Bus And Truck Mechanics And Diesel Engine Specialists

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Description

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.

Tasks

Use handtools such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, and precision instruments, as well as power tools such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, and jacks and hoists.
Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
Adjust and reline brakes, align wheels, tighten bolts and screws, and reassemble equipment.
Raise trucks, buses, and heavy parts or equipment using hydraulic jacks or hoists.
Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
Test drive trucks and buses to diagnose malfunctions or to ensure that they are working properly.
Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices.
Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.
Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, and pressure gauges.
Inspect, repair, and maintain automotive and mechanical equipment and machinery such as pumps and compressors.
Rewire ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels.
Diagnose and repair vehicle heating and cooling systems.
Recondition and replace parts, pistons, bearings, gears, and valves.
Inspect and verify dimensions and clearances of parts to ensure conformance to factory specifications.
Disassemble and overhaul internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches, and differential units.
Specialize in repairing and maintaining parts of the engine, such as fuel injection systems.
Repair and adjust seats, doors, and windows, and install and repair accessories.
Rebuild gas or diesel engines.
Align front ends and suspension systems.
Operate valve-grinding machines to grind and reset valves.
Adjust or repair computer controlled exhaust emissions devices.
Follow green operational practices involving conservation of water or energy or reduction of solid waste.
Maintain or repair vehicles with alternative fuel systems, including biodiesel, hybrid, or compressed natural gas vehicles.
Measure vehicle emissions to determine whether they are within acceptable limits.

Knowledge

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Skills

Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Abilities

Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Work Activities

Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Work Context

Exposed to Contaminants: How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting: How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled: How often does this job require working indoors in non-controlled environmental conditions (e.g., warehouse without heat)?
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets: How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable: How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls: How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
Outdoors, Exposed to Weather: How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
Face-to-Face Discussions: How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Telephone: How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Outdoors, Under Cover: How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (e.g., structure with roof but no walls)?

Interests

Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Work Style

Attention to Detail: Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability: Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation: Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Independence: Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking: Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Integrity: Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative: Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Achievement/Effort: Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility: Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Persistence: Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Work Values

Support: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Achievement: Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Independence: Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Recognition: Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Related Occupations

Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

Motorcycle Mechanics

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers

Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators

Lay Titles

Boat Diesel Motor Mechanic

Boat Engine Mechanic

Boat Engines Installer

Boat Mechanic

Bus or Truck Garage Mechanic

Certified Mechanic

Deep Submergence Vehicle Crewmember

Diesel Engine Erector

Diesel Engine Fitter

Diesel Engine Mechanic

Diesel Machinist

Diesel Mechanic

Diesel Mechanic Apprentice

Diesel Motor Mechanic

Diesel Technician

Diesel Tractor Engine Mechanic

Engine Maintenance Mechanic

Engine Mechanic

Farm Equipment Engine Mechanic

Farm Implement Engine Mechanic

Farm Machinery Engine Mechanic

Fleet Mechanic

General Repair Mechanic

Heavy Duty Mechanic

Heavy Equipment Engine Mechanic

Heavy Repairer

Heavy Truck Mechanic

Industrial Truck Mechanic

Journeyman Bus Mechanic

Locomotive Mechanic

Maintenance Mechanic

Marine Diesel Mechanic

Marine Engine Machinist

Marine Engine Machinist Apprentice

Marine Engine Mechanic

Mechanic

Medium/Heavy Truck Mechanic

Motor Mechanic

Oil Field Equipment Mechanic

Ordnance Truck Installation Mechanic

Overhauler, Bus, Truck

School Bus Mechanic

Tank Truck Engine Mechanic

Tractor Expert

Tractor Mechanic

Tractor Mechanic Apprentice

Tractor Trailer Mechanic

Trailer Mechanic

Transit Mechanic

Transportation Mechanic

Truck Bench Mechanic

Truck Engine Technician

Truck Mechanic Apprentice

Truck Trailer Mechanic

Truck, Railroad, and Bus Engine Mechanic

Truck, Railroad, and Bus Motor Mechanic

Truck, Railroad, and Bus Transmission Mechanic

Truck, Railroad, and Bus Tune Up Mechanic

Vehicle Mechanic

National Wages and Employment Info

Median Wages (2008):: $20.35 hourly, $42,320 annual.

Employment (2008):: 230,030 employees