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What is a truck technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Caid Kroeger

The Truck Technician, also known as a Truck Mechanic sometimes, as the name suggests, is a mechanical professional tasked with the maintenance and repair of trucks and other machineries, such as buses, large construction vehicles, and tractors.

Obviously, they examine, replace, and repair various parts of these large machines, such as steering wheels, electrical and steering systems, breaks, and so on. Though some may work in specialized repair shops, it is not uncommon to find them in transportation and travel companies, organizations, and government agencies.

A person hoping to work as a Truck Technician generally must have at least a high school diploma or a GED, though further education, whether in terms of college education or through the completion of various courses, is often preferred. Specialized training is most often a must, as is a specialized driving license. Further certification might be necessary down the line, such as the ASE certificate, which can be gained after the individual has spent some years working in the field.

What general advice would you give to a truck technician?

Caid Kroeger

Associates Degree Coordinator/Instructor, Weber State University

As the automotive industry continues to develop and manufacture EVs and hybrids, technicians with expertise in high-voltage systems, battery management, and electric powertrains will find their skills in great demand. Alongside this, a deep understanding of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, autonomous driving, and lane assist, will be necessary. This evolution in vehicle technology emphasizes the need for technicians to be well-versed in both EV/hybrid technologies and ADAS. Such a combination of diagnostic and analytical skills will be key to thriving in the constantly evolving automotive industry.
ScoreTruck TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.5

Avg. Salary $44,554

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
10.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 2.52%

Black or African American 9.57%

Hispanic or Latino 15.64%

Unknown 5.04%

White 66.15%

Gender

female 3.62%

male 96.38%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.8

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Truck technician career paths

Key steps to become a truck technician

  1. Explore truck technician education requirements

    Most common truck technician degrees

    High School Diploma

    34.1 %

    Associate

    28.8 %

    Diploma

    18.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific truck technician skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CDL20.57%
    Preventative Maintenance13.96%
    Customer Service6.36%
    Electrical Systems4.48%
    Hand Tools4.02%
  3. Complete relevant truck technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New truck technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a truck technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real truck technician resumes.
  4. Research truck technician duties and responsibilities

    • Inspect cars, service and repairs specializing in BMW repairs, manage shop, price and order parts, customer service
    • Install or repair air conditioners and service components, such as compressors, condensers, and controls.
    • Inspect, diagnose, and repair engines, transmissions, electric systems, a/c systems, and drive systems on trucks.
    • Service and diagnostic on HVAC systems and electronic systems.
  5. Prepare your truck technician resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your truck technician resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a truck technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable truck technician resume templates

    Build a professional truck technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your truck technician resume.
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
    Truck Technician Resume
  6. Apply for truck technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a truck technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first truck technician job

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Average truck technician salary

The average truck technician salary in the United States is $44,554 per year or $21 per hour. Truck technician salaries range between $32,000 and $60,000 per year.

Average truck technician salary
$44,554 Yearly
$21.42 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do truck technicians rate their job?

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Truck technician reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Cons

Dealing with management and unqualified coworkers


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Love the challenge to diagnose those insane offbeat issues that just don't fit into the everyday problems

Cons

Pay is minimal for your knowledge. Hours are better for white collar professionals. Have to buy your own tools with witch you could have bought your home with and no one cares. Treated as a second rate individual because you said "I'm an automotive mechanic." Expected to be perfect from customers who wonder why you didn't get it fixed on the first try when MD's almost never get it right. Expected to be an expert on over 60k types of automobiles that change every friggan year.....want more? If I had the choice to do it all over again I'd go into politics so I could rip off ppl every day and get rich and no one would ever complain.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Lubrication exchanging of car spare parts like brake pads gear box chloch pods and other spare parts of the car.

Cons

I don't like while am working somebody speaking to me.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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