Careers as a Heavy Duty Mechanic

[Kg14]

Good evening,

I'm looking to attend school this year for starting a career in Heavy Duty Mechanics, I wanted to ask folks that do this for a living before spending all this money and time.

I'm also starting this venture in my 30's and want to make sure I have options as a heavy duty mechanic. It will be hard for me to start over in my 40's.

As an Apprenticeship will I have work available? I've already been looking and most companies aren't looking for a newbie for job listings. I also know the Alberta oil fields are dead so I'm getting cold feet and haven't even applied for sept yet.

about tools, what's an average cost $10k average to be ready working on such big machines, my background is working on cars & trucks but this is a different beast.

I wanted to ask here first and hopefully could get some solid answers.

thank you

 

[Truck Shop]

If I had a any son's [which I don't, no children at all to be precise-except for a step daughter} I would have told them to set the bar higher in life than I did. Is that a good answer?
Sorry It's just my opinion. If I had it to do over again I would do it different. I'm not trying to spill the beans off your plate do what you think is right for you. No one can make that
decision for you. Good luck.

 

[Coaldust]

Sounds like you are in Canada. Your career track and training requirements will be much different than what is commonly done in the states. My favorite Canadian diesel and heavy equipment schools are;

Medicine Hat college
Northern Lights College
Grand Prairie Regional College

There are better career options. But, this one is good if you like working 7 days a week in crappy places and bad weather, don’t have a family and like destroying your health. Better ditch that wife if you want to live this life.

tools? Sure $10k to start with. Then you will continue to spend money for the next 20 years. Once you get tooled up, you will be close to retirement or disabled. Then, sell them for pennies on the dollar.

commercial HVAC with an emphasis on controls.
Fix medical equipment like x-ray machines.
Become some flavor of electrician

 

[JD955SC]

There’s a lot of negativity in those two posts. I understand where it comes from though.

I work a 40, sometimes 50 with overtime work week. I get excellent vacation time and decent benefits. I use the lifting equipment and such so as not to destroy my body. You don’t have to dedicate your life to this 24/7. I do this job with about 10k in tooling, I buy used as much as possible and stay the hell off the Snap On truck. You don’t need a $15k toolbox and $500 wrench sets to do the job.

it’s not the easiest job but it’s a rewarding one for someone who is mechanically inclined and likes problem solving and it’s a job that lets you go just about anywhere you want.

the biggest factor for you is your age is starting a little late. Not impossible mind you but it’s going to be quite a shock to your body if you are out in the elements all the time as a field mechanic or standing on concrete all the time in the shop and aren’t used to either.

 

[funwithfuel]

All good advice, I only have one suggestion. Maybe seek out the operating engineers union in your area . Find out if you can apprentice through your local. You won't be saddled with student loan debt.
It might be hard right now. As you mentioned, the people's republic of America under Komrad Biden killed the klondike pipeline.
Good luck.

 

[Sberry]

You ever get tired of draining oil out of shat and pouring it back in? Changing filters, constant mess with crap running in your sleeves? I do what I do cause I got to but i hate that with a passion.

 

[Truck Shop]

It's the health issues that go with it-No Country For Old Men.

 

[thepumpguysc]

It’s a hellofa lot easier if u can specialize in 1 thing..
Take your pic.. fuel injection is what I picked.. it was either that or heavy Duty transmission o/h..
I was good at both.. BUT every one of the HD Trans. people I talked to were missing fingers..!!
Everyone at some point in time will need they’re injection pump fixed.!!
It’s a gazillion dollar industry..
Same thing with electrical, or hydraulics..
Scan thru JUST TODAYS POSTS..
What r the main topics.?? Hydraulics & Electrics..
& yes you’ll b asked/ told u have to go out in the field.. but most of the work is “in house”..
So I say, specializing in 1 or 2 things is the way to go.. but that’s my opinion..
Good luck in what ever u decide.

 

[BigWrench55]

I can certainly agree with everything said here. Other than the abuse the body takes and believe us when we say that. I love what I do. I personally think that you are late getting into the game. And I don't know how good of an auto mechanic you are. This job isn't that easy it requires a lot of creative thinking, constant problem solving, and thinking out of the box. I say this because I don't think highly of most automotive mechanics ( parts changers) . I'm not trying to put you in that category and there are a lot of parts changers in this industry as well. It's just been my experience that the one's that are good in my field can work on anything from a mini bike to a nuclear submarine. I am being facetious of course but I am not far from the truth. If I were you I would find someone that would hire you and train you rather than go into debt for a career that you may not like. I don't know what it's like in your market, but where I am from you fake it until you make it. If you have what it takes then you will make it If you don't... Well it's back to the drawing board. Good luck with the career change.

 

[funwithfuel]

You ever get tired of draining oil out of shat and pouring it back in? Changing filters, constant mess with crap running in your sleeves? I do what I do cause I got to but i hate that with a passion.

Sure just point out the highlights and fun why donchya?

 

[Sberry]

I forgot rolling on the floor or in the dirt which adds to your mechanic pleasure.

 

[John C.]

I've worked in the industry almost fifty years now. I don't do the heavy wrenching anymore but am still asked for technical advise and plenty of troubleshooting knowledge. It has been an interesting career.
The industry has changed completely from when I started. The field is where most of the heavy stuff was done when I started. Rebuild an engine under the trees, sure. Yard a transmission and torque converter out of a loader and rebuild both in a lean to in southeast Alaska. Sure, just be done before the 4th of July holiday. Pull the heads off a D8H in the winter and then get so much snow you can't get back to the machine for two weeks. Happened more than once. Now days it seems everything has to go on a truck back to a shop so that specialists can do all that technical stuff. Do your stuff with hydraulics, electrical and a lap top to tell you what is wrong. It won't be long before the machines tell you what needs to happen before they will be put to work again.

The issue is that my career and everyone else's above was done from the perspective of looking backwards. You have to look forwards to decide what you want to do. The only comments that I can make is that the skill sets in this industry will enable you to work in nearly any other industry with only slight changes. I believe all the commentators above work all the hours they want. They can usually go anywhere they want and find a job. I would say most would never get stuck in an office and be happy. Many work for themselves in their own businesses. We all gripe about what we do, the rotten weather and the condition of our bodies after all these years. Keep in mind we are looking backwards.

You are going to pay for training in one way or another no matter what you do. At least when it comes directly out of your own pocket, you have a say in what you learn. My personal motto seems to keep my moving forward. If you are not getting better, you are getting worse. Good luck to you and your future.

 

[mowingman]

Our son has been, and is still a mechanic. He now works for a Cat dealer. He loves his work. His career path started in high school when he majored in the auto mechanics training classes at our district's tech school. He then attended one of the Dallas County Jr. colleges where he got a two year degree in auto mechanics technology. He was sponsored by Ford, and took classes part of the year and worked at a Ford dealer the other part of the year. Ford pretty much paid for this education. From there, with his 2 year degree, he started as a mechanic at the same Ford dealership. He quickly found that it did not pay much, due to "Flag Hours". He next went to work evenings at the local Peterbilt factory, where he placed transmissions in trucks on the assy line. Peterbilt cut back and he got laid off. Very next day he started as a mechanic at an independent import auto repair shop. Stayed there 5 years until the owner retired. Then, he immediately went to work as a field service mechanic doing oil changes for the local Cat dealer. He has since worked his way up to a mechanic in the Power Generation Division. It took him about 10 years to get to where he is now.
He found that the real money is in either heavy duty equipment repair, diesel truck repair, or farm equipment repair. The oil field work is to be avoided due to the feast or famine nature of that work. This also shows that you do not have to have any diesel experience to get your start in heavy equipment repair. If you are smart, can learn, and are really good at diagnosis, you can move up quickly. I would say go for it. However, do not expect to start at the top. Just work hard and work your way up the ladder.

 

[treemuncher]

You have but one shot at life - make your career something you love to do. There is absolutely nothing worse than hating to wake up every morning to head to a job that you despise, no matter how much it pays. Been there, done that.

"Find something to specialize in rather than trying to do it all - you will be better in your field, have fewer hassles and make more money." This was some of the best advice I every listened to. It pointed me into the direction that I took to get me where I am now.

I have a great education but I hated sitting behind a desk. I could make lots more money in other fields but where will that get me - gold in a casket? I don't have to deal with employees or excessive government regulations. I can retire when I want to but I continue to work because I love what I do. Maybe I don't enjoy all the repairs so much of the time, but I'm happy with what I do and that is the most important thing in this life. Stay happy, stay motivated, think at least 2 steps ahead, stay out of trouble - everything else will fall into place with ease.

 

[Welder Dave]

I think a big difference in HD mechanic skills today is the extensive use of computers for diagnosing and calibrating components. New mechanics have been referred to as technicians rather than mechanics and it's been suggested these technicians wouldn't know how to diagnose problems without a lap top telling them what's wrong. You could be a great wrench turner but if you aren't just as proficient with computers you could really struggle. I think it's like any other trade in that you have to take the good with the bad. If you find an employer that treats you well and you like the work stick with them instead always looking to find something better.

 

[Truck Shop]

I'm not saying I didn't like what I do, If I didn't I surely wouldn't have spent the time, money and effort
to build this.

 

[Welder Dave]

That's different... That's a work of art!

 

[92U 3406]

HD mechanic? Best choice I ever made. Really good money in it if you're willing to go after the work.

 

[Coaldust]

I used to be a huge supporter of the university, state college and community college based heavy equipment & transportation programs. I still
support the concept, but the quality of the the majority of these programs have declined. It’s difficult to explain why without going into the subject of academic politics.

In other words, it’s super expensive to attend and the quality of education is poor. Of course, there are exceptions.

I believe the Caterpillar ThinkBig programs are the best way to get started. Once completed, I think it’s possible to work a decent career at a Cat dealer.

The beauty of the Cat ThinkBig program is that students are dealership employees. Which means they have been vetted and are held accountable by their sponsor dealer. Which greatly improves the quality of the overall classroom/lab experience.

You are still paying tuition or fees to attend and have skin in the game. Except, Caterpillar Inc and your sponsor dealer are also chipping in their share of money, uniforms, text books and tools. Many dealers will transfer ownership of the tools to the graduate after work at the dealer for a few years.

 

[Coaldust]

Heads up about school and Covid. I would not attend a school right now unless someone else was paying for it.

College students are getting ripped off. Lectures have been replaced by distance learning platforms. Lab time hours (working on equipment) has been reduced. The social distancing, sanitizing, masks, requirements have made lab time about worthless. According to friends of mine, still teaching in these programs. Plus, my observations as a advisory board chairman of a local program.

For example. The diesel students at AVTEC in Seward, lost 21 days of class time last Fall because of infection and quarantine. They still had to pay for that, BTW. They got ripped off. The value wasn’t there. Everyone gets a good grade and graduates, sure. But the time was wasted and not much was learned.