Big Rig Mechanic

Becoming a specialist at the big end can reap big dividends.

For those that find the idea of working on cars just a little too small, a career as a heavy vehicle mechanic might just be the ticket. Those that opt for big rigs will normally have to deal with more heavy equipment than just trucks. They may work with the kind of giant bulldozer you see on a construction site, huge farmers' combines, or lumber yard forklift trucks. These pieces of equipment tend to be incredibly expensive, so replacing them is not an option. They need to be well-maintained and repaired when anything goes wrong.

The specific duties of heavy-duty equipment specialist may include checking cranes, bulldozers, graders and other heavy logging, mining and construction for optimal performance, inspecting equipment to detect malfunctions and faults, diagnosing and determine their extent and the repair required, adjusting equipment, repairing or replacing defective parts, components or systems, testing repaired equipment for proper performance and to ensuring that work meets manufacturers' specifications, cleaning, lubricating and performing other routine maintenance work on equipment, and performing repair work on heavy trucks.

As many of these equipment pieces are too heavy to be economically towed, a lot of repair work can mean getting out of the workshop. Like the machines themselves, the tools required are often heavy weight too.

Proper Training

You may look for manufacturer specific training where possible including the two- and four-cycle Cummins, Detroit Diesel, and Mack engines. Getting ahead in this field may require quality training from a good school where you'll learn about maintaining and repairing drive line components, including clutches, transmissions, axle assemblies, retarders, and fifth wheels, and hydraulics in trucks, tractors, scrapers, graders, and other heavy equipment.