Joining the diesel tech club. Advice please.

[Revelations]

Hey guys and gals. The trucking company I have been with for the last year, is offering me a trial internship in our shop. The paticular terminal I run out of has tripled in size in less than 3 years, so the are very short on help in the shop.

After 21 years on the road, I'm burnt the F out. I'm leaving on vacation in 2 days and when I get back, I will be officially semi retired. Driving maybe 3 days a week, 25 hours max. With the 4 days off I'm willing to give up 1-2 working in the shop. This position will be without pay as my request, until I understand what I'm doing. They intend to have me doing everything from mopping the floor, pm's, minor r&r parts swaps, checking tire psi in all equipment, and getting coffee for the boss. All of our trucks are Peterbuilts with Cummins ISX motors, 3 years old and newer. Most of the trucks are in the shop for pm work-annuals. After 3 years or 400k, we sell them off.


I'm a humble 42 year old man, so nothing they tell me to do is beneath me.
My health is decent, with a strong back. I've been around trucks for 22 years, but what goes on in the shop has always been more interesting to me, than what goes on out on the road. I think I can do it for the next 10 years, untill I fully retire at 52. The shop is heated and cooled, but techs are required to buy all thier own hand tools. Specialty tools designed for the trucks, will be provided by the company. We have free uniforms and laundry for the hundreds of rags they use. I have a 10x10 storage unit full of new tools, that I have been hoarding for a few years. I would love to put those tools to work.

My question is... Is there any advice the seasoned older techs can offer to someone starting out soo late?



Sent from a Galaxy far far away.

 

[Revelations]

Re: Joining the diesel tech club

I forgot to add that if the boss likes my work, they will pay for any future certs-schooling.

Sent from a Galaxy far far away.

 

[Westozfixer]

I would have to ask why would you want to at your age? Especially doing it for free.

 

[Revelations]

I would have to ask why would you want to at your age? Especially doing it for free.

The free part is so I can choose my own schedule, work when want. Its only about 10 full work days. An evail to see if its something I want to do on a reg basis. I'm to young to fully retire, but Im sick of trucking. Wrenching is the only other thing Id be interested in doing instead of trucking. Im leaning more toward part time shop work, and walking from driving al together.

Its the traning and company sponsored certs and schooling Im after. If I decide to take my new exp to say a better paying private fleet, I don't owe anyone a dime.

Sent from a Galaxy far far away.

 

[Firebrick43]

Don't open an account on the **** train(snap on truck). You don't need it if you can't pay with cash. Seen more people leave due to the debt load of buying new shiny chrome. I have a lot of nice snap on tools (maybe 30%) but have only bought 2 stubby screwdrivers and a 6" rule new off the truck. Everything else has been bought used for 10-20 cents on the dollar.

 

[zkdiesel]

Pay attention. Don't do anything dumb, be mindful of what your working on and finish task at hand before moving on. Seen way to many parts fall off trucks in my truck towing career. Lots of it do to a lacky getting sidetracted(loose wheels, no slack adjuster clip, not stacking wheel bearing locks correctly....... List for goes on and on. Pay attention, 80,000 lb rig screaming to a haunt on the highway can hurt way more people than just its driver

 

[zkdiesel]

And for reference if be bored shitless doing maintence on 0-3 year old trucks. Give me the challenge of real broken stuff any day over greasing and maintence programs. My 1/4" hand tools, laptops and electrical items get used more than my "large tools" last 5 years keeping these junks on the road. My brand new 30ton wrecker also helps with that

 

[atomicpunk]

I agree with zkdiesel, greasing, checking tire pressure, and changing oil gets old quick. If they like your work and stick with it you'll prob see brake jobs and maybe some clutches to go along with changing light bulbs.

 

[crewchief888]

Pay attention.
be mindful of what your working on and finish task at hand before moving on. Seen way to many parts fall off trucks Lots of it do to a lacky getting sidetracted

dont be afraid to ask questions,

stay off your cell phone!!! (nothing pisses me off more than someone paying more attention to their phone that what they're doing)

try to develop a "system" of how you are doing things, if you start in the same place, and end in the same place, especially doing PM work, you'll never miss or forget anything

i switched "careers" in my mid 20's from a machinist tool/die maker to working on const eq. ive been in dealerships for over 30 years now.