Heavy vehicles are an essential part of large-scale commercial industries, where they’re crucial for transporting goods or passengers across long distances. These vehicles include anything from trucks and tractor units to trains and bulldozers. Auto mechanics looking to work on a broad range of vehicles necessary for the function of various industries can consider a career as a heavy vehicle technician.
In this career, you’ll be providing special maintenance with the aim to ensure safety and enhance performance. Through your auto mechanic training, you’ll learn to diagnose and repair real automotive problems, preparing you for various tasks on the job. If this sounds like something right up your alley, then read on to discover the daily tasks along with the skills required to excel on the job!
Daily Tasks and Activities You Can Expect as a Heavy Vehicle Technician
As you might expect, heavy vehicle technicians work to maintain, repair, and inspect heavy vehicles. However, they may also work on industrial equipment—including internal combustion components and engines as well as tracked, ground-engaging, and rubber-tired equipment (for crawler tractors, ditchers, wheeled loaders, and others).
Your daily tasks can range from cleaning and lubricating equipment to identifying and repairing defective parts, like gears or pistons. You would also be responsible for inspecting major components, like electrical systems and hydraulics, and disassembling any parts that need special attention. Here, you might find yourself consulting equipment operating manuals and blueprints to ensure everything is properly maintained and reassembled. Part of your job can also include logging your maintenance work and recording the condition of the equipment or vehicle you’ve been working on.
Key Strengths and Skills You’ll Need to Succeed on the Job
By taking auto mechanic courses, you’ll be able to develop key skills that will help you effectively perform a variety of tasks on the job. The tasks of a heavy vehicle technician can sometimes be physically demanding. Being able to work on your feet for long hours and lift heavy equipment becomes particularly useful. Although most of your work will be indoors, you’ll likely have the opportunity to perform repairs out in the field—maintaining heavy vehicles in agriculture, construction, and other heavy industries.
Having good communication and critical thinking skills are valuable in this career, particularly when interacting with clients in order to address their needs and propose appropriate solutions. Good communication is also essential when writing service reports and maintaining records. Similarly, strong critical thinking skills are necessary to boost your productivity. With them, you can diagnose malfunctions more efficiently and speed up your workflow.
Why Taking Auto Mechanic Courses Makes a Difference in the Field
Completing formal training can help you become a mechanic more easily, equipping you with the latest knowledge so you can keep up with evolving technologies and systems. Your program will also provide you with heavy hands-on training, allowing you to get the experience you need to kick-start your career and develop the key skills you need to succeed.
Those interested in specializing as heavy vehicle technicians will be in a better position to seek careers with formal training—applying for jobs with construction contractors, dealers, and distributors, or exploring openings with government agencies in this field. Through in-class theory and hands-on instruction, you’ll gain valuable insight in a broad range of subjects and be better prepared to start your new career!
Are you interested in going to an automotive school?
Contact ATC Surrey for more information!
