How do these truck co's treat their mechcanics

I agree-I think most companies are more interested in experience than certifications especially for field mechanics where you often have to think outside the box to make repairs. I have often had to build tools out of whatever I had on my service truck and fabricate parts to get the job done. I have noticed-as Ben Gunn mentioned that often drivers are paid more than mechanics. I do winch, vac, heavy haul and fill in as a field mechanic, and the only conclusion I can draw is that drivers generate revenue and mechanics-as necessary as they may be- do not-at least not directly. To the OP: Go ahead and fill out those applications and Good Luck!

 

Having been a driver for over 26 years (I'm 48 ) I have though about being a diesel mechanic more than a few times . I'm mechanically inclined, have my own small shop and a fully set up service truck , and another box truck set up to do hot water pressure washing with water recovery system (EPA compliant). A friend of mine is a diesel mechanic and has his own full service shop and road service trucks and he is 3 years younger than me and look 15 years older than me with a bad back,knees ,arthritis etc.Being a diesel mechanic , especially as an employee is a back breaking , very dirty(covered in grease and oil )job and should pay double what it does in most areas. Having worked around them most of my trucking career , I have found few that were generally happy with their career choice,unless they were a young buck new to the game and their body was not beat up yet from the nature of the work,and they were all impressed with themselves and their new shiny tool box.Many older diesel mechanics( not all , but many) are miserable ,sarcastic people who hate their trade ( and most drivers) but they are stuck in it and it pays the bills.They look at drivers as some fool who is bringing them a problem that they have to bust their ### and fix while you sit back as they fix your truck.That is unless they own the shop and they are going to get to hit you over the head with a big repair bill, then they are friendly towards your money. Don't get me wrong , I do know a few genuinely friendly diesel mechanics who seem to like their trade,but they are far in the minority as far as diesel mechanics go.Many older ones you can look in their eyes and see they are jacked up on pain pills just to get through the day,their bodies are so beat up from the work. I would not recommend the trade to anyone who is not a young healthy guy,who does not plan on being just a grunt mechanic the rest of his life,who plans on being the best at what he does and makes top dollar ($30+++ per hour) saving his money and moving on to something else as he gets older.Thats just my opinion .I work on our trucks when I want or need to ,but just minor repairs and maintenance ,but I am glad I never chose it as a career path,and even though I am healthy and in pretty decent shape , I could not imagine having to do heavy truck repairs everyday all day at my age to make a living.I'll take driving a truck any day over laying under them to earn a Living,But that's just me ......

 

Safeclean-You pretty much nailed it-I am 63. I never set out to be a heavy duty mechanic, but in the course of owning a trucking company, and later on a construction company, I sort of became one by default. I kept my service truck when I sold out as insurance of sorts-if you can fix things you can ALWAYS find work. I have about 18 years wheel time and I much prefer driving which I do now but I don't mind filling in as a mechanic when needed. I spent 5 years in the Arctic as a field mechanic when I was younger-I can't imagine doing that today.

 

Thanks Wymon. I didn't mean to disrespect an honest trade that takes a strong back and a strong work ethic to get up and work at everyday. I just wanted to be honest about what I have experienced throughout my years in many aspects of the trucking industry.Funny thing it's usually the smaller, wirey type guys who don't get as beat up doing the work. I remember seeing a commercial for a diesel
mechanic trade school years ago and they showed a young guy all clean in a brand new uniform adjusting the mirror on a brand new KW ,with a brand new wrench,in front of a brand new snap on mega toolbox,in a nice clean shop that looked like a showroom. The announcer said "Hey Bob ,How do you like your new career as a diesel mechanic? " Bob replied "I love it! It's great money and a new challenge everyday!!" I thought to myself wow what a great job!! I was in my early 20's then . If that commercial was based on reality it would show a guy covered in grease and oil with cut knuckles , bad back,bad,knees,etc laying under a grease covered truck pulling a tranny in a pool of oil with a service manager pulling him off it to rush out two other trucks that should have been done already ,but their short handed and over booked with work and no end of misery in sight.... No way not for me ,and that's what I tell any guy thinking about going into the trade ,unless they have their sights set on maybe owning their own shop,which is no cake walk either or if they have a firm ,well financed exit strategy to exit the trade before they destroy their body and their attitude toward life and other people.

 

Those commercials were pretty funny-I never could understand the white shop coats!

 

That's frinkin hilarious!

 

It appears our company can't keep a mechanic employed for long. Sad to say we will be taking our equipment to one of the 2 big shops in town for all repairs and maintenance. That sucks because the big guys may do good work but it seems to take a week to get your truck back for a minor repair. Seems like this industry could use a batch of good mechanics!

 

yes it does need good mechanics...but the companies need to pay them a decent wage, respect their abilities, and not treat them like an on call 24 hour slave. I have had two mechanics say that they are treated like slaves, and have to jump every time the phone rings.

 

Have you ever worked Fleet maintenance? It's hell. Plus, the mechs realize the money everyone is pulling down. Every time someone says "we can't keep X position filled, my first question is always how's the wage.

Downtime costs money.

On the other hand, there are no good mechanics. At least not on a payroll. Most really good ones own their own shop.