Mobile Equipment Repair & Svcs

U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook       Printer-friendly version () () Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians and Mechanics Significant Points Opportunities should be excellent for people with formal postsecondary training in diesel or heavy equipment mechanics; those without formal training will face keen competition. This occupation offers relatively high wages and the challenge of skilled repair work. Skill in using computerized diagnostic equipment is important in this occupation. Nature of the Work Heavy vehicles and mobile equipment are indispensable to many industrial activities from construction to railroads. Various types of equipment move materials, till land, lift beams, and dig earth to pave the way for development and production. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics repair and maintain engines and hydraulic, transmission, and electrical systems for this equipment. Farm machinery, cranes, bulldozers, and railcars are all examples of heavy vehicles that require such service. (For information on service technicians specializing in diesel engines, see the section on elsewhere in the Handbook.) Service technicians perform routine maintenance checks on agricultural, industrial, construction, and rail equipment. They service fuel, brake, and transmission systems to ens...