Heavy Equipment mechanics

Hi there all

and a very happy new to all:drinkup I was wondering how the heavy equipment mechanics or plant fitters as we're called over here are finding things in different parts of the world? We all know theres a global turn down in the construction industry, but here in Ireland the fitters were always in high demand and usually the last to go! Alot of people i've spoken to around here seem to still be in work, but are'nt holding much hope for 2009. Are self-employed or freelance guys finding more work because companies are not going to the main dear etc? just intersted to know how your finding it in your part of the world! look forward to your replays

Thanks cps

I am still wide open and have not heard to slow down or quit spending money:drinkup. There was a little talk of maybe some layoffs, I think the Boss was just wanting feedback, I told him good luck, right now I am about two years behind on my work and if they fired me I would have to stay to finish. Last year at this time they ask me to watch my spending, they have not asked yet, maybe since I ignored them last year they figured it was a waste of time I did offer to take a volunteer layoff for three months if they would pay my insurance, they declined and said I would be the last to go:notworthy

Deferred Maintenance ?

"Watch your Spending " translates to deferred maintenance . LOL

Seen that many a time, a outfit won't buy new batteries yet will spend an hour everyday , jump starting , pull starting, etc., equipment, while the operators wait. Com'on how much do batteries and starters cost, compared to lost production ??

Tires ? Won't buy new tires yet keep fixing flats, while equipment is down . LOL

The list goes on, but I'm sure everyone knows, the company is hard up for money.

Lots of people want you to work for them but only a fraction pay on time or at all. Network with as many companies as you can to find out who pays and who doesn't!

08 was the best year i ever had for hours,hopefully 09 will be good
1 mechanic + 40 pieces of equipment

Blowing Trumpet

The U.K. has realy been hit hard within the House building sector, lucky for myself I never step onto these sites, all the wet Summer I had good work on Bulk Muckshifts, mainly working on Dump-trucks and swingers, the down side is the traveling as the work local is not the best cash wise or very exciting, at the moment I have a couple of D6 Highdrives to tinker with plus 2 Moxy dumpers in big bits, and seem to be getting work from new faces that seem to be able to pay a bill so far, the down turn will kill off the weak C'os and a few mechanics/fitters are going to get tucked up, the important thing is not to supply anything other than labour only, then if things do get muddy all you loose is your time, I always get paid in the end one way or the other,the new year is going to be some struggle for plenty of people but the reap what you sow thing will come to lots of folk that are living outside their means, I have a good circle of Plant Fitter mates from a wide area and get a few good leads of work plus I get warned of Lame Ducks with empty pockets, we all seem to keep in regular contact and are willing to help out each other as the Midland area has plenty " Dodgers"

tctractors

No downturn in the fayetteville area of NC. I just recently left a large rental outfit and went to work for a JD dealer. More work than I can handle. Ft Bragg is wide open building stuff and its seeping down into the smaller subs. Some of the Mom and Pops are a lil slow in paying and on what repairs they want done now and what they want to defer, other than that, its business as usual here. Pay wise, if a good wrench turner wants to work contract for one of the players on Ft Bragg, you can start at 18 to 21 an hour. No O/T and the usual Gov BS to go along with it. Out side the walls, you can expect to make 15 to 20, O/T depends on the jobs coming in. Bottom line is... if you are a good tech, drug free and come to work everyday on time, no shortage of jobs or pay.

I believe this is one of the hardest jobs especially the field service tech .I was fortunate to be taken under a older field mans wing and he taught me a ton. He was crabby but once you got through that hard shell it became clear that he had a wealth of knowledge He could tell stories . One time he installed a new crankshaft in a Cat d353 the old d9 tractor engine the amazing thing he did it in a tug boat while still moving bardges and the engine stayed upright lifted a foot or so by hand winches to get crank up in place. Yes a war storie but still a amazing job with 3 other engines running around you and tug moving thanks the BIG D

There are, amazingly, still heavy equipment mechanic positions being offered in the Phoenix area. Saw a couple listed on Craig's List today. Also saw several listings last night on InfoMine at various places around the country and worldwide.

Thanks for the replys guys!:drinkup

I ve been meaning to get back to you all!

So far this year is of to a steady start for now, but its just one day at a time for me around here! but like t.c tractors says the key is not to get in to deep with parts, oil etc! then worst comes worst your only down on labour! I'm glad you all are kept busy and may it continue into 2009 and beond!

Thanks for the repelys and keep them coming

cps

Talked to a Hertz mechanic thursday, they are down to 35 hours a week now here in Charlotte NC.

BIG D said:

I believe this is one of the hardest jobs especially the field service tech .I was fortunate to be taken under a older field mans wing and he taught me a ton. He was crabby but once you got through that hard shell it became clear that he had a wealth of knowledge He could tell stories . One time he installed a new crankshaft in a Cat d353 the old d9 tractor engine the amazing thing he did it in a tug boat while still moving bardges and the engine stayed upright lifted a foot or so by hand winches to get crank up in place. Yes a war storie but still a amazing job with 3 other engines running around you and tug moving thanks the BIG D

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Not changing the subject, it happened the same with me as with Big D. Cut my teeth in field service many years ago with an older, grouchy master mechanic. All the hands warned me of his antics, i.e., when he gets mad he'll throw one of his wrenches and look at you to go pick it up. He did. So I did. I walked over, picked his wrench up, and threw it a little farther! Frank taught me a lot after that laugh.

I ran into a friend of mine Friday at lunch that is a mechanic at the local Cat dealer. He said they have been extremely slow with the majority of the work being on landfill equipment. He runs a service truck but said he has been in the shop helping rebuild tranny's, engines, etc since the beginning of Dec.

The local Cat house rebuilds Drummond Coal's equipment from their Columbian mine. They break the engines, trans, finals, etc out and ship them back here to be rebuilt. Doesn't make $$ sense to me but then again I don't have a top 10 largest fleet of equipment.:beatsme

I talked with Drummond Coal a few years ago about a position as Mine Equipment Manager in Columbia. The job entailed both the mine equipment and the port loading equipment as well as the conveyor. Big responsibilities but no problem so far as I was concerned.

Then they mentioned that everyone from the states rotated in and out of the mine by airplane from their headquarters in Alabama, and that my bodyguards would be flying in and out with me! "Bodyguards," says I. Yep, "bodyguards," they said. They went on to explain that expats were not real popular in Columbia and that I would have at least two people with me nearly all the time, especially on any travel along the conveyor or to the port.

The money and benefits were attractive, but not that attractive and I declined the position. I'd had enough of that kind of stuff before.

It was explained that because they were having a hard time finding expats that had rebuilding experience, they sent most of their major rebuild work back to America as the local Cat and other dealers were not that good either.

It may be that Drummond is still having the same problem with finding people willing to go there, and that the service infrastructure is still poor compared to here.

Anyone here on the forum work for Drummond that could elaborate on this?

surfer-joe said:

Then they mentioned that everyone from the states rotated in and out of the mine by airplane from their headquarters in Alabama, and that my bodyguards would be flying in and out with me! "Bodyguards," says I. Yep, "bodyguards," they said. They went on to explain that expats were not real popular in Columbia and that I would have at least two people with me nearly all the time, especially on any travel along the conveyor or to the port.

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I have been told about the "BodyGuard" thing many times before for Colombia. They are armed, and follow you everywhere for your protection. Does not sound like fun. Also, in some parts of Africa, when you enter the country with your passport, you will be in danger of being followed, and then kidnapped. Have been told many of these stories by Cat Engineers. Most do not go to the places in Africa where it is not safe.