow blades to remove snow from streets, highways, parking lots and similar areas
  • Operate sewer maintenance equipment such as rodders and sewer jet cleaners to maintain and repair sewer systems
  • Operate trucks equipped with apparatuses for spreading sand, salt or abrasives on roadways
  • Operate chainsaws and other clearing equipment to fell trees and cut back vegetation close to power lines
  • Check, lubricate, refuel and clean equipment and report any malfunctions to supervisor.

Additional information

  • Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Heavy equipment operators (73400)
  • Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers (85121)
  • Public works and maintenance labourers (75212)
  • Transport truck drivers (73300)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

4 – Occupations usually require a secondary school diploma; or several weeks of on-the-job training

Major group

74 – Mail and message distribution, other transport equipment operators and related maintenance workers

Sub-major group

742 – Transport equipment operators, utility maintenance and related workers

Minor group

7420 – Transport equipment operators, utility maintenance and related maintenance workers

Unit group

74205 – Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers

Occupational profile

74205.00 – Public works maintenance equipment operators and related workers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.