What to Expect from Your Trailer Mechanic Training and Certification
If you want to work with diesel engines, which are considered the workhorses that power our nation’s trucks, trailers and buses because they provide more power and are more durable than their gasoline counterpart, then prepare for a heavy workout. To become a diesel tractor trailer mechanic, you will need a lot of school and practical experience working on heavy equipment vehicles such as a dump truck trailer, truck and bus engines.
You will also be required to study and learn automobile engines, diesel fuel and ignition systems, brakes, transmissions, emissions, diesel powertrains, fundamentals of electronic technology, and advanced diagnostic systems. Repairing a truck trailer on a semi-trailer tractor is definitely more complicated than any other type of vehicle maintenance.
Once you have completed your studies and passed your tests, you will have to decide what to do with your skills as a tractor trailer mechanic. Most decide to work for an organization that repairs and maintains its own vehicles and equipment. If you choose this path, you will most likely spend most of your time working on your fleet of semi-trailer tractors, performing preventative maintenance to keep the equipment safe to operate and to eliminate unnecessary wear and tear on parts that may end . breaking.
It is common for mechanics to handle many different repairs and can go from working on major engine repairs one day to a simple turn signal problem the next, but they are all equally important to the safe operation of a commercial truck trailer. Of course, engine maintenance is becoming more and more complex as more electronic components are used to control engine operation. Most new shops have handheld computers to help diagnose problems and adjust engine functions, which of course means that mechanics who repair truck trailer machinery and other equipment must continually learn new techniques.
In the larger shops, the trailer mechanic will get his assignments from a service manager or shop supervisor, who have many years under their belt as experienced technicians. They will also typically assist with repairs on new or used truck trailers, help diagnose problems, and maintain a high level of quality standards. Your role may vary, as you may be asked to take on an apprentice, you may team up with another mechanic, or you may help someone with heavy work, such as removing a transmission or engine. Many technicians may have qualified through years of hands-on work, however, most employers are looking for mechanics who have completed school training and obtained their certificate.