employed

[Fast Fords]

well folks, after 1 week and 3 days, i found another job..i now fix/repair transport trucks and trailers! its freaking awesome; sure beats paper work that i did for two years! i'm sore as hell from lifting heavy shit, i own very little in tools but i love the job. Now i can save money for school and MOD MY RANGER!!! and pay debts. thats kinda important too!

any one else work in the repair business of tractor trailers? what kinda tools am i looking at getting? i'm going to a 2 year full time course in college for "motive power"; i think this is what i'm gonna do for a living, an i just wanna know what its gonna take. I am learning loads of stuff everyday. It rocks

 

[99RangerKrazy]

Right on, good for you. I'm glad you found something you enjoy..that's cool. I'm thinking about doing something in automotive too..wrenching is just awesome

 

[Hahnsb2]

Dad's a bus mechanic. I spent 2 years of high school taking a diesel tech program, did a couple internships, the first was working on fire trucks and the second was working at the BNSF train yard working on locomotives. I enjoy it but I'm happy with my current job, I would like to get into wrenching as a job eventually.

 

[99RangerKrazy]

What're you doing right now, Hahns? (sorry to threadjack, just this one question)

 

[Hahnsb2]

What're you doing right now, Hahns? (sorry to threadjack, just this one question)

I work for a company that makes Parts for pipe organs. My typical day consists of testing and repairing circuit boards of all shapes and sizes. Sometimes I help make wiring harness. Another big thing I do is solder pivots and armatures on these levers used in switches, I solder them using an induction heater which is really cool but it's super boring when you do a batch of 1000 at a time. Sometimes I cut aluminum rails and then punch holes in them and tap all of them to be used for mounting switches. There's so many different tasks I can't list them all, My favorite part of the job is every Monday I get to spend a couple hours in my rig dropping off and picking up parts around the Portland/Hillsboro area, it's mostly relaxing and the mileage money is nice.

 

[dburton07]

I don't have an automotive wrenching job, as I am a machinist, but the machines I run require adjustments made by basic hand tools. I run screw machines from the 1930's and we all know that there wasn't these fancy computers around but I have to admit, these machines are fawkin cool. I want to shake the hands of the people who came up with these things.

My main tools I have that I use are a full set of standard wrenches, flat head screwdriver...mostly for prying, full set of hex wrenches, brass hammers, dial indicator for making adjustments, and my vernier calipers and micrometers for measuring parts. That's it. I love it.

 

[97BlackBetty]

A basic set of handtools should do you just fine. I am in school currently to be a marine engineer, most tools that I use are specially made for the particular plant, and HUGE!!! But, I have a large canvas bag that I use to carry the basics, Standard wrenches upto 1", metric wrenches up to 20mm, a set of flat head and phillips screw drivers, an ohm meter, several kinds of pliers (includes my own set of snap-ring pliers), a good flash light and a head light, mechanix gloves and heavy leather gloves, and most importantly I always have channel locks in my back pocket. The most important tool though is your brain, always wear your safety glasses and hearing protection because those are two items you cannot get back once you lose them.

 

[Ozwynn]

congrats, A job is a hard and a rare thing to find these days.

 

[Mark_88]

good stuff...congrats...


Not sure about what tools you'd need or what you have already, but a good set of ratchets, screw drivers, a few ten ton jacks and stands, and an air gun with compressor would probably come in handy for some of the big nuts...

 

[JTH1972]

From a fellow Canuck and a guy who's a second year Heavy Duty Apprentice... do yourself a favour and get the hell out! You're looking at a minimum of $10,000 out of your own pocket for tools, and that's not including some of the speciality tools you may need. One guy I used to work with just got his Journeyman papers, and in the four years of his apprenticeship, he spent $36,000 on tools. I've known of guys who spent more money than that on tools who've gone and hurt themselves, and now their tools are worthless. Another guy I used to work with told me that he tried using his tools as collateral on a loan, and according to the bank, they were worthless.

Working in a shop is great, but chances are you'll end up on a service truck at some point in your career. Try talking to a road guy and ask him how much he likes his job. Most mechanics I know are pretty crippled up, and some say that if they had a chance to do it again, they would have never become a mechanic.

In this time of economic uncertainty, I know of a bunch of apprentices that have been laid off, myself included. We're the first to go in hard times. With a family on the way, I'm getting out before I get too financially deep into it. There's not much work in my area, and we just moved back into this province, and have no real desire to leave again. So, i'm trying to back to school for something else.

Hate to be a naysayer, but this is the reality of it. I wish someone would have told me this stuff before I got into the trade. All I heard about was how great of a trade it was. no one bothered to tell me the rest of this shit. I know jobs are hard to come by, but is it really worth sinking five figures of your own money into equipment just to do your job?

 

[MagnaV30]

A basic set of handtools should do you just fine. I am in school currently to be a marine engineer, most tools that I use are specially made for the particular plant, and HUGE!!! But, I have a large canvas bag that I use to carry the basics, Standard wrenches upto 1", metric wrenches up to 20mm, a set of flat head and phillips screw drivers, an ohm meter, several kinds of pliers (includes my own set of snap-ring pliers), a good flash light and a head light, mechanix gloves and heavy leather gloves, and most importantly I always have channel locks in my back pocket. The most important tool though is your brain, always wear your safety glasses and hearing protection because those are two items you cannot get back once you lose them.

Im a truck driver at this point, and I find I get by with alot of things with a pair of vice grips, and my trusted Leatherman Charge TTI

 

[Am4wag]

I learned alot from my dad when I was a kid,watching and helping him restore/repair antique cars (teens,20's-50's).Started as a mechanics helper at an I.H. farm equipment dealer when I got out of high school.2 years later,went to work for a heavy equipment dealer working on bull dozers,motor graders,cranes,excavators,rollers,back hoes,forklifts,etc.;-I.H.,Galion,Northwest,Liebherr,JCB.Eventually became a field service technician,covering 3 states.Did this for 7 years.
Then went to work for a coating contractor-sandblasting/painting ships,barges,towers,bridges,etc.Alot of rigging and setting up eqipment involved and working at heights.Very dirty,dangerous work,but made really good money.
Since been a maintainance mechanic at a marina-electrical,plumbing,maintain/operate boat lifting equipment,welding,fabricating,wood working,as well as yacht repair.
Over the years have aquired a vast learning/knowledge and tool collection-enabling me to repair just about anything that moves.I could not begin to list the tools and equipment I have,much less even what I have (money wise) in tools and eguipment.
The good thing is, they are MY tools,enabling me to not only perform my daily job,but also do jobs on my own time making my own money (side jobs).You'll find out that you never have enough tools,as designs and fasteners change with the times.
A big thing that comes in handy is being diverse-learn everything you can about everything.Learn-practice sound mechanical skills and procedures.Watch and learn from the "old-timers",don't hesitate to ask dumb questions,because dumb questions are questions that are'nt asked;and by all means,don't be afraid to open a book.Always stay warm and have GOOD shoes.
Ah,the physical toll...I'm only 48,and suffer bone spurs in both elbows,degenerative arthritis in ALL my ankles,have Carpel Tunnel in my right wrist,have been been severly burned/set on fire,have had metal chips shot at and in me like bullets (yes,wear eye protection when striking),broken bones,countless head injuries,and a host of other injuries I have forgotten about.
But this is what I enjoy,otherwise,I would'nt have been doing it for so long....I love to jump in,and now am learning about Rangers,as I now own one,and do ALL my own work on my machines including a Mazda,Jeep,Harley,Detroit diesels (2 in my big boat),and an Evinrude outboard (speedboat).
I can't tell you do or don't.....like others have mentioned,I'm only stating the realities/my personal experiences..But get into something you love.In todays conditions-stay diverse.

 

[Fast Fords]

well i appreciate everyone's input, thats for sure...i know that the tools are expensive, and that my job has a load of safety risks, but if i use my noodle and try not to work around knobs my accidents will be minimized ..first thing i bought was: safety glasses, ear plugs, safety boots, good insulated leather work gloves, work socks and a good set of screw drivers. I have a ratchet set thats real nice but thats about it.
the cool thing of where i am is that the owner has 3 tool boxes full of stuff, so he is letting me use one of his tool boxes as in 5 months i am going to school for this trade. I am also going to get my truckers licence so i have a backup plan as well

 

[dburton07]

Good to always have a back up plan. I like the area I'm in right now, I use my hands a lot, but if somthing happens, I have cnc experience as well so if need be I can try to get into one of the "banks" as they call them where I work, and run those types of machines too, or try a different shop.

 

[Car Enthusiast]

I was lead tech at a place called Forward Air, a trucking company who leased out drivers and trucks so we had to maintain our own trailers. And for what it is worth you don't need that much to actually work on trailers (that is what I got from your first post is you will be working on trailers and not trucks) The only thing you really have to not do is buy nice tools for your work, and don't get me wrong I own my fair share of snap on, mac, and cornwell stuff but that nice shit stays at home in my garage. Go get quality stuff but don't spend the extra money on stuff that doesn't matter. Stuff that real necessary to buy pick up craftsman stuff on the cheap, like screwdrivers, sockets, and stuff, I mean how much can you really improve over a piece of metal to turn other pieces of metal. Now craftsman ratchets suck balls, I can't tell you how many of my craftsman ratchets are in the woods when I was working on something and it would slip and I would bust my knuckles on something and I would heave it down the hill. Just don't get that bug to buy the expensive stuff right from the beginning especially for work, cause stuff comes up missing or stolen or you forget it in something and it drives off.