Posted: 7/27/2008 4:56:47 PM EDT
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Any suggestions on getting into Diesel repair field. Training schools? Pay? Timeframe? ETA: I am in Arkansas but that shouldnt matter for the right opportunity. I am interested in OTR trucks, marine and heavy equip, not moms Diesel VW. |
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I'm not too sure on what schools you should go do. Maybe try to get your foot in the door in like an apprenticeship kinda gig at a local repair shop, you'll learn a lot more hands on in the field than you will in any school. Pay varies depending on experience and skill. Granted, I don't do diesel/heavy line kinda stuff, but I've worked in the automotive repair field for a bit now. You'll be making a significant investment over time in tools and equipment. It's hard, dirty, greasy, grungy, nasty, thankless work. |
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Where are you located? There is a good Diesal and Automotive collage in Denver. Lincoln Collage of Technology |
I went to UTI and just look at me now.  www.uti.edu/ I think the individual student has much more to do with their success than the school they attend. |
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Quoted: I went to UTI and just look at me now. My son is enrolled in UTI and is to start classes in August. we know severas who attended class there and we were impressed with the results. Mainlu depends on how hard you want to work to get where you want to be..... fullclip |
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I've worked alongside a few NADC, Wyotech and UTI guys. Most of them are decent, good enough people, but the vast majority of them were lousy technicians. Couldn't fix a sandwich, much less a car. Some of them showed up to work and didn't even have any tools. The commercials for those places and the pipe dreams their recruits spin are setting people up for failure and disappointment, IMO. |
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Yeah. I went to school full time and worked 6 days a week when I did it. That was probably one of the hardest times of my life in one of the most unforgiving environments possible. I had to attend the Houston campus. I do not carry fond memories of Houston. 8 years later I'm still working for the Benz dealer I started with. I made it out of UTI at the number one spot in my class, and was accepted in the Mercedes-Benz Elite training course without any difficulty whatsoever. It can be a rough living sometimes, and other times it can be very good to you. |
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THere are alot of .GOV contractors hiring workers to repair US Military vehicles here in the States as well as overseas. Workers are generally hired to assist Mechanics in Vehicle and Heavy equipment repair, till the have enough knowledge to promote to Mechanics. In my facility, I am Senior Mechanic to 27 regular mechanics and 6 workers, and we work on HMWWV's, MTV and LMTV type trucks as well as larger vehicles like HETT's HEMTT's and Freightliners. The Diesel engines we work on are mostly GM, and CAT. Other than that, I would recommend Lincoln Technical or UTI, and try to hook up with a Dealership that might Co-op your education expense. During my years as a Service Manager in a Dealership I hired a number of Tech school students. |
United Southern Methodist College LAV Mechanic /Tech (Light armored vehcicle 16 ton armored cars) MOS 2147 will guarantee you work on Detriot Diesels. All of my buddies who got out got good jobs with the Caterpillar certs the Corps paid for them to attend. Army has the Construction Equipment Repairer 62B MOS |
Read the part in red. I've been a professional (auto) mechanic for a long time. I would not recommend this trade to anyone. I don't know how the diesel repair trade compares but I can't imagine it being a hell of a lot different. |
My dad works on Class 8 OTR type stuff. I did it for a bit part time on the weekends with dear old dad, and I remember leaving in the mornings, squeaky clean, and coming home pitch black from head to toe. Oh, and as an automotive tech, I thought I had a fair amount invested in tools. My dad did the figuring and he's got a little over $70K invested, but he's been working on this stuff for 20+ years. |
I guess it depends how you play the game. I knew a guy who did boats. He worked hard when he worked, but he picked his clients and picked his price, and didn't have to work all the time. |