Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

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.

Sample of reported job titles:
Bus Mechanic, Diesel Mechanic, Diesel Technician, Fleet Mechanic, General Repair Mechanic, Mechanic, Service Technician, Trailer Mechanic, Transit Mechanic, Truck Mechanic

Occupation-Specific Information

Tasks

  • 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.
  • Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
  • Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
  • Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
  • Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists.

Technology Skills

  • Analytical or scientific software:Cummins INSITE
    ,
    Engine diagnostic software
  • Calendar and scheduling software:Scheduling software
  • Computer aided design CAD software:Autodesk AutoCAD
    ,
    Computer aided design CAD software
    ,
    Dassault Systemes CATIA
    ,
    Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software:Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Data base user interface and query software:Database software

Occupational Requirements

Work Activities

  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment:Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Getting Information:Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment:Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials:Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards:Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
  • Adjust vehicle components according to specifications.
  • Align equipment or machinery.
  • Dismantle heavy equipment or machinery.
  • Grind parts to required dimensions.

Work Context

  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls:90% responded"Continually or almost continually"
  • Exposed to Contaminants:82% responded"Every day"
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets:80% responded"Every day"
  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable:74% responded"Every day"
  • Face-to-Face Discussions:73% responded"Every day"

Worker Requirements

Skills

  • Repairing:Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Troubleshooting:Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Operation and Control:Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operations Monitoring:Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Critical Thinking:Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Knowledge

  • Mechanical:Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Transportation:Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  • 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.
  • Public Safety and Security:Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • English Language:Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education

How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation? Respondents said:
  • 40%
    High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
  • 30%
    Less than a High School Diploma
  • 18%
    Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
  • 7%
    Some College Courses

Worker Characteristics

Abilities

  • Near Vision:The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Problem Sensitivity:The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness:The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Interests

  • Realistic:Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
  • Conventional:Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Values

  • Support:Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
  • Relationships:Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Achievement:Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail:Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Adaptability/Flexibility:Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Dependability:Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
  • Stress Tolerance:Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
  • Analytical Thinking:Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Get yourself a new skill

In this Path

Track1
Analytical Skills
Decision Making
Our lives are but an endless series of making decisions; we as people might have to take hundreds -...
Read more
Salalem
Problem Solving
كلُ مشكلةٍ تشبهُ البابَ الكبيرَ، وبالتأكيدِ هناك حلٌ يمثلُ المفتاحَ الصغيرَ الذي يمكنكَ من فتحِهِ بس...
Read more
Salalem
Track2
Microsoft Office Set
Microsoft Excel
This course is designed to take you from Zero to Hero on Excel, and make your accounting job and req...
Read more
Filtered AI
Microsoft Word
Word is not just for writing plain text; and this is why this course is here to guide you through ev...
Read more
Intellezy Learning