What Does a Diesel Technician Do?

Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take. Aside from repairing engines, diesel technicians may also fix other systems such as brakes, steering, and even lighting. It is essential to discuss the extent of repairs to clients and make them understand the costs involved. Furthermore, it is vital to maintain an accurate record of data at all times.

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Diesel Technician Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real diesel technician resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

Maintain, diagnose, troubleshoot and repair all systems pertaining to diesel trucks, refrigerate trailers and flatb trailers.
Obtain class b air brakes cdl
Acquire ASE certifications while working here.
Install PTO's and fabricate wet kits.
Help train new drivers to get their cdl licences.
Study and are enrolled in the chrysler academy learning program.
Perform repairs to tractors, trailers, and dollies daily.
Work on heavy equipment machinery according to ASE standards and practices.
Diagnose and repair all makes and models of peterbilt trucks from bumper to bumper.
Attend a 5 day Kenworth factory training course on 2010 PACCAR MX diesel engine.
Job requirements include oil changes, chassis inspections, federal inspections, and HVAC work.
Require to operate forklift equipment in storing materials or in performing plumbing and other relate work.
Rebuild blowers, transfer case, water pumps, PTO's and responsible for overall safety of operation in the shop.
Inspect, remove, troubleshoot, repair, service, test, and modify truck and trailer general maintenance systems.
Preform accurate diagnosis and repairs relate fluid leaks and proper component replacement.

Diesel Technician Job Description

When it comes to understanding what a diesel technician does, you may be wondering, "should I become a diesel technician?" The data included in this section may help you decide. Compared to other jobs, diesel technicians have a growth rate described as "as fast as average" at 5% between the years 2018 - 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fact, the number of diesel technician opportunities that are predicted to open up by 2028 is 13,800.

On average, the diesel technician annual salary is $46,868 per year, which translates to $22.53 an hour. Generally speaking, diesel technicians earn anywhere from $33,000 to $65,000 a year, which means that the top-earning diesel technicians make $25,000 more than the ones at the lower end of the spectrum.

As is the case with most jobs, it takes work to become a diesel technician. Sometimes people change their minds about their career after working in the profession. That's why we looked into some other professions that might help you find your next opportunity. These professions include a mechanic helper, truck mechanic, shop mechanic, and mechanic.

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Diesel Technician Jobs You Might Like

12 Diesel Technician Resume Examples

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Juan Perkins Diesel Technician Contact Information Killeen, TX (520) 555-1147 jperkins@example.com Skills Air Brakes Safety Devices Hand Trucks Hand Tools Maintenance Issues Powerpoint Troubleshoot Order Parts Trailer Repair Diesel Tech Employment History Diesel Technician 2020 - Present Z Systems Killeen, TX Repaired and serviced all types of heavy equipment Used hand tools, powertools, jacks and hoists. Used basic hand tools, power tools, and air tools, and micrometers as well. Removed and disassembled engine, transmission and clutches, using hoists, jacks and mechanic's hand tools. Tractor Mechanic 2017 - 2020 BAE Systems Killeen, TX Hand Tools, Electric Power Tools, and Pneumatic Power Tool Safety and Operations. Inspect new equipment coming into project and ordering parts as needed to complete vehicles for re-issue status. Assisted other personnel with Trouble shooting and Repairs. Airport Maintenance Chief 2014 - 2017 Alpha Killeen, TX Maintained, monitored, troubleshot, and repaired HVAC PM and HVAC systems. Act as the first line Safety Representative for the Flight Line. Perform facility maintenance on U.S. Antarctic Program stations ensuring safe efficient operations. Maintain a vehicle combat readiness status of 94% for the entire duration with my unit. Prepared five maintenance programs during three successful Aviation Maintenance Inspections. Education Associate's Degree General Studies 2012 - 2014 Texas A&M University - Central Texas Killeen, TX


Karen Hayes Diesel Technician Contact Info Bellingham, WA (640) 555-5817 khayes@example.com Skills Vehicle RecoveryCommunicationOshaLubeDefective EquipmentPTOEmergencyCNCCustomer ServiceHigh Pressure Employment History Diesel Technician 2014 - Present BioLife Plasma Services LP Bellingham, WA Clean, lubricate, and maintain mechanisms such as cables, pulleys, or grappling devices, making repairs as necessary. Use hand tools, special tools, and diagnostic tools, to perform maintenance. Installed/Uninstalled cable, telephone, and internet Troubleshoot cable, telephone, and internet Provided customer service door-to-door on daily basis. Perform maintenance Diagnose and repair engines & hydraulic problems Class A CDL Panel building, trouble shooting, and exalent customer communication. Repair and replace suspension components, drive lines, wheel bearings, and brakes shoes. Instrument Technician Apprentice 2013 - 2014 BioLife Plasma Services LP Bellingham, WA Complied with OSHA, EPA and Aggreko's Safety Standards and Practices. Oil Changes Chassis and differential services Basic Maintenance Customer service advisor Performed many maintenance services on vehicles such as oil change, transmission flush, tire rotation, and minor repairs. Respond to water damage emergency, extract standing water, remove wet materials, place drying equipment, Wrecker Operator 2010 - 2013 Watco Companies Bellingham, WA Wear all proper PPE at all times Experience with operating heavy machinery. Work with EHS Coordinator on initiatives to improve tracking and reporting for compliance with safety standards Field Technician Operate a forklift, and pallet jack. Worked well with law enforcement. Education Certificate Automotive Technology 2009 - 2010 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA


Cheryl Ward Diesel Technician San Diego, CA (990) 555-1138 cward@example.com Experience Diesel Technician2017 - Present United States Marine•San Diego, CA Utilized measuring instruments, and a variety of mechanic hand tools. Inspect, diagnose, estimate and repair customer vehicles of all makes and models. Performed preventative maintenance of trucks and heavy equipment. cash handling, customer service, maintenance, overseeing fellow employees. Preform preventive maintaince on vehicles Repair and replace tires Provided customer service *Cashier Diesel Mechanic2016 - 2017 Swift Logistics Co•Springdale, AR Used hand tools and specialty tools to get the job done. Have purchased the majority of tools that are used most, air and hand tools. Used hand tools to change worn cutting tools. Involved in parts inventory management and customer service. Use hand tools and power tools to complete repairs. Evaluated/inspected drive train, fuel systems, landing gear, rotor systems, and fligh Parts Runner2008 - 2016 O'Reilly Automotive•Saraland, AL Assisted customers with vehicle automotive parts and equipment questions and concerns. Counter sales Telephone sales Stocking Customer service Order and purchased automotive parts Verified part numbers from appropriate catalogs when preparing purchase requests Contact commercial vendors for incoming purchased parts Assist to remove some automotive parts when needed. Skills Air BrakesLocal BusinessesKenworthHand ToolsInvoice MatchesRepair AccessoriesCDLHeavy EquipmentOshaAutomotive Parts Education High School Diploma 2008 - 2008

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Diesel Technician Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 17% of Diesel Technicians are proficient in CDL, Customer Service, and Preventative Maintenance. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Dexterity.

We break down the percentage of Diesel Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:

CDL, 17%
Maintained a Class B CDL and was assigned a service truck.
Customer Service, 8%
General maintenance and repairs on semi trucks, trailers and diesel vehicles-Parts-Customer Service-Answering Phones-Shipping & Receiving
Preventative Maintenance, 7%
Provided technical guidance to three subordinates on proper preventative maintenance procedures; conducted on-the-job training; completed maintenance forms and records.
Diagnosis, 7%
Trained and learned electronic engine diagnosis and repair -Gained experience in truck, bus applications -Proficient in engine overhaul and base troubleshooting
Hand Tools, 6%
Supported field operations by performing preventive maintenance on-site on construction equipment using hand tools and diagnosing equipment.
DOT, 4%
Maintain transportation equipment with DOT safety inspections required by the state and utilized new electronic functions to diagnose and repair diesel equipment

Choose From 10+ Customizable Diesel Technician Resume templates

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Some of the skills we found on diesel technician resumes included "cdl," "customer service," and "preventative maintenance." We have detailed the most important diesel technician responsibilities below.

The most important skills for a diesel technician to have in this position are customer-service skills. In this excerpt that we gathered from a diesel technician resume, you'll understand why: "diesel technicians frequently discuss automotive problems and necessary repairs with their customers" According to resumes we found, customer-service skills can be used by a diesel technician in order to "diagnosed automotive cars and diesel trucks provided estimates for customers. "

Another commonly found skill for being able to perform diesel technician duties is the following: detail oriented. According to a diesel technician resume, "diesel technicians must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing engines and components, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments and other easy-to-miss causes." Check out this example of how diesel technicians use detail oriented: "recognized by senior leadership for strong work ethic, time management skills and attention to detail. "

Dexterity is also an important skill for diesel technicians to have. This example of how diesel technicians use this skill comes from a diesel technician resume, "mechanics need a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination for many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools." Read this excerpt from a resume to understand how vital it is to their everyday roles and responsibilities, "maintained and performed maintenance on diesel trucks and trailers and aslo worked on pallet jack and forklifts, stand up forklift. "

A diesel technician responsibilities sometimes require "mechanical skills." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "diesel technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other" This resume example shows how this skill is used by diesel technicians: "perform skilled mechanical repair and maintenance on heavy duty diesel trucks to maintain in a safe and proper operating condition. "

As part of the diesel technician description, you might find that one of the skills that might be helpful to the job is "physical strength." A diesel technician resume included this snippet: "diesel technicians often lift heavy parts and tools, such as exhaust system components and pneumatic wrenches." This skill could be useful in this scenario: "completed dot physical exams and licensing requirements to operate commercial vehicles. "

Lastly, this career requires you to be skillful in "troubleshooting skills." According to diesel technician resumes, "diesel technicians use diagnostic equipment on engine systems and components in order to identify and fix problems in mechanical and electronic systems." This resume example highlights how diesel technician responsibilities rely on this skill: "performed engine rebuilds, troubleshooting of electrical problems, as well as performed routine maintenance. "

See the full list of diesel technician skills.

Those diesel technicians who do attend college, typically earn either automotive technology degrees or industrial technology degrees. Less commonly earned degrees for diesel technicians include business degrees or general studies degrees.

When you're ready to become a diesel technician, you might wonder which companies hire diesel technicians. According to our research through diesel technician resumes, diesel technicians are mostly hired by Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Parker Global Strategies, and Sysco. Now is a good time to apply as Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores has 2,554 diesel technicians job openings, and there are 662 at Parker Global Strategies and 190 at Sysco.

Since salary is important to some diesel technicians, it's good to note that they are figured to earn the highest salaries at Cummins, Eversource Energy, and Freightliner Trucks. If you were to take a closer look at Cummins, you'd find that the average diesel technician salary is $65,849. Then at Eversource Energy, diesel technicians receive an average salary of $60,081, while the salary at Freightliner Trucks is $58,342.

View more details on diesel technician salaries across the United States.

We also looked into companies who hire diesel technicians from the top 100 educational institutions in the U.S. The top three companies that hire the most from these institutions include United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Marine, and Waste Management.

The industries that diesel technicians fulfill the most roles in are the transportation and retail industries. But the highest diesel technician annual salary is in the utilities industry, averaging $49,875. In the transportation industry they make $47,679 and average about $47,109 in the manufacturing industry. In conclusion, diesel technicians who work in the utilities industry earn a 5.5% higher salary than diesel technicians in the automotive industry.

The three companies that hire the most prestigious diesel technicians are:

Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores2,554 Diesel Technicians Jobs
Parker Global Strategies662 Diesel Technicians Jobs
Sysco190 Diesel Technicians Jobs

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What Mechanic Helpers Do

The job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues. In addition, you will be responsible for logging labor costs and inventory use and take vehicles for test drives. Other duties include replacing belts and hoses, assisting the lead mechanic in major projects, and repairing and maintaining cars.

In this section, we take a look at the annual salaries of other professions. Take mechanic helper for example. On average, the mechanic helpers annual salary is $14,976 lower than what diesel technicians make on average every year.

While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both diesel technicians and mechanic helpers positions are skilled in hand tools, perform routine maintenance, and diesel engines.

As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a diesel technician responsibility requires skills such as "cdl," "customer service," "preventative maintenance," and "diagnosis." Whereas a mechanic helper is skilled in "preventive maintenance," "safety equipment," "safety procedures," and "mechanical equipment." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

Mechanic helpers receive the highest salaries in the professional industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $36,229. But diesel technicians are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $49,875.

On average, mechanic helpers reach similar levels of education than diesel technicians. Mechanic helpers are 0.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

What Are The Duties Of a Truck Mechanic?

Also known as diesel services technicians, truck mechanics perform various heavy-duty truck tasks. The technicians work on large vehicles, tractor-trailers, and buses. It is their duty to inspect, make diagnoses, and repair the brake systems and other electrical components. They conduct routine maintenance work, which aims for longevity and functionality. It is also important for them to have skills in communication, organization, computer system, and administrative tasks.

Now we're going to look at the truck mechanic profession. On average, truck mechanics earn a $3,301 higher salary than diesel technicians a year.

Not everything about these jobs is different. Take their skills, for example. Diesel technicians and truck mechanics both include similar skills like "cdl," "customer service," and "diagnosis" on their resumes.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences that are worth noting. For example, diesel technician responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "preventative maintenance," "maintenance services," "construction equipment," and "calipers." Meanwhile, a truck mechanic might be skilled in areas such as "grinders," "preventive maintenance," "truck repair," and "mechanical equipment." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Truck mechanics may earn a higher salary than diesel technicians, but truck mechanics earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $53,263. On the other side of things, diesel technicians receive higher paychecks in the utilities industry where they earn an average of $49,875.

In general, truck mechanics study at similar levels of education than diesel technicians. They're 0.5% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

How a Shop Mechanic Compares

A shop mechanic is responsible for maintaining and repairing defective machinery and vehicles. Shop mechanics identify the disrupted components by inspecting and running diagnostic tests and informing the owner of the necessary procedures they need to take. They discuss the costs and expenses, the materials to be used, and the duration to fix the machine upon analyzing its complexity. A shop mechanic monitors the shop inventory, assemble parts, and upgrade engines and machinery for optimal performance.

The third profession we take a look at is shop mechanic. On an average scale, these workers bring in higher salaries than diesel technicians. In fact, they make a $509 higher salary per year.

While looking through the resumes of several diesel technicians and shop mechanics we discovered that both professions have similar skills. These similarities include skills such as "cdl," "customer service," and "preventative maintenance," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers are a few of the skills necessary to fulfill responsibilities. Some examples from diesel technician resumes include skills like "diagnosis," "defective equipment," "pto," and "maintenance services," whereas a shop mechanic might be skilled in "air brakes," "rental equipment," "ladders," and "mig. "

Additionally, shop mechanics earn a higher salary in the government industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $43,954. Additionally, diesel technicians earn an average salary of $49,875 in the utilities industry.

Shop mechanics typically study at similar levels compared with diesel technicians. For example, they're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Description Of a Mechanic

Mechanics are professionals responsible for assembling, maintaining, and repairing vehicles and types of machinery. They are knowledgeable of various tools and equipment, machinery, electrical systems, and other components. They can usually be seen indoors, garages in particular. Due to the advancement of technology, they are also required to be familiar with computer and software programs that can be used in auto shops and vehicles. They always work in safety precautions.

The fourth career we look at typically earns higher pay than diesel technicians. On average, mechanics earn a difference of $281 higher per year.

While both diesel technicians and mechanics complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like customer service, diagnosis, and hand tools, the two careers also vary in other skills.

Each job requires different skills like "cdl," "preventative maintenance," "dot," and "defective equipment," which might show up on a diesel technician resume. Whereas mechanic might include skills like "preventive maintenance," "customer vehicles," "ladders," and "strong customer service."

Now, let's take a closer look at the financials in each career. The manufacturing industry tends to pay more for mechanics with an average of $51,758. While the highest diesel technician annual salary comes from the utilities industry.

The average resume of mechanics showed that they earn similar levels of education to diesel technicians. So much so that the likelihood of them earning a Master's Degree is 0.1% less. Additionally, they're less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.

Updated October 2, 2020