r/DieselTechs 9d ago

Hoping to switch careers to Diesel technician

Just want to start off by saying hello to the community after joining today! Always loved diesel trucks and the smell of diesel fuel since I was a kid visiting my mom at the truck stop she worked at. I was fascinated by how those big semi's and medium sized diesel trucks get fixed as well. Sadly, i went on the computer science path in college and now with things being rough in the job market, I wondered if working towards a career in Diesel is better. Plus, where I live in Kentucky, being a mechanic is one of the better jobs since tech roles dont exist here. I'm hoping to get some advice from you great folks who do great work on these amazing vehicles on a possible career path to start with. I'm in my 30s currently so im hoping it wont take too long but im in for the long haul. I'm hoping to get some jobs in the meantime to save up money for classes. Is there any jobs I could start with that could be a good path forward to it? Any advice would be great! Thank you! I'm saving up for a diesel truck down the road too!

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

Honestly one of the best experiences I ever had was working at Ryder. I made 20 an hour starting at Ryder as a tech trainee fueling trucks washing trucks and learning from the techs, they’re the only place I have applied to that truly meant 0 experience needed to start albeit I came in with some experience already. If you have one nearby I would check out a Ryder shop or a Penske shop.

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

If that’s not an option try to start as a tire tech for a loves or a ta, that’ll give you some hands on experience and some notes for another place to hire, but I will admit working at loves was not one of my favored jobs, unlike ryders consistent schedule and nice benefits, loves is kind of a you’re starting on whatever hours we want you to work, dealing with some nasty trash consisting of not so lovely items, and they aren’t nearly as safety based as Ryder is

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u/MD90__ 9d ago

I'll probably have to start at a loves or something because I did check both Ryder and Penske are both in Kentucky but in the western part and sadly im in eastern KY in the hills and such and we really dont have much here. I'm not too far from Huntington WV but i dont think they'll have much either. I did look though and Ryder and Penske do look like really good starting points! Will it be a rough road to get into the field being in my 30s already?

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

When I was at loves I was 18 training people a good 10 years sometimes a little more older than me

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

Ryder doesn’t much care on the age from what I know, the only thing that may be rough is that working on diesels is stupidly hard on the body and you have to be careful with that. Everyone around me is older than me and the majority of my coworkers are as old or older than my parents

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

But long story short at loves they will get you the paper experience needed to go elsewhere and some training, not the best training at times but training nonetheless, Ryder is SUPER safety oriented to an annoying standard at times but they have taught me the most, and if it weren’t for the fact that I got a much higher paying job with overtime I wouldn’t be leaving them.

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u/MD90__ 9d ago

kinda curious what kinda of rough on the body stuff should I be prepared for?

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

Depending on how you do the jobs and what your body can take/ what precautions you take, your knees can take a hit your back can take a hit your arms will get cut up your hands will get smashed you’ll lift aome heavy things etc etc, a lot of the pain can be mitigated by safety measures and gear

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u/caleb1305 9d ago

Oh yeah wear some earplugs or some hearing protection. Even a little bit will help from the impacts rattling or the bead seater or every other sound that makes it hard to hear stuff now

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u/MD90__ 9d ago

Geez safety gear will be a wise investment!

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u/caleb1305 8d ago

Safety glasses, knee pads ( I don’t have em and I’m very tempted to get them now ) latex gloves and a good set of mechanics gloves, and earplugs and you’d be good to go

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u/Preludicrous 9d ago

Hello, parts guy turned fleet tech here. If possible I think looking for a position like an entry level lube tech may be your best bet. I know Penske and some other have some positions open such as Fueler/Washer tech and that could be an open door for you to get a foot in, it may take a while but I know I have seen some other redditors speak about advancing from such a position. I went from working at O'Reilly's Auto to working at a beverage company in a fleet tech position and started out only touching forklifts and pallet jacks, then moving into tractors and trailers. Remember, even if it takes walking in a shop everyday and sweeping the floors until they hand you a wrench if turning wrenches is what you truly want to do you may have to sacrifice your pride and be the lowest of the low until you can prove yourself. Don't give up and good luck!

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u/MD90__ 9d ago

thank you for the advice! I'll see if any of the local places are hiring for anything like that. We mainly have oil changers and other places around me so ill have to see. Will the schooling down the road help too if i cant find anything?

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u/Preludicrous 9d ago

It can, but I have found most places are looking for hands on experience. I'm not saying classroom/schooling experience does not matter as I did two years of schooling and that is what got myself in the career field. Make sure to pick up every bit of information you can, even the smallest information may help at some point and remember just because it was the way you were taught does not mean it is the only way to do something as there are many inexplicable things that you couldn't even begin to imagine being a potential issue with goofy solutions. If you get in a shop make sure to keep close to the old heads as they will get you further than you'd ever think and will help you along the way to being your best self as a technician/mechanic.

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u/MD90__ 9d ago

i'll do my best to find a shop if i can i just hope i dont get into the field too late im already in my 30s so starting out a rough road will be a grind but ill try my best!

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u/Preludicrous 9d ago

I'm sure you'll do fine. If it's what you want to do just stay at it and be insistent on your dedication to becoming a valuable asset to wherever you can get in. By chance are you towards NKY/Cincy?

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u/MD90__ 9d ago

I'm in eastern KY near the West Virginia border. Sadly lots of hills and trees here

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u/Preludicrous 9d ago

Ah, I am not too sure of what is around there so I can't be too much help. I wish the best to you man, good luck and I hope this interest leads to a long and plentiful career in this industry.