What's the better job, mechanic or driver?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jbrow327, Nov 26, 2021.

  1. Jbrow327

    Jbrow327 Light Load Member

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    In terms of salary, job opportunities and difficulty.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Refrigerated trailer mechanic.
    For me, I'd rather be a driver, but if worse came to worse, I'd be a refrigerated trailer mechanic.
    upload_2021-11-26_22-18-52.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2021
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  4. Jbrow327

    Jbrow327 Light Load Member

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    Interesting. How would one become one of those? Could you take a community college course and then freelance?
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Some trucking companies will hire you and some trailer repair facilities will hire you.
    I don't know about free lancing; my guess is only experienced trailer mechanics do that.
    There are school for that; do some internet searches.
     
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  6. Pamela1990

    Pamela1990 Road Train Member

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    If you don't love to drive, to where it's your passion, become a mechanic instead. Their rates are over the moon, and stuff constantly breaks. They seem to be in demand, every truck dealer around this region has a sign up, mechanic wanted. Looking around the shops while in them, they aren't exactly working hard. Been inside the shops of 5 dealers in the last month. I would rather be a shops parts person though, that would be a fabulous job.
     
  7. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    What’s better? Which ever one you like the most.
     
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  8. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    For an owner operator? Mechanic. The more wrenching skills you have, the less you have to pay to maintain a rig.
     
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  9. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    Mechanic, without question. After mechanic schooling,( that you might even get paid for) you'll start at a respectable wage right off the bat, unlike trucking, they'll lie, cheat and steal from you, boot you out, and you'll start at PAM for minimum wage.
     
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  10. MacLean

    MacLean Road Train Member

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    Definitely. I know guys making $50+ an hour turning wrenches as an employee and a couple of others making $120+ running their own service truck / company.

    Mechanics
    Welders
    Electricians
    Plumbers
    Crane Operators

    They’re all decent paying jobs compared to driving. I heard a guy on the radio saying he was getting paid $0.135 a mile in 1969. That works out to $1.06 USD a mile today with inflation. No other trade on the planet has had the wages stay stagnant like trucking.

    $0.14 in 1969 $1.06 in 2021
     
  11. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Depends the type of trucking. I would never give up the wrenches for an OTR job. I'd consider it for logs, gravel or lowbed though.
     
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