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How to become entry level diesel technician?

Created On Thursday 12, January, 2006 5:27 PM by TheDieseliminator

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TheDieseliminator

Posts: 32
Joined: Mar 2005

Thursday January 12, 2006 17:27

Hi, I wanted to ask what is the best way to go about becoming an entry level diesel technician working on light to medium duty trucks? I'm 20 years old and have always had interest in doing mechanical work on diesels for my career. Some companies want you to go to school first, but I'm looking for a business that will hire you immediately and then teach you the important information and techniques while you work. I'm interested in working for International, Freightliner, Isuzu, Nissan UD, Mitsubishi Fuso, or other companies who are popular with light to medium duty trucks. I thought I could get the best opinions from other members here given that this is a pretty popular diesel talk forum. If anyone can provide any insight please go ahead. Thank you very much.

Salvy

-------------------------
Anything diesel is my best friend.

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Gaoji

Posts: 67
Joined: Jul 2005

Thursday January 12, 2006 21:03

Have you talked to your local dealerships for these trucks? Most of them will want someone that has already been through one of the trade schools, but the dealership may be interested in having you go while working for themand possibly pay for some or all of the school. Check out which schools are near where you are or want to be and check to see if they are ASE certified schools.
If not a dealership, you could check out a trucking company that has the type of trucks you are looking for as they usually do all of the minor servicing and some major work. They would possibly start you with the servicing end first (oil changes). Most companies will not do the actual training as it is bad business financially as there are many things like the brake systems that you have to be certified on before you can work on them (liability reasons).
The trade schools are different than high school or college, most typically are about 5 hours a day and are more hands on than desk time. They treat it more like a job that you get graded for.
As for the the field of work, it is a good choice. There are more diesel mechanics retiring or getting out of the garage to a desk job than there are replacement new mechanics. I would therefore say go for it, but the schooling can only help, some schools even have links with some of the manufacturers if you do well you could get a freebie of factory training at a place like International. Good Luck!

-------------------------
Built like a Mack Truck!

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TheDieseliminator

Posts: 32
Joined: Mar 2005

Friday January 13, 2006 10:45

Gaoji, thanks a lot for the reply. I have looked into a few dealerships already, one that I'm highly interested in is Harrisburg Freightliner. I am located in Glenville, Pennsylvania to let you know where I'm located. The reason I looked into this Freightliner dealer is because they have a seperate sales focus on the Mercedes/Freightliner Sprinter vans. I'm really into a diesel powered vehicle of that size and it can basically go under the light to medium duty truck category. I called them up and they do hire entry level technicians and I told them I was interested in working on the Sprinters. They also told me I wouldn't be subject to just working on the Sprinters, but other larger size vehicles would be included. But they said as long as there are a lot of Sprinters there, I'd be working on them. I'm probably going to apply for an entry level job there and one or two other companies to see how it works out for me. Mentioning how the companies would send me to school while I work for them is a good thing to bring up, if I could go that route with a company I'd be very interested too. I think if they would help pay or pay all of the cost, that would be showing they are dedicated in me I guess. Isuzu, Nissan UD, and Mitsubishi Fuso are companies I'm also thinking about highly because they are three good examples of companies that mostly sell the light to medium duty trucks, or what I'm interested in working on. International is too, the rollback size trucks are what I'd like to work on if I were to go with there company. I believe they are the 4200 and 4300 class truck. One thing I do hope is that any of the companies that hire entry level positions give me a chance and do hire me, given that I'm only 20 years old and somewhat a beginner on there certain size trucks. Once again, thanks for the insight.

-------------------------
Anything diesel is my best friend.

Edited: Friday January 13, 2006 at 10:49 by TheDieseliminator

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Caterlac

Posts: 23
Joined: Feb 2006

Thursday February 23, 2006 19:15

You may want to check with the local Cat dealer in that area, I believe it's Cleveland Brothers CAT. They are always looking for new techs and have some
type of program set up with Penn Tech college. You may find other fields that still involve diesel engs that you may like even better. Good luck!!!

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Don't be down-hearted I can fix it for ya sonny....It won't take too long it'll just take$$$$$$

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TheDieseliminator

Posts: 32
Joined: Mar 2005

Friday February 24, 2006 13:23

Thanks a lot for the reply. I've heard of Cleveland Brothers CAT and I believe they are located in Harrisburg, PA. Right now I have my mind set on working for an Isuzu commercial dealer. I like the light to medium duty size of the cab over trucks and Isuzu has always been my favorite company. The place I'm looking to get a job at is Grimes Truck Center in Frederick, MD. They are in the process of seperating the Isuzu dealer to a new building and I believe are in need of new employees. I applied there for a job about three weeks ago and they should be ready to hire entry level positions about now. I'm hoping to be a future diesel technician there. Thanks for the help and reference.

-------------------------
Anything diesel is my best friend.

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CumminsKevin

Posts: 1
Joined: Aug 2006

Sunday August 27, 2006 11:04

Are you having any luck finding a diesel techs job? I believe the best approach to this would be to attend a training program. This is a field with few short cuts. I have been in the field since 1980. And none of it has been easy. Keep your options open and dont limit yourself ....by make or models....you have plenty of time to get where you are going.

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Kevin Stephenson

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TheDieseliminator

Posts: 32
Joined: Mar 2005

Tuesday August 29, 2006 15:43

Hi Kevin, thank you very much for the reply. I totally agree with you when you said "don't limit yourself," as it's a really good way not to get hired as soon as you may want to. And yes I have gotten a job as an entry level diesel technician at a Freightliner dealer. I started my first week of work last week (on Monday, August 21) at Freightliner of Lancaster located in Lancaster, PA. It has gone very well so far and I'm glad a company has given me a chance because I was turned down by many others because of not having any past experience. I do also agree that there are few shortcuts, but if you're patient you can find them (as I did). I am training to do PDIs (Pre-Delivery Inspections) on new trucks and it has been a good experience so far. Haven't got real dirty, but I'm sure I will in the future. And once again thanks for the reply Kevin, I'm glad that you were willing to see how I had made out. I'm sure you'd be able to help me if I hadn't already been employed. Good to have a knowledgeable person like yourself here and welcome to the site!

Salvy

-------------------------
Anything diesel is my best friend.

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DTXMechanic

Posts: 9
Joined: Jan 2009

Sunday January 25, 2009 21:02
Hello, many years ago I went to NADC Nashville Auto Diesel College, Nashville, TN they give a well rounded background to go in several directions of the mechanical field. I immediately finished that program and went into diesel fuel injection work then to auto dealership closer to home. good luck in whatever you decide. ------------------------- mostly series 60 and MBE 926/4000

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Buggsdad

Posts: 2
Joined: Jun 2013

Thursday June 06, 2013 09:12
I have a question I am thinking bout going to school will a auto diesel course give me more options or will mainly focusing on diesel be the way to go ------------------------- Curtis webb

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