Diesel Technician Trainee

You're learning to work on engines that are measured in liters, not cylinders. Everything is bigger, heavier, and louder than automotive work. You'll start with preventive maintenance — oil changes on trucks that hold 10 gallons instead of 5 quarts — and work your way up to engine diagnostics. Trade school helps, but the real learning happens when a veteran tech hands you a wrench and says 'figure it out.'

What you'll actually do

• 01Perform preventive maintenance on trucks, buses, and heavy equipment
• 02Change oil and filters on engines that hold enough oil to fill a bathtub
• 03Learn to use diagnostic software specific to Cummins, Detroit, and Caterpillar engines
• 04Assist senior techs with repairs and try not to drop anything that weighs 80 pounds
• 05Study for ASE diesel certifications during whatever free time you can find
• 06Get comfortable with the fact that everything you touch will be covered in diesel fuel