A career as a diesel mechanic or diesel service technician offers relatively high wages and the challenge of skilled repair work.
  Opportunities are expected to be good for persons who complete formal diesel mechanic training programs.
  National certification is the recognized standard of achievement for diesel service technicians and mechanics.

Diesel Truck Mechanic
The diesel engine is the workhorse powering the Nation's trucks and buses, because it delivers more power and is more durable than its gasoline-burning counterpart. Diesel-powered engines also are becoming more prevalent in light vehicles, including pickups and other work trucks.

The diesel mechanic - service technicians and mechanics, also known as bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, repair and maintain the diesel engines that power transportation equipment such as heavy trucks, buses, and locomotives. Some diesel mechanic technicians also work on heavy vehicles and mobile equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, road graders, farm tractors, and combines. A small number of technicians repair diesel-powered passenger automobiles, light trucks, or boats.

Technicians who work for organizations that maintain their own vehicles spend most of their time doing preventive maintenance, to ensure that equipment will operate safely. These workers also eliminate unnecessary wear on and damage to parts that could result in costly breakdowns. During a routine maintenance the diesel mechanic checks on a vehicle, technicians follow a checklist that includes inspection of brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts. Following inspection, technicians repair or adjust parts that do not work properly or remove and replace parts that cannot be fixed.

Increasingly, diesel mechanic technicians must be flexible, in order to adapt to customer needs and new technologies. It is common for technicians to handle all kinds of repairs, from working on a vehicle's electrical system one day, to doing major engine repairs the next. Diesel engine maintenance is becoming increasingly complex, as more electronic components are used to control engine operation. For example, microprocessors regulate and manage fuel timing, increasing engine efficiency. In modern shops, diesel mechanic and service technicians use hand-held computers to diagnose problems and adjust engine functions. Technicians must continually learn about new techniques and advanced materials.

Diesel mechanic service technicians use a variety of tools in their work, including power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, to remove bolts quickly; machine tools, such as lathes and grinding machines, to rebuild brakes; welding and flame-cutting equipment to remove and repair exhaust systems; and jacks and hoists to lift and move large parts. Common hand tools-screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches-are used to work on small parts and get at hard-to-reach places. Diesel mechanic service technicians also use a variety of computerized testing equipment to pinpoint and analyze malfunctions in electrical systems and engines.

In large shops,mechanics and technicians generally receive their assignments from shop supervisors or service managers. Most supervisors and managers are experienced technicians who also assist in diagnosing problems and maintaining quality standards. Technicians may work as a team or be assisted by an apprentice or helper when doing heavy work, such as removing engines and transmissions.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Many people qualify for diesel mechanic jobs through years of on-the-job training, authorities recommend completion of a formal diesel engine mechanic training program. Employers prefer to hire graduates of formal diesel engine training programs because these workers often have a head start in training and are able to quickly advance to the journey level.

Directory of Schools features school programs in diesel repair. These programs, lasting 6 months to 2 years, lead to a certificate of completion or an associate degree. Programs vary in the degree of hands-on training they provide on equipment. Some offer about 30 hours per week on equipment, whereas others offer more lab or classroom instruction. Training provides a foundation in the latest diesel technology and instruction in the service and repair of the diesel engine vehicles and equipment that technicians will encounter on the job. training programs also improve the skills needed to interpret technical manuals and to communicate with co-workers and customers. In addition to the hands-on aspects of the training, many institutions teach communication skills, customer service, basic understanding of physics, and logical thought. Increasingly, employers work closely with representatives of training programs, providing instructors with the latest equipment, techniques, and tools and offering jobs to graduates. Directory of Schools receives requests daily from employers seeking qualified diesel engine mechanics.

Employment
Diesel mechanic and service technicians held about 285,000 jobs in 2000. About 25 percent serviced buses, trucks, and other diesel-powered equipment for customers of vehicle and equipment dealers, automotive rental and leasing agencies, or independent automotive repair shops. About 20 percent worked for local and long-distance trucking companies, and another 19 percent maintained the buses, trucks, and other equipment of bus lines, public transit companies, school systems, or Federal, State, and local governments. The remaining technicians maintained vehicles and other equipment for manufacturing, construction, or other companies. A relatively small number were self-employed. Nearly every section of the country employs diesel engine mechanics and diesel service technicians, although most work in towns and cities where trucking companies, bus lines, and other fleet owners have large operations.

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