If you want to work with diesel engines, which are considered the workhorses that power our nation’s trucks, trailers and buses because they deliver more power and last longer than their gasoline counterparts, then get ready for some intensive training. To become a diesel tractor trailer mechanic, you will need a lot of school and hands-on experience working on heavy equipment vehicles such as a dump truck trailer, truck and bus engines.

You will also need to study and learn automotive engines, diesel fuel and ignition systems, brakes, transmissions, emissions, diesel power trains, 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 education and passed your exams, you will have to decide what to do with your skills as a tractor trailer mechanic. Most choose 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 can end up 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 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 larger shops, the trailer mechanic will get his assignments from a service manager or shop supervisor, who have many years as experienced technicians. They will also typically help with new or used truck trailer repairs, help diagnose problems, and maintain a high level of quality standards. Your role may vary, as you may be asked to take on an apprenticeship, you may work as a team with another mechanic, or you may assist someone with a heavy job such as removing a transmission or engine. Many technicians may have qualified through years of hands-on work, but most employers look for mechanics who have completed school training and earned their certificate.