Truck mechanics repair and maintain the engine that powers Trucks. They also look into any other mechanical problems that trucks may have.
Truck Mechanics Schools and Degrees
In order to become a truck mechanic one should take courses in mathematics, physics, automotive and repair. Many vocational and trade schools and community colleges offer programs in these subjects. Such programs lead towards associate’s degrees.
Job Requirements
Training is very important in this vocation. Formal training educates aspirants in the current truck and diesel technology. It provides them with the complete knowledge required to service and repair trucks. Truck mechanics are also taught how to understand and use technical manuals in their work. Unskilled and uneducated beginners often join as trainees, and pick up required skills through practical experience on the job.
Certification often advances the scope of employment for truck mechanics. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence offers certifications for truck mechanics. Those who pass the assessments are certified as master truck equipment technicians or as master heavy/medium truck technicians. Truck mechanics can also be certified in the areas of electronic and electrical systems, brakes and steering and suspension. Two years experience is required prior to taking the examination.
Truck mechanics should have good problem solving skills. They also need to have mechanical aptitude. Being physically fit is important. They should be at least eighteen years old and have a commercial drivers license so that they are able to test drive the trucks after repairing them. Many organizations require truck mechanics pass a drug test.
Nature of Work
Truck mechanics handle almost all kinds of repairs pertaining to trucks. They may be required to examine the electrical system of the truck one day and undertake major repairs of the engine the next. Mechanics who work for firms usually end up doing preventive maintenance work, during which they adhere to a check list. Then they adjust, fix or change broken parts. Truck mechanics employ a number of tools to do their work, including pneumatic wrenches, lathes and welding and cutting machines.
Truck mechanics usually work in well-ventilated areas. They are usually provided with shower and locker facilities by employers. They usually work indoors, but also may be required to work outdoors and fix trucks on the road. The nature of work requires the mechanic to be in the same position for long hours, which can be quite tiring. Truck mechanics normally work for forty hours in a week.
Truck Mechanics Jobs and Outlook
According to a study done in 2006, truck mechanics held about 275,000 jobs in the US. Employment is the highest in the following industries:
Automotive repair and maintenance
General Freight Trucking
Local Government
Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts, and supplies merchant wholesalers
Specialized freight trucking
The median hourly earnings for truck mechanics is $18.11 according to data obtained in 2006.
Job Numbers and Growth
If you add up all the truck mechanics in the country you get a total of about 275,000. There has been a low unemployment rate for workers. An unfortunate 3% of employees were without jobs in 2008.
Area Job Conditions
Truck mechanics appear most common in Farmington (New Mexico), Casper (Wyoming), and Springfield (Ohio), and least common in Bethesda (Maryland), San Francisco (California), and Athens (Georgia).
Napa (California), Kokomo (Indiana), and Oakland (California) offer the highest pay. Johnson City (Tennessee), McAllen (Texas), and Ann Arbor (Michigan) offer the lowest salaries.
Training and Education
A postsecondary vocational award is often necessary for working in the field. About 3% of truck mechanics have earned a degree. Some college, below a 4-year degree, is sufficient for 31% of workers. Employees with only a high school education represent about 66% of all. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Government statistics report that 3% of truck mechanics are employed part-time. Workers who work for themselves total about 6%.
Truck Mechanics by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.