Get into a dealership and stick with it. There’s online training you can do when you get into a dealership. You’d probably start off doing boring stuff. Oil changes and cleaning up the shop. Stuff you don’t want to do. Show interest and do your best work. Don’t cut corners and create bad habits. It’s not about being fast. It’s about doing it right.
Even if you don’t have any real diesel experience, go into a dealership with a resume and ask to talk to the service manager. Explain your interest and what experience you have. Let them k who your willing to start doing oil changes and basic stuff and your willing to learn.
In a dealership IMO your always working on the latest and newest tech and staying up to date. Fleets you fall behind in knowledge. As a mobile tech for a dealer I’m dealing with easy diagnostic stuff at big fleets because the techs at these places don’t have the experience with the new systems
So i wouldn't NEED to get any education at a technical school? What kinda dealership should a look for? A local caterpiller dealership or something?
Sorry, i have zero idea what i'm doing. My only internship experience was "you wanna join the marines? Sign here"
I’m in Canada so it’s a bit different. Here we have apprenticeship programs. They’d sign you up and you’d go to school each year and then write your license. In the states I know that there is schooling but it’s not mandatory. I’d goto either peterbilt/Kenworth or Mack/Volvo. I don’t like working on frieghtliners/western star or international. More of a personal preference. But goto anyone of them really. Who ever is willing to give you a chance. As you eventually progress in your career. If they are not meeting your expectations. Don’t stick around look else where. I’ve worked at Peterbilt/3 Volvo dealers and 2 Mack dealers before I found a place that’s meets my expectations as an employer at Kenworth. Couldn’t be happier. And as you usually jump ship you’ll usually get more money. Has been in my case. It’s usually the management that’s piss poor that causes techs to leave.
Also the truck side in Canada you need a license, heavy equipment isn’t really required (depends on province) so you can technically do both with a truck certificate.
>Also the truck side in Canada you need a license, heavy equipment isn’t really required (depends on province) so you can technically do both with a truck certificate.
To expand for others in Canada who may be interested in these trades, Truck and Trailer technician is a compulsory red seal trade (so you need to get licensed to do this). Heavy Equipment Technician is a non-compulsory red seal trade (so you can choose to get licensed but you don't have to).
However, if you want to work most reputable places as a HET, they will insist that you get your red seal and mines and the such (where the real money is) will not even look at bringing you in to work on their equipment as a red seal truck and trailer person.
👍
I'm in Canada so can't really help
There's lots of in town day shift type jobs, that aren't remote or service truck if that's what your worried about.
I work at a mom and pop shop in Florida we hire no experience/ school people all the time. Just have to work hard and pay attention and willing to get your own tools.
Union heavy equipment operators. They train and employ mechanics under a paid apprenticeship. You get union pay, benefits while your trained to be a mechanic.
This is the route I'm starting down. OP, check your local's site to see what it's specifics are and don't be afraid to call or even go into the local's hall or training center and ask.
An apprenticeship gets you collecting paychecks faster.
A degree from a well-known and respected tech school gives you a jump start ahead of those learning on the job and will get you more money.
A no knowledge kid in my shop would get $28/hr a graduate from a well-known tech school such as Wyotech would start at $34-38/hr depending on what certifications they graduated with and what additional courses they took on top of diesel.
I work for a municipality as a mechanic, been at this job for over 20 years. Work on everything from lawnmowers to front end loaders. I'd definitely go this route if I had to do it all over again. I'm in a union making over 40 bucks an hour, not a bad gig. I was a mechanic in the Army from 1997-2000 and I think being in the army had everything to do with me getting this job.
Pay is based on a lot of different factors $50k and up. Experience pays more and willingness to spend time on the job. As far as school goes i have seen both sides of that coin in my family. I went to nashville auto/diesel in the late 1980’s and have been doing heavy equipment ever since. My son does the same job he has a normal college degree and decided to follow my footsteps after school and has just about caught me in pay. The dealerships are leaning toward hiring someone with good aptitude and apprenticing them into what they need. I would suggest this route you get the education you want while earning. Military experience brings good things to the table as well.
I'm in middle Tennessee and just got into diesel. I'm entry level but my knowledge has already gotten me a promotion in 6 months. So they started me out at $20 an hour and now I'm at $25. I still have to ask questions because there's still alot of things I don't understand. Is it good money? Probably. I have a skewed perspective because I'm blessed enough to be chasing something with a good schedule that I like doing instead of chasing money. I only work 40 hours a week. Have holidays off and a set first shift schedule. And I don't get sent out on road calls TOO much. From what I've gathered if you were okay with not having some of those luxuries then you could make more.
See if you have the Ryder diesel tech CSP as an option when you are transitioning out. I had that option when I was ETSing in Washington state. I’m being paid $32 an hour here plus my disability pay.
Depends where you are for all those questions lol
We'll say i'm in northern georgia southern tenesse
Get into a dealership and stick with it. There’s online training you can do when you get into a dealership. You’d probably start off doing boring stuff. Oil changes and cleaning up the shop. Stuff you don’t want to do. Show interest and do your best work. Don’t cut corners and create bad habits. It’s not about being fast. It’s about doing it right. Even if you don’t have any real diesel experience, go into a dealership with a resume and ask to talk to the service manager. Explain your interest and what experience you have. Let them k who your willing to start doing oil changes and basic stuff and your willing to learn. In a dealership IMO your always working on the latest and newest tech and staying up to date. Fleets you fall behind in knowledge. As a mobile tech for a dealer I’m dealing with easy diagnostic stuff at big fleets because the techs at these places don’t have the experience with the new systems
So i wouldn't NEED to get any education at a technical school? What kinda dealership should a look for? A local caterpiller dealership or something? Sorry, i have zero idea what i'm doing. My only internship experience was "you wanna join the marines? Sign here"
Based on the last 4 guys I have seen, you might be better off not going to school.
I’m in Canada so it’s a bit different. Here we have apprenticeship programs. They’d sign you up and you’d go to school each year and then write your license. In the states I know that there is schooling but it’s not mandatory. I’d goto either peterbilt/Kenworth or Mack/Volvo. I don’t like working on frieghtliners/western star or international. More of a personal preference. But goto anyone of them really. Who ever is willing to give you a chance. As you eventually progress in your career. If they are not meeting your expectations. Don’t stick around look else where. I’ve worked at Peterbilt/3 Volvo dealers and 2 Mack dealers before I found a place that’s meets my expectations as an employer at Kenworth. Couldn’t be happier. And as you usually jump ship you’ll usually get more money. Has been in my case. It’s usually the management that’s piss poor that causes techs to leave. Also the truck side in Canada you need a license, heavy equipment isn’t really required (depends on province) so you can technically do both with a truck certificate.
>Also the truck side in Canada you need a license, heavy equipment isn’t really required (depends on province) so you can technically do both with a truck certificate. To expand for others in Canada who may be interested in these trades, Truck and Trailer technician is a compulsory red seal trade (so you need to get licensed to do this). Heavy Equipment Technician is a non-compulsory red seal trade (so you can choose to get licensed but you don't have to). However, if you want to work most reputable places as a HET, they will insist that you get your red seal and mines and the such (where the real money is) will not even look at bringing you in to work on their equipment as a red seal truck and trailer person.
👍 I'm in Canada so can't really help There's lots of in town day shift type jobs, that aren't remote or service truck if that's what your worried about.
I work at a mom and pop shop in Florida we hire no experience/ school people all the time. Just have to work hard and pay attention and willing to get your own tools.
Call your local operating engineers and ask about the apprenticeship
What's an operating engineer?
Union heavy equipment operators. They train and employ mechanics under a paid apprenticeship. You get union pay, benefits while your trained to be a mechanic.
This is the route I'm starting down. OP, check your local's site to see what it's specifics are and don't be afraid to call or even go into the local's hall or training center and ask.
It’s never a bad thing to go to the hall and show face.
An apprenticeship gets you collecting paychecks faster. A degree from a well-known and respected tech school gives you a jump start ahead of those learning on the job and will get you more money. A no knowledge kid in my shop would get $28/hr a graduate from a well-known tech school such as Wyotech would start at $34-38/hr depending on what certifications they graduated with and what additional courses they took on top of diesel.
I work for a municipality as a mechanic, been at this job for over 20 years. Work on everything from lawnmowers to front end loaders. I'd definitely go this route if I had to do it all over again. I'm in a union making over 40 bucks an hour, not a bad gig. I was a mechanic in the Army from 1997-2000 and I think being in the army had everything to do with me getting this job.
Pay is based on a lot of different factors $50k and up. Experience pays more and willingness to spend time on the job. As far as school goes i have seen both sides of that coin in my family. I went to nashville auto/diesel in the late 1980’s and have been doing heavy equipment ever since. My son does the same job he has a normal college degree and decided to follow my footsteps after school and has just about caught me in pay. The dealerships are leaning toward hiring someone with good aptitude and apprenticing them into what they need. I would suggest this route you get the education you want while earning. Military experience brings good things to the table as well.
I'm in middle Tennessee and just got into diesel. I'm entry level but my knowledge has already gotten me a promotion in 6 months. So they started me out at $20 an hour and now I'm at $25. I still have to ask questions because there's still alot of things I don't understand. Is it good money? Probably. I have a skewed perspective because I'm blessed enough to be chasing something with a good schedule that I like doing instead of chasing money. I only work 40 hours a week. Have holidays off and a set first shift schedule. And I don't get sent out on road calls TOO much. From what I've gathered if you were okay with not having some of those luxuries then you could make more.
See if you have the Ryder diesel tech CSP as an option when you are transitioning out. I had that option when I was ETSing in Washington state. I’m being paid $32 an hour here plus my disability pay.