Truck driver versus mechanic

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. For example, if the speed limit is 65 mph, drivers. It delivers 390 hp and 394 lbft of torque and comes connected to a 7speed automatic. Safety and health topics trucking industry occupational. Osha also has jurisdiction over all intrastate trucking such as gravel and sand. Visit payscale to research truck mechanic hourly pay by city, experience, skill, employer and more.

Once a driver has worked a total of 60 hours in the past 7 days, they have hit their limit. Truck driver, mechanic, diesel mechanic and more on. Apply to mechanic, truck driver, maintenance person and more. Part 383 regulations section federal motor carrier safety. An auto mechanic that has multiple ase certifications will make darn good money also and have the time. Ive had many discussions with students about calling themselves diesel mechanics versus diesel technicians. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving. Page 1 of 11 1 truck mechanic for 30 years plus they did. Also by the time you pay off a lease on one of these company rigs. The commercial drivers license or cdl as it is called, came about as a result of the commercial motor vehicle safety act of. At schneider, for example, our mechanics work mainly on four different types of trucks. Truck driver, diesel mechanic, we are hiring and more on.

Search 499 truck trailer mechanic jobs now available on, the worlds largest job site. Posted on september 4, 2018 by evelyn in job market. Becoming a truck driver is a dream weve all pondered at some point in our lives. So if a truck is large enough to require a cdl, the driver is subject to drug and alcohol testing even if he or she drives a few miles per week and never crosses state lines. Finding a good a good diesel mechanic for your truck is no easy task. There are pros and cons of each job, but overall, a truck driver should make way more money. A drive belt tensioner is a pulley mounted on a spring mechanism or adjustable pivot point that is used to keep tension on the engine belts. He had basically had to beg and borrow the money to get the repairs done.

Osha assistance for the trucking industry industry hazards. By many measures, logging is the most hazardous industry in the united. I dont have diesel mechanic experience, but its only a 70 week course. The department of transportation dot preempts oshas jurisdiction over the interstate trucking industry while traveling public roads. Working as a heavy truck and vehicle technician, you can repair and maintain the mechanical workings of heavy trucks, agricultural.

Diesel technician shortage expected to worsen penske truck. According to, a mechanic is someone who repairs and maintains machinery, while technician is a person who looks after technical equipment or does practical work in a laboratory. Truck drivers are also responsible for inspecting all their vehicles for mechanical items or issues relating to safe. If you think this sounds like an interesting job description, read on to learn more about possible salaries, job duties and training requirements for an entrylevel diesel mechanic. Search 7 truck mechanic jobs now available in toronto, on on, the worlds largest job site. The manual tranny and clutch in your car or pickup truck is similar to the one found in a big rig, except that its waaaay harder to master. This report sets out all of the information you need to have, so you. Your diesel mechanic has the power to ensure youre. As in driving, coming into any career with the life experience that you have equals value to an employer. Pros and cons of truck driving careers take everything on this list with a grain of salt because something that weve listed as a con may actually be a pro in your opinion, and visa. Without the industry and our truck drivers, the economy would come to a standstill. All jobs new driver flatbed tanker refrigerated owner operator. Dot hours of service guidelines state that, on average, drivers should be able to travel about 10 miles per hour below the speed limit over a 10hour period. Which is a better job a cdl truck driver or a auto mechanic.

The lowstress way to find your next truck mechanic job opportunity is on simplyhired. The trucking industry is experiencing a diesel mechanic shortage, which is expected to worsen as baby boomers age and fewer workers enter. For so many years, to qualify as a diesel mechanic or any type of mechanic all you needed to be was breathing and walking. As the transportation industry continues to grow and baby boomers continue to retire, the need for trained diesel mechanics and truck drivers. Prospective heavy truck mechanics can receive training by obtaining a certificate through a diesel technology program or an associates degree. Sep 04, 2018 if youre interested in truck driving careers, this article will help you make a decision by laying out the pros and cons of being a truck driver. A truck, in order to have offroad capability, is built on a taller platform to provide ground clearance this means a higher center of gravity, which compromises road handling and stability. Diesel technician shortage expected to worsen penske.

Lew grill is a trucking litigation expert with nearly 50 years and millions of miles of experience as a truck driver, owner operator, truck driver training instructor, truck driver training program director, safety director, consultant on usdotfmcsa projects, and as a trucking consultant for law firms, trucking fleets, trucking insurance. The reigning british monarch was born elizabeth alexandra mary of york on april 21, 1926. Trucking advice on when do your mechanics need a cdl. Diesel mechanics maintain and repair large trucks, buses, bulldozers, cranes and farming equipment. Apply to mechanic, automotive mechanic, diesel mechanic and more. However, i have a young family and struggle with a po. Aug 18, 2017 the lighterduty titan comes with a revised version of the strongrunning 5. What is the average salary for entrylevel diesel mechanic jobs. For example, if a truck driver rearends a car while making a delivery, the employer would probably be liable for any harm that results because the truck driver was acting within the scope of employment. Drivercompany liability for commercial truck accident alllaw. If theres one thing i aint, its a mechanic or an english major as personified by the use of the word aint. The federal motor carrier safety administration fmcsa and the national highway traffic safety administration nhtsa conducted the large truck crash causation study ltccs to examine the reasons for serious crashes involving large trucks trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds. Weve all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day lives weve always known.

Discussion in trucks eighteen wheelers started by cat sdp, jul 29, 20. If you want to become a truck driver, youll need to have a clean driving record, have a high school diploma or ged, and in most states, be at least 21. Aug 28, 2017 a driver can be onduty a maximum 60 hours in a 7 day cycle. Jan 04, 2017 cabover trucks have excellent visibility due to the fact that the driver is sitting over the engine and closer to the windshield. As i plan for my second career, i continue to have a very strong desire to be a professional truck driver.

Truck mechanics, also known as diesel services technicians and mechanics, perform a variety of tasks on heavyduty trucks, large construction vehicles, buses and tractor trailers. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines. Virtually all of the vehicles used for training purposes meet the definition of a cmv, and student drivers must therefore obtain a cdl. Between the bitterness, talking my ear off, piss jugshygiene, and suddenly becoming retired mechanics themselves, the love hate between some drivers and techs goes deeper way deeper than just this. A conformance is the addition of a classification of laborers or mechanics and the corresponding wage rate hourly rate and fringe benefits not listed on a dbra wage determination that is incorporated into. The pay is laughable but at least for the most part they dont argue with me on hometime or for how l ok ng i want home.

I was a mediumheavy truck tech for 21 years, just recently made the switch to large yacht powerplantsthink 16 cylinders, 2000 to 3000 hp apiece, multimillion dollar yachts. They must also get cdls, due to the weight of their trucks. An auto mechanic that has multiple ase certifications will make darn good money also and. Cabover engine or conventional truck commercial used truck. Given that you will pay to go to one of these schools, you want to make sure that your money buys you the best training so you can land yourself a trucker job. And yet if you are a truck driver, whether owner operated or running a small fleet, the quality of your mechanic can massively affect your business.

Here you will find information related to the truck driving industry and what students enrolling in truck driving school can expect to. They cant simply go to their own truck repair shop or diesel mechanic. This can be done at any time as long as the hours do not exceed 60 hours. The lighterduty titan comes with a revised version of the strongrunning 5.

The diesel technician shortage is expected to worsen. Deciding on a truck would mean that you want a vehicle that isnt necessarily going to be used as a highway driver, but more a work vehicle. A local truck driver operating light and mediumduty trucks will only need a state drivers license. Who makes more money diesel mechanic, or automotive mechanic. The driver said that he was still paying for semi truck repairs done to his truck two years before. Are independent contractors the same as company drivers. Nearly 71% of all the freight tonnage moved in the u. Cabover trucks have excellent visibility due to the fact that the driver is sitting over the engine and closer to the windshield. It is also possible for the tensioner pulley or bearing to wear out, in which case the vehicle will produce a grinding noise from the pulley.

However, each commonwealth country traditionally celebrates her birthday on a designated day. Other supplies required in the course of the job, such as a cb radio, tarps, chains, straps or floor mats, are deductible for all drivers. The guy that owns the hvac company makes more than a truck driver. Im sure theres some techs out there that arent so great to the drivers. For example, if the speed limit is 65 mph, drivers should be able to travel about 550 miles in a 10hour period, so a trip of 600 miles or more may open the driver to charges of speeding. The cdl regulations provide that no person shall operate a commercial motor vehicle cmvs before passing the written and driving tests required for that vehicle 383. Many people think the number of miles on the engine is the most important. The employee who does the hvac work makes about the same as a truck driver. In order to reset the cycle, drivers must take a consecutive 34 hours of offduty.

Other essential requirements for union truck drivers are good physical health, handeye coordination, visual ability, patience and customer service and speaking skills. The most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. Most of the time these drivers arent even allowed to work on their equipment at all. Is a career as a heavy truck and vehicle technician for me. Degree or diploma in mechanical or automotive engineering. Cabover engine or conventional truck commercial used. A conformance under the governing regulations at 29 c. This board will cure that boredom with funny memes. A conformance is the addition of a classification of laborers or mechanics and the corresponding wage rate hourly rate and fringe benefits not listed on a dbra wage determination that is incorporated into a dbra covered contract. Diesel mechanics are highly specialised and not as commonplace as regular mechanics. The manual tranny and clutch in your car or pickup truck is similar to the one found.

If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started. Dec 01, 2009 if theres one thing i aint, its a mechanic or an english major as personified by the use of the word aint. Oshas jurisdiction over interstate motor vehicles is limited to vehicles operated in the workplace and not on public roads. A certificate or associates degree in automotive technology and business can be helpful for truck drivers, especially those looking to start their. Now suppose the truck driver leaves work early to go to a basketball game and hits another car outside of the stadium. If a driver is having problems with their truck they are going to have to go through their employer to get them fixed.

Part 383 federal motor carrier safety administration. Heavy truck mechanics training and education program. Safety practices once tractor trailer drivers arrive at a destination. Equipment is pretty bare bones and if you just start expect an old, beaten down truck. Not sure if entering the field as an entry level mechanic at that age would be a good plan. Employment of heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018.

Employment of heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Truck mechanic training programs can give you a diesel mechanics education thats wellrounded and thorough. It also offers a onestop location to find applicable department of transportation dot and environmental protection agency epa compliance requirements. Mar 21, 2020 are you bored waiting for a load or sitting at a truck stop. When diagnosing a truck or engine in the shop before 2008, we would. If you are an employee driving a company truck, you may only deduct the actual costs of gas, parking, tolls and repair or maintenance items you pay outofpocket without company reimbursement. Weve all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day. This site provides information about preventing occupational illness and injury in the trucking industry through links to summaries, training presentations, publications and other resources.

The trucking industry is experiencing a diesel mechanic shortage, which is expected to worsen as baby boomers age and fewer workers enter vocational education programs. But really its a pretty dope company with a lot of f red freedom for the driver. If you are a new truck driver, attending a considering a truck driving school, or just interested in learning about the trucking industry, ask your trucking related questions here and one of our thousands of truck drivers within our community will be happy to answer your questions. This could include a mechanic, dispatcher, warehouse worker, or any other occasional or fillin driver. Discussion in trucks eighteen wheelers started by cat sdp. Tractortrailer drivers must complete training at truck driver schools, which may take at least three months or longer. If you want to become a truck driver, then its worth researching which truck driving school is the best for you. How to start a career as a truck driver or truck mechanic.