Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.
Work Activities
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Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
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Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.
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Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
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Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices.
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Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
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Test drive trucks and buses to diagnose malfunctions or to ensure that they are working properly.
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Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists.
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Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.
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Rebuild gas or diesel engines.
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Inspect and verify dimensions and clearances of parts to ensure conformance to factory specifications.
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Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, or pressure gauges.
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Recondition and replace parts, pistons, bearings, gears, and valves.
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Rewire ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels.
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Follow green operational practices involving conservation of water or energy or reduction of solid waste.
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Align front ends and suspension systems.
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Specialize in repairing and maintaining parts of the engine, such as fuel injection systems.
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Adjust or repair computer controlled exhaust emissions devices.
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Inspect, repair, and maintain automotive and mechanical equipment and machinery, such as pumps and compressors.
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Install or repair accessories.
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Disassemble and overhaul internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches, and differential units.
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Diagnose and repair vehicle heating and cooling systems.
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Repair or adjust seats, doors, or windows.
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Measure vehicle emissions to determine whether they are within acceptable limits.
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Maintain or repair vehicles with alternative fuel systems, including biodiesel, hybrid, or compressed natural gas vehicles.
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Operate valve-grinding machines to grind and reset valves.
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Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
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Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
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Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
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Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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Finger Dexterity
The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
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Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
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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.
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Currently Employed
10,050
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Yearly Projected Openings
1,000
- Education
High school diploma or equivalent
- Work Experience
No work experience
- Training
More than 1 year on-the-job training
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Looking for technical training programs?
Check out these programs:
Realistic:
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
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Adaptability/Flexibility
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Attention to Detail
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Dependability
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Stress Tolerance
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Analytical Thinking
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Integrity
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Specialty wrenches
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Portable data input terminals
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Calipers
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Adjustable wrenches
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Adjustable widemouth pliers
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Word processing software
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Facilities management software
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Computer aided design CAD software
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Calendar and scheduling software
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Analytical or scientific software
