Truck Mechanic Job Description, Key Duties, and Responsibilities

This post provides detailed information on the truck mechanic job description, including the key duties, tasks, and responsibilities they typically perform.

It also highlights the major requirements, including skills, knowledge, and abilities that employers/recruiters usually require from candidates for the truck mechanic role to be hired.

What Does a Truck Mechanic Do?

A truck mechanic, who is otherwise known as a diesel mechanic or a heavy vehicle mechanic, specializes in repairing, maintaining, and inspecting big vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and trailers.

According to Seek, truck mechanics are responsible for repairing and maintaining heavy diesel vehicles, such as trucks and buses, with duties ranging from performing routine services to building complete engine.

Truck mechanics assure safe vehicle operations on the road by expertly diagnosing problems with the mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.

Mechanically, truck mechanics usually report back to a service manager or a workshop supervisor.

They may also work directly with the owner or senior mechanics in small shops.

Within larger organizations, they could be in teams and work with other mechanics, electricians, and specialists.

Truck mechanics can be found in several industries, like transportation, logistics, construction, or agriculture.

They work for trucking firms, freight and logistics companies, vehicle dealerships, government agencies, and independent repair shops.

Actually, any type of business which involves or requires a fleet of heavy vehicles will need a truck mechanic eventually.

Besides, the usual route to qualification as a truck mechanic includes High School completion or its equivalent.

A majority of mechanics thereafter undergo training at a vocational training institution or technical training program in either diesel technology or heavy vehicle maintenance.

The trainings provide relevant information on areas like engine repair, brake systems, electrical, and diagnosis.

Certification is very important in this area.

Many truck mechanics are certified by such bodies as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, ASE, which provides many different certifications, including the Medium-Heavy Truck certifications.

Aside from that, other certification/licensing bodies or national and local regulation bodies may demand additional requirements depending on each country or state.

The primary roles that a truck mechanic undertakes include routine care, like oil changes and tire rotations; problem diagnosis using computerized systems; repair of faulty parts; safety checks to assure conformance with regulatory requirements; and detailed maintenance records of work done to the truck.

Other than these main tasks, a truck mechanic may be involved in rendering roadside assistance, support in fleet management, and communicating with customers regarding the required repairs and processes involved in those repairs.

Given that the industry of logistics and transportation is very strong, the role of a truck mechanic is relevant in various countries.

Countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia have great demand for truck mechanics because of the long miles covered by the cargo-carrying vehicles.

This occupation is also very significant in Europe, where mechanics ensure that the vehicles will pass the very strict EU standards regarding safety and emissions.

Generally, employers prefer mechanics that have formal training in diesel mechanics or related fields and are certified.

Experience also counts for a lot, as many employers look out for mechanics with experience regarding types of vehicles or other segments that they have worked on.

Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work independently also rank high on many employers’ lists of desirable attributes in this field.

Truck mechanics follow regulations through various national and local regulating bodies, depending on location, on the safety standard, emissions, and repair protocols.

Within the United States alone, the main regulations regarding what mechanics are to follow come from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation.

Truck Mechanic Job Description Example/Sample/Template

The truck mechanic job description consists of the following duties, tasks, and responsibilities:

• Carrying out routine maintenance of trucks
• Diagnosing faulty engines
• Repairing or replacing defective parts
• Conducting safety analyses
• Keeping proper records
• Testing vehicles
• Performing inventory
• Carrying out roadside assistance
• Assisting other mechanics
• Carrying out electrical work
• Maintaining a clean and safe environment
• Following safety precautions
• Calibration, adjustment of systems
• Liaising with clients about problems identified
• Keeping updated with changing technology
• Fault-finding on air conditioners and heaters
• Overhauling of engines and transmissions
• Performing installation of new parts
• Welding and fabrication work
• Testing and repairing of hydraulic systems
• Performing environmental compliance
• Training and mentoring of young mechanics
• Carry out pre-delivery check
• Liaising with fleet managers
• Continuing training.

Truck Mechanic Job Description for Resume

If you have worked before as a truck mechanic or are presently working in that role and are making a new resume or CV, then you can apply the sample truck mechanic job description provided above in creating an impressive Professional Experience section for your resume.

You can express the duties and responsibilities that you have effectively performed or are currently carrying out as a truck mechanic in your resume’s Professional Experience by utilizing the ones provided in the above truck mechanic job description example.

This will clearly show to recruiters/employers that you have been effective in performing the job of a truck mechanic, which can greatly boost your chances of being hired for the new position, especially if it requires someone with some truck mechanic work experience.

Truck Mechanic Requirements: Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities for Career Success

A good truck mechanic should possess the following skills, knowledge, and abilities to be effective in performing their role, which are also the requirements that are usually set by most recruiters/employers when hiring for the position:

• Mechanical Aptitude: The individual must possess an actual mechanical aptitude, especially when it comes to the understanding of the way mechanical systems function
• Diagnostic Skills: The individual should also boast specialized knowledge of troubleshooting methods for fast and accurate diagnosis; this includes both computerized systems and manual tools
• Technical Knowledge: Diesel engines, hydraulic systems, and heavy vehicle components require focused knowledge
• Attention to Detail: Precision is important when working on complex machinery in regard to both safety and functionality reasons
• Problem-solving Skills: The reasoning capability for critical thinking toward effective solutions of mechanical problems
• Manual Dexterity: Skillfulness in the use of tools or with one’s hands in performing repairs and maintenance
• Communication Skills: To effectively explain technical issues and processes to clients and staff
• Physical Demands: Frequent physical exertion
• Safety Awareness: Understand safety practices and work safely in hazardous environments
• Time Management: The candidate will plan available time to achieve specific repairs and maintenance in minimum time.

Truck Mechanic Employment

Bus, truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines.

They include mechanics that work primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.

As of May 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, BLS, reports that the employment size for bus, truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists was 285,030

However, the employment data on Zippia for truck mechanics in the United States shows that more than 197,596 truck mechanics are presently employed in the country.

Industries with Highest Truck Mechanic Employments

The industries with the highest levels of employment in bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists are given by the BLS report to include:

Truck Mechanic: Industries with Highest Employments. Data from U.S. BLS

States with Highest Truck Mechanic Employments

The Zippia data also shows that California and Florida are part of the States with the largest number of employed truck mechanics in the U.S. with 6,261 and 4,180 employments respectively.

Truck Mechanic Salary

According to the BLS report, the average salary of bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists in the U.S. is $59,920 per year.

On the other hand, Zippia gives the yearly average salary of truck mechanics in the United States as $50,169.

States with Highest Truck Mechanic Salaries

The States that pay the highest salaries to truck mechanics in the United States, according to Zippia, include District of Columbia  and Nevada, with average yearly salaries of $60,511 and $59,938 respectively.

Conclusion

Everything from the core duties and responsibilities of a truck mechanic to the skill set required and employment prospects was elaborated on in this post.

Whether you’re considering a career as a truck mechanic or you are an employer looking to create a job description, you can use this guide to understand what makes a successful truck mechanic.

Truck mechanics form the backbone upon which commerce relies, as it is their work that guarantees that goods are delivered safely and within time.

Due to its demanding nature, heavy machinery, proper training, and certification have made being a truck mechanic a very rewarding job and challenging at the same time.

Understanding the demands and qualifications desired for this role will greatly help employers select the right people and ultimately remain efficient with a reliable fleet of trucks.