Diesel Technicians

Diesel Technicians

Diesel engines are the workhorses powering the Nation 's trucks, buses, and heavy equipment. Diesel-powered engines are also becoming more popular in light vehicles, including cars, pickups, and other work vehicles.

Diesel service technicians and diesel mechanics, who are also known as diesel engine specialists, maintain and repair diesel engines that are used to power transportation equipment such as buses, semis, and locomotives. Some diesel technicians work on mobile equipment such as road graders, bulldozers, loaders, cranes, tractors, and combines. Only a small portion of diesel technicians repair diesel-powered automobiles, pickups, or ships.

Technicians who work for organizations that maintain their own equipment spend

Diesel service technicians held about 270,000 jobs in 2009. They were employed by almost every industry; in particular, those that use trucks, buses, and heavy equipment to deliver, haul, and transport goods, materials, or people. The diesel truck transportation industry is the largest employer for diesel technicians and mechanics. They employ nearly one out of every six diesel service technicians and mechanics. Slightly fewer were employed by local governments, mainly to repair their fleets of trucks, buses, and road equipment. About 1 out of 10 diesel service technicians were employed to repair autos, to repair commercial equipment, and to maintain facilities with diesel generators. The rest were employed throughout the economy in multiple industries repairing construction machinery, agriculture machinery, they did manufacturing, retail, and also automotive leasing. A small number of technicians were self-employed. Nearly every section of the U.S. employs diesel service technicians, although most are employed in towns and cities where bus lines, trucking companies, and other fleet owners have large operations.

Although most diesel service technicians with experience can secure a job, employers recommend that one should complete a formal diesel engine training program. Employers prefer to hire graduates of formal training programs because these workers often have a head start in training and are able to quickly advance to the next