Diesel engines are the workhorses of the road and jobsite. Machines, from over-the-road trucks to bulldozers to industrial and farm equipment, run on diesel engines, which are known for their reliability and toughness. Diesel techs keep these machines rolling and running—on the road, the jobsite and in factories. WHAT DO DIESEL TECHS DO? In a nutshell, diesel technicians inspect, diagnose, repair and maintain any machine with a diesel engine. A few examples include: • Aircraft support equipment. • Farm equipment, including tractors, harvesters, dairy and irrigation systems. • Marine equipment, ships and yachts. • Over-the-road trucks (semis). • Buses and dump trucks. • Earth moving equipment such as bulldozers, loaders, backhoes and graders. • Road construction/highway paving equipment. • Industrial/factory machines including cranes, pumps and drilling equipment. A diesel technician is similar to a diesel mechanic, because both use tools and training to diagnose problems, make repairs and perform necessary maintenance. A diesel technical is different from a diesel mechanic, generally speaking, in that : • Diesel technicians are trained to handle onboard electronics (computer systems) of the modern diesel engine. • Diesel mechanics are primarily trained to repair mechanical (moving parts) components of an engine.
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BLUEPRINT | 2018 | ARKANSAS TIMES
Typical day-to-day job duties of diesel technicians include: • Make major and minor engine repairs by repairing or replacing parts and components. • Perform routine and preventative maintenance. • Work on a vehicle’s electrical and exhaust systems to comply with pollution regulations. • Test drive vehicles to diagnose malfunctions or to ensure that they run smoothly. • Utilize diagnostic equipment to help pinpoint problems. • Learn and apply new technology in advanced diagnostics and repairs. • Learn and abide by safety and environmental rules and procedures. Diesel techs work with a variety of tools, including: Power and machine tools including pneumatic wrenches, lathes, grinding machines and welding equipment. • Hand tools, including pliers, sockets and ratchets and screwdrivers. • High-tech equipment, including hand-held or laptop computers and oscilloscopes to diagnose problems and adjust engine functions. •
WHAT’S NEW? Diesel machinery has enjoyed major advances in technology, which have created a growth in the need for skilled technicians. Between safety regulations, environmental controls and insurance guidelines, the trucking industry has a lot of rules it must abide by. To help stay in compliance, trucking companies rely on the technology that’s built into their fleet. As a result, it’s not unusual for a new truck to have multiple computers onboard regulating everything from speed and location to fuel consumption. Some trucks are sophisticated enough to monitor their own systems and alert the operator when a problem is detected. Older trucks that didn’t have these computers installed when they were built are often overhauled with the new technology to help bring them up to speed. Farm technology is another fast-growing area where technicians are needed. Modern farm equipment can map out a field, test soil samples from different areas and apply the precise mix of fertilizer or minerals for each area. Harvesting equipment comes equipped with auto-steer, can track yields in real-time and utilizes GPS to minimize harvest guesswork.