Diesel Mechanic

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Lubricate equipment to allow proper functioning.
• Rebuild parts or components.
• Repair defective engines or engine components.
• Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.
• Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
• Service green vehicles to make repairs or maintain good working order.
• Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
• Operate transportation equipment to demonstrate function or malfunction.
• Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
• Measure equipment outputs.

Typical Working Conditions

• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Exposure to contaminants (like gases or odors).
• Working outdoors exposed to weather.
• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Exposure to hazardous equipment.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
• Working with a group or team.
• Meeting strict deadlines.

Tools & Technology used by Diesel Mechanics

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Diesel Mechanics

• Repairing—Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Troubleshooting—Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Maintaining Equipment—Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Learning New Things—Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Diesel Mechanics

• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Engineering and Technology—Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Transportation—Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Physics—Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing high growth compared to other careers. There will be a 9.4% growth need for Diesel Mechanics to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This job does not require a license, but certifications could aid in showcasing knowledge.

Visit the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for more information about this career, as well as links to education and training programs in Minnesota.

View the local post-secondary education options for this career from Central Lakes College.

Spotlight on Central Lakes College

• Why consider CLC?
• Virtual Campus Tours: Brainerd Campus, Staples Campus
• Learn more about the CLC Honors Program.
• Attend CLC, and you may never need to buy a textbook.

If you have a physical, mental, developmental, or cognitive condition that requires educational support, learn about support options at CLC.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Automobile and Diesel Mechanics
• Business English
• Chemistry
• Industrial Technology
• Manufacturing System
• Metalworking
• Physics
• Pre-Calculus
• Transportation Technology
• Trigonometry

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise