becoming a tractor mechanic/tech

[1930]

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".

Because if he chooses not to do the work for said peanuts the Hispanic across the street will do it for a bowl of nachos

 

[Tractorable]

I met a CAT certified diesel generator mechanic recently who had a security clearance and worked government contracts to fix/maintain the diesel generators in the war zones. He took contracts when and where he wanted. Would go out for a couple months at a time then would be home for a month or two on leave. I asked him what he was going to do on his month back home and he said he was going fishing for a month.

He lived where he wanted to live and said he could make up to $200K/yr depending on how much you wanted to work, overtime, danger pay, etc. Free housing and food included when he was deployed.

He said he loved his job.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Heard an ad on local FM radio yesterday for a company seeking Diesel Mechanics. I love how they don't mention pay, just everything else GREAT about the job. How about you start with money?

Common tactic of Canadian companies is to talk of what you CAN make, or offer you a starting rate that goes up in six months. I would tell any young kid. Get that in writing!

 

[Bavarian]

Heard an ad on local FM radio yesterday for a company seeking Diesel Mechanics. I love how they don't mention pay, just everything else GREAT about the job. How about you start with money?

Common tactic of Canadian companies is to talk of what you CAN make, or offer you a starting rate that goes up in six months. I would tell any young kid. Get that in writing!

Nobody will post a ****** job or a bad payscale. Everybody mentions the highlights, beeing the best and second to none.
Until you get there and the s### hits the fan.
Sure there are great opportunities out there but it's a long way to get there, where many will struggle and fail along the way. Success can not be guaranteed.

 

[D2Cat]

With the work ethic (or lack thereof) in USA, stating the dollar income in a job advertisement would make the HR dept. swamped with hope so, wanta be, lazy, get something for nothing prospects. If the first question is money, benefits, work hours, do I have to work weekends ... it becomes obvious the person has little interest in what the company does, needs, and what can they contribute to solve their problems.

I feel sorry for any independent company trying to find help that will show up on time regularly and want to contribute, regardless of income. Seems most folks want a gov't job where they are paid well, get good benefits, don't have to work hard, can't get fired for any reason!

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's just human nature. Years ago, a Polish guy jumped ship and was working for our company as a phone installer. So happy, to be here. It didn't take him long to want more and more.

I don't see that posting the pay rate is an issue for HR. It can pose a problem because often a company will offer more money to newbies than to established employees and cause a mutiny.

Sick of it. Keep everyone down. Just make sure you get ALL the extras on your new Escalade.

 

[EddieWalker]

Good friend of mine from High School went to Wyoming Tech to learn about diesel engines and had multiple offers when he graduated. He worked in the SF Bay Area as diesel mechanic for a few years and noticed that there was a demand for repairing cranes. He became certified to weld cranes back together and then started buying them, rebuilding them and selling them. After awhile he kept one and hired an operator. Since we graduated HS in 83, he has shops in Oakland, Honolulu and Las Vegas. One of his cranes was used in the movie Jurasic Park. Mythbusters hired him to do all their crane work and he was the operator when they did their Star Wars episode. He just recently became a dealer for Linkbelt.

He figured out early on that wrenching for others wasn't how he wanted to make a living. Now he travels all over the place and has employees doing all the wrenching and operating.

My local Case Dealer is always looking for mechanics. When I was looking to find somebody to fix my dozer, I spoke to half a dozen mechanics and they where all too busy to drive out to my place to work on mine, so I had to figure it out and fix it myself. If I wanted to be an equipment mechanic, I would go talk to the guy who runs the shop and ask him what it would take to become a mechanic, or if he would hire you on the spot and train you? From what I've seen, they are desperate for bodies!!!! I think the reason that they are always short handed is that after awhile, the mechanics move on to other things, or start their own business.

 

[Tractorable]

I also heard that becoming a specialist in hydraulics can be quite lucrative.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My friend who has a small one man shop doing repairs got into hydraulic hoses and stuff. He probably has more fittings and can bend tube for heavy equipment than anyone within a hundred miles. Does a lot of work for counties and big companies, even dealerships. Beats the heck out of lying under someone elses machine in a blizzard. Marking up stuff is the easiest money a guy can make.

 

[rScotty]

I also heard that becoming a specialist in hydraulics can be quite lucrative.

Great advice. Specialize if you can. Or figure out how you can and make that a goal. Hydraulics and electrics are both real good fields. So is fuel delivery i.e. fuel pumps, fuel timing, and injectors.
rScotty

 

[Rmart30]

Its going to be different everywhere. Whats a good wage in the south is nothing to someone in California.

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".

Here in the south someone working on construction type equipment can expect to be in the $24-35 hr range as a class A mechanic. Which is very good for our cost of living. Start out would be low to mid teens or higher based on schooling or experience. A 2 year tech school on some diesel , hydraulics and electronics classes will get you well on your way and doesnt cost a fortune. Most of the larger companies will continue your education thru their own classes on the brands they represent.

I spoke to a buddy of mine just this weekend who works at a new OTR truck dealership working on 18 wheelers. His rate is $44 a hr. If he bills 110% of his time he gets a additional $2 a hour. if he bills 130% of his time he gets a additional $5 a hour. So in other words if he works hard and does stuff quick and efficiently faster than book rate hes making $49 a hour. He has paid for insurance, 401, 2 week vacation, paid holidays etc.

And as someone mentioned its also about getting on at the right place. Ya have to sorta be wise and pick and choose. Myself there are a few things I draw the line at. I wouldnt go to work working on garbage trucks or equipment at garbage dumps. I wouldnt do poultry processing plants etc even if they offered me $10 a hour more than what I make now. Its not worth it to me.
Just as with any other jobs. Some will work your butt to death for $14 a hr while others paying $25+ could be rather cushy depending on its details. Other things figure in also. For the past 30 years ive had a company service truck to drive home. In 30 years how much wear and tear, gas, insurance, tires etc has that saved me? For about 20 years I havent paid for anything for health insurance. Lots to figure in on whats the best way to go. As i said in my previous post tractors in this market down here would be far down on my list of things to work on as my main job. Ive never talked to any tractor techs down here (at deere kubota, mahindra dealers) that made close to what construction equipment mechanics make in this area.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Great information. It's no different then spending 20 hours fixing a $500.00 Utility Trailer or spending that time fixing a $50,000 machine. Put your time into the best bang for the buck. Be a plumber in a nuclear plant, not in low income housing.

 

[Rmart30]

Great information. It's no different then spending 20 hours fixing a $500.00 Utility Trailer or spending that time fixing a $50,000 machine. Put your time into the best bang for the buck. Be a plumber in a nuclear plant, not in low income housing.

Exactly. I have a buddy who got in the millwrights and was working all over for a few years. I had talked to him once and he was "killing it" at some nuke plant making $46 something a hour, 12 hr days and like $160 a day per diem. The next time I talked to him and asked what he was doing he said.. Im a floor sweeper now just pushing a broom. I said dang what happened. He said well. I coulda stayed in the work crew doing the same thing for same pay, or push a broom for $3 a hr less on the same job site , get the same perdiem not have to supply any of my own tools and drag them around the country and no one says a word to me and I do maybe 3 hours of "work" a day.

Id have took the "pay cut" also.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A broom and a shovel are fine tools in a union shop upon which to catch some much needed rest. lol

It's a fact that life, work or relationships don't give you what you are owed, or worth, or what's fair but often what you negotiate for or even demand.