Job Description for an Apprentice Diesel Mechanic
As an apprentice diesel mechanic, you will learn how to inspect, repair and maintain a diesel engine and its mechanical components. An apprenticeship prepares you for work as a diesel mechanic through training hours in a repair shop under an experienced mechanic, as well as more formal instruction in a classroom setting.
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Duties
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The apprentice program gives diesel mechanics hands-on experience with buses, tractors, cranes, bulldozers and heavy trucks. You also learn how to service diesel-powered equipment, such as compressors, generators and pumps utilized for irrigation systems and oil well drilling. According to careerplanner.com, an apprentice assists the supervising mechanic with removing transmissions and engines from vehicles, using power tools, welding equipment, hand tools, lathes and pneumatic wrenches.
Education
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Some apprenticeship programs require candidates to have a two-year degree in diesel mechanics. Institutions that offer two-year programs include community colleges, vocational, technical and trade schools. A background check and admission exam may also be required, according to the Union Pacific website.
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Training
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Hands-on and classroom instruction is given to apprentice diesel mechanics, says careerplanner.com. Formal, four-year apprenticeship programs consist of 8,000 hours of hands-on experience working on engines, transmissions, and their components. Nearly 600 hours of classroom instruction is needed for coursework in safety, reading blue prints, engine theory and mathematics.
Salary
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According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average 2008 salary for a diesel mechanic was $40,710. Apprentice diesel mechanics typically earn 50 percent to 75 percent of experienced mechanics' pay, reports careerplanner.com, and receive an increase every six months until completion of the apprenticeship.
Working Conditions
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The work is usually completed indoors in well-lit, ventilated areas, with occasional jobs completed on the road. Apprentices face hazards such as minor burns, bruises and cuts while handling dirty and greasy parts. Employers usually provide locker rooms with shower facilities for their mechanics. According to careerplanner.com, a typical workweek is 40 hours, which could include nights and weekends.
Advancement
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Apprentice diesel mechanics work for trucking and public transit companies, school systems, equipment and vehicle dealers as well as for state, federal and local government agencies. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, reports careerplanner.com, you likely will work for three or four more years to become a journey-level diesel mechanic. Opportunities for advancement come with further experience, and include such jobs as journeyman, foreman, service manager and shop supervisor.
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