becoming a tractor mechanic/tech

[TnAndy]

ELIZABETHTON (TN) — Kubota, the global company that manufactures construction and agricultural equipment, is the latest corporation to enter into a training partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton. The partnerships are designed to provide technical training to current and future employees of Kubota dealers.

Rest of the article: Johnson City Press:
TCAT Elizabethton forms training partnership with Kubota

TCAT website: Programs | TCAT Elizabethton

 

[rScotty]

ELIZABETHTON (TN) — Kubota, the global company that manufactures construction and agricultural equipment, is the latest corporation to enter into a training partnership with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Elizabethton. The partnerships are designed to provide technical training to current and future employees of Kubota dealers.

Rest of the article: Johnson City Press:


TCAT Elizabethton forms training partnership with Kubota

TCAT website: Programs | TCAT Elizabethton

That would be as good as any place to start, and there are lots of tech schools that teach mechanical skills. It doesn't really matter where you learn or on what kind of machinery. Once you can learn one type of machine you can extend that to any other. Being a mechanic is a good life. Pays well and interesting work. You'll never be out of a job, and basic mechanical skills transfer to all parts of your life.
rScotty

 

[mwayne]

It is my understanding that this program at Navarro College is very good.

Navarro College | John Deere Tech

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I can稚 disagree. In many areas wrenching on tractors pays less than wrenching on just about anything else.

We pay tractor mechanics very well. Lawn and garden oriented shops pay poorly, but when you get into meaningful equipment you can do very well. We pay better than any automotive technicians in our area.

I'd hire 10 young guys who want to become mechanics today if we could. Not enough of you out there, and that means you'll be worth that much more in the future.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Please define, "Very Well".

I think, a health care worker can do far better than a mechanic moneywise here. My Neighbour as a nurse, used to make 100 grand a year CDN, but always picked holidays to work for the OT. Worked in ICU and hyperbarics (sp?).

 

[RickB]

Tractor mechanics can do ok in the Northeast. Many work for peanuts in the Southeast.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Can someone put things in perspective and mention some dollar amounts? Any mention of "Very Well" and "Peanuts, doesn't mean anything.

It boggles my mind, why a man would spend years of his life, spend a fortune in tools, work a dirty, thankless job and be paid "peanuts".

 

[rScotty]

I hear you about the lack of mechanics today. There wasn't always a shortage; this is new..... Today's public schools do push kids towards college instead of the trades. And who can blame them? Especially now that there are now college loans that make higher education possible for just about anyone. We sometimes forget that didn't use to be the case.

A couple of generations ago - I'm a baby boomer - college was less accessible and it was more common for young men to go into the mechanical trades from high school. Mechanical training at that time was likely to be either a HS shop class plus a few months of evening vo-tech for the ambitious ones. Many mechanics were largely self taught motor heads supplementing with whatever specialized training was provided on the job.....often informally by other mechanics. That was a crude educational system, but it turned out a whole generation of pretty fair wrench benders.

I hear the same thing that Messick is saying. There's a lot of openings for mechanics and skilled trades of all kinds right now. Unfortunately there just isn't much interest in mechanical things among the teens I know.

Someone will step up to do the work. My guess is that immigrants will end up filling those positions.
At least that is what happened several times before in our recent US history and seems to have worked out OK.
There's already some signs of that happening locally.

rScotty

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Be surprised if they answer that one. My dealer charges $125/hr for small stuff (under 100HP) and $150/hr for construction equip and industrial equip. Figure it out, mechanic gets around half that including fringe benefits. That's in the $100K/yr+ range. Only thing better working with your hands plus brain is probably construction in the union shops. Mechanics have unions also in some areas. Those rates are the going rates in this area both union and non-union. Field construction/industrial mechanics make more and in very short supply.

I think the OP better rush an application to Messicks.

We are making a mistake in this country pushing everybody to go to college.

Ron

 

[RickB]

Be surprised if they answer that one. My dealer charges $125/hr for small stuff (under 100HP) and $150/hr for construction equip and industrial equip. Figure it out, mechanic gets around half that including fringe benefits. That's in the $100K/yr+ range. Only thing better working with your hands plus brain is probably construction in the union shops. Mechanics have unions also in some areas. Those rates are the going rates in this area both union and non-union. Field construction/industrial mechanics make more and in very short supply.

I think the OP better rush an application to Messicks.

We are making a mistake in this country pushing everybody to go to college.

Ron

Maybe in your part of the country. I know a lot of tractor mechanics in the east and south. Very few have a compensation package over $50K. A good share of them could do just as well running a forklift at a freight terminal and wouldn’t have to buy their own tools. Too many dealer principals are bottom feeders when it comes to pay rates. And yes, shop rates are in the $100 range or close to it.