Occupation Profile

Bus and Truck Mechanics

(SOC Code : 49-3031)

in California

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul trucks, buses, and all types of diesel engines. Include mechanics working primarily with automobile diesel engines.

Employers are usually looking for candidates with Post secondary vocational training .

View a Career Video for this occupation from America's Career InfoNet (requires Windows Media Player)

Occupational Wages

[Top]

Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$23.69	$18.31	$23.05	$28.66

View Wages for All Areas About Wages

Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

[Top]

Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	19,000	21,900	2,900	15.3	700

View Projections for All Areas About Projections

Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

[Top]

Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

[Top]

Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Automotive Repair and Maintenance

37,725

16.2%

General Freight Trucking

4,469

10.1%

Specialized Freight Trucking

7,120

5.4%

Motor Vehicle/Part Merchant Wholesalers

4,445

4.5%

Waste Management and Remediation Service

3,463

4.4%

Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing

5,157

4.1%

Commercial Machinery Repair/Maintenance

3,513

3.4%

Machinery & Supply Merchant Wholesalers

8,676

2.8%

School and Employee Bus Transportation

2.2%

Automobile Dealers

8,134

2.0%

Nonmetallic Mineral Product Mfg

1,479

1.7%

Elementary and Secondary Schools

17,985

1.4%

Grocery Product Merchant Wholesalers

5,559

1.1%

Warehousing and Storage

1,606

1.1%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

[Top]

Program Title

Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician

Medium/Heavy Vehicle and Truck Technology/Technician

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

[Top]

Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

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.

Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, and pressure gauges.

Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.

Inspect, repair, and maintain automotive and mechanical equipment and machinery such as pumps and compressors.

More Tasks for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Top Skills used in this Job

Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

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.

Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Quality Control Analysis - Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Equipment Selection - Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

More Skills for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

More Abilities for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

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.

More Work Values for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

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.

More Interests for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Alternate Titles

Diesel Mechanics; Farm Equipment Engine Mechanics; Fleet Mechanics; Medium and Heavy Truck Mechanics; Tractor Trailer Mechanics