Heavy-Duty Technician: A Job in High Demand Right Now!
- Nela Friesen
- Feb 28, 2025
- 5 min read
Table of Contents
About My Dad's Journey as a Heavy-duty Technician
Today, I have a very special guest on the blog: my dad! He has worked as a heavy-duty technician for 10 years. He started out at his job with no previous experience as a technician, but because he was willing to learn, he was able to quickly finish his schooling and rise through the ranks at his workplace. He is now the shop foreman and diagnostic advisor at Southland International.
The information in this post is based on working for an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) dealership, meaning they are partnered with an equipment manufacturer. Working for a private company would likely be different.
What is Being a Heavy-duty Technician Like?
An Average Day
After you arrive at work, multiple jobs can be assigned to your name. After diagnosing the problem and determining the parts needed for the first job, you can create a quote with the parts department. While waiting for approval, you can start on the next job assigned to you. Average days look like this as you work on multiple jobs.
Pay
The pay for a heavy-duty technician is very good. It can be lower to start, but people will typically see a significant increase after they become certified journeymen, which is when they have finished their schooling.
Work Conditions
It is both an independent and collaborative job. Unless you are training or working on a job that requires two people, you will be working on jobs independently. You must be able to work alone and problem-solve if an issue arises. However, collaboration is also important when dealing with other departments, such as the parts department, to get the parts you need for the repair.
The hours are fairly consistent for a heavy-duty technician. The work week consists of 40 hours, and overtime is typically not required. If you work in the agriculture or construction fields as a technician, there can be busy seasons where overtime is required, but this is typically not required when working on trucks.
It can be a stressful job as there is time pressure to get jobs done quickly. You must keep track of time and keep the customers updated. Staying organized and following the best procedures are key to minimizing and managing stress.
Qualities Needed
Having a positive attitude and a willingness to keep learning is crucial in this job. Technology and equipment are constantly changing, and being able to keep up with this will make you invaluable to employers. You will also need to be able to think critically when diagnosing issues. You will need to be good with working with your hands, and also being able to work well with technology will be an asset. Organization and communication skills are also essential in this job. Lastly, you will also have to be okay with working in less-than-ideal conditions from time to time, for example, if something breaks down in the cold in the winter. However, one advantage to working in the transportation sector is that trucks will usually get towed into a warm shop for repairs and will rarely need to be worked on outside.
Hardest and Easiest Parts of the Job
Like with many jobs, the hardest part of this job is the people. It can be difficult to deal with the customers and meet their demands.
The easiest part of this job is that you only have to worry about the jobs that are assigned to you. The work order given to you will also often include detailed descriptions of the repairs needed for that job, making it easier to complete the job.
Why Choose to Be a Heavy-Duty Technician?
This job is very rewarding because you get to keep up with the latest technology and work with the latest equipment. The lifestyle is a great part; the regular 40 hours of work don't change weekly. The pay is also great and will allow for a comfortable lifestyle.
Misconceptions
The biggest misconception is the public's view of mechanics, thinking that they just get dirty and greasy by doing oil changes, replacing parts, and other simple jobs. The truth is, while you may start out doing some of the dirtier and simpler jobs, if you are willing and able to learn, you can quickly advance to doing more computer and test work in electrical and diagnosis jobs. These jobs are very clean and require a lot of critical thinking.
Post-Secondary
Post-secondary education is necessary to become a heavy-duty technician. There is a program at the Lethbridge Polytechnic. The apprenticeship program includes 2 months of school for 4 years, and each year, you will also need a certain amount of hours of work experience as an apprentice where you learn from mentors on the job. While you are in school, you are eligible to claim employment insurance, and it's also common for the company you work for to pay a part of tuition costs for your schooling. There are also scholarships and government grants available. Working hard to get good grades will make you more likely to receive these benefits.
There is also a pre-employment program available at Lethbridge Polytechnic called the Agricultural and Heavy Duty Technician Program. It runs for 2 semesters and allows you to start working on equipment immediately after completing the program. You can go through this program with no previous work experience, and it will increase your chances of being hired as you are considered to be a higher trained technician than an apprentice who wants to start working for a company with no previous experience.
It is fairly easy to enter the industry, as long as you have good enough grades to get you through the training. Heavy-duty technicians are in very high demand at the moment, making it a good industry to enter.
What can High School Students do to Prepare?
The best way for students to prepare for a career in any of the trades is to enter the RAP Program (Registered Apprenticeship Program). You can earn high school credits while getting paid on a job. It also allows you to get work experience hours that count towards your apprenticeship training. It gives you a headstart in your career because you will be ahead of others when you graduate high school, and it will be a great advantage.
Thanks so much for reading this week's blog post! I got to learn a bit more about my dad's job as a heavy-duty technician, and hopefully you learned a lot as well. Southland International is very involved in inspiring students to enter the trades, so you may see them at events like the EPIC Career Fair or the AgExpo. They have also had multiple students working for them who were a part of the RAP program, so they might be worth checking out if this is a career you are interested in. Thanks again, and see you next week!
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