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The differences between heavy truck mechanics and fleet mechanics can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a heavy truck mechanic and a fleet mechanic. Additionally, a fleet mechanic has an average salary of $50,065, which is higher than the $49,777 average annual salary of a heavy truck mechanic.
The top three skills for a heavy truck mechanic include CDL, diagnosis and OSHA. The most important skills for a fleet mechanic are CDL, DOT, and diagnosis.
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Yearly salary | $49,777 | $50,065 |
| Hourly rate | $23.93 | $24.07 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 83,972 | 90,785 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Heavy truck mechanics repair and maintain trucks. They are responsible for the inspection, diagnosis, and repair of brake systems. They may work on include engines, transmissions, electrical components, or steering systems. Typically, they work for freight companies, truck manufacturers, local government agencies, or repair shops. To be a heavy truck mechanic, they must be physically strong and have the ability to be able to work in noisy environments.
A fleet mechanic is responsible for inspecting and maintaining the safety and efficiency of vehicles for various industrial operations and services. Fleet mechanics conduct regular maintenance of the engines, repairing its malfunctioning components, and upgrading its system for optimal performance. They oversee the overall management of fleet operations, keeping an organized record of resolutions for reference to avoid reoccurrence of defects. A fleet mechanic coordinates with the fleet supervisor for necessary replacements of vehicles to avoid delays in operations and prevent potential hazards on the road.
Heavy truck mechanics and fleet mechanics have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average salary | $49,777 | $50,065 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $66,000 | Between $37,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | Anaheim, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Hunter Contracting | OGE Energy |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Construction |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck mechanic and a fleet mechanic in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 35% |
| Most common major | Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck mechanics' and fleet mechanics' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Mechanic | Fleet Mechanic | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.6% Female, 2.4% | Male, 97.9% Female, 2.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.8% Asian, 2.5% White, 69.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 2.4% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 2% |