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Career Details

49-3031.00 - Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists


Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines. Includes mechanics working primarily with automobile or marine diesel engines.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
263,900
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
295,500
Estimate
Change in Employment
+31,600
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+12%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Use handtools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, pressure gauges, or precision instruments, as well as power tools, such as pneumatic wrenches, lathes, welding equipment, or jacks and hoists.
  • Inspect brake systems, steering mechanisms, wheel bearings, and other important parts to ensure that they are in proper operating condition.
  • Perform routine maintenance such as changing oil, checking batteries, and lubricating equipment and machinery.
  • 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.
  • Test drive trucks and buses to diagnose malfunctions or to ensure that they are working properly.
  • Inspect, test, and listen to defective equipment to diagnose malfunctions, using test instruments such as handheld computers, motor analyzers, chassis charts, or pressure gauges.
  • Examine and adjust protective guards, loose bolts, and specified safety devices.
  • Inspect and verify dimensions and clearances of parts to ensure conformance to factory specifications.
  • Specialize in repairing and maintaining parts of the engine, such as fuel injection systems.
  • Attach test instruments to equipment, and read dials and gauges to diagnose malfunctions.
  • Rewire ignition systems, lights, and instrument panels.
  • Recondition and replace parts, pistons, bearings, gears, and valves.
  • Inspect, repair, and maintain automotive and mechanical equipment and machinery, such as pumps and compressors.
  • Disassemble and overhaul internal combustion engines, pumps, generators, transmissions, clutches, and differential units.
  • Rebuild gas or diesel engines.
  • Align front ends and suspension systems.
  • Diagnose and repair vehicle heating and cooling systems.
  • Install or repair accessories.
  • Repair or adjust seats, doors, or windows.
Supplemental
  • Operate valve-grinding machines to grind and reset valves.
  • Adjust or repair computer controlled exhaust emissions devices.
  • Follow green operational practices involving conservation of water or energy or reduction of solid waste.
  • Maintain or repair vehicles with alternative fuel systems, including biodiesel, hybrid, or compressed natural gas vehicles.
  • Measure vehicle emissions to determine whether they are within acceptable limits.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 92%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Transportation
  • 73%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 70%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 69%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 English Language
  • 68%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 66%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Administration and Management
  • 60%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Production and Processing
  • 59%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 59%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Physics
  • 54%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Mathematics
  • 54%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Education and Training
  • 53%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Clerical
  • 52%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Law and Government
  • 51%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Welding and soldering and brazing accessories
  • Acetylene torches
  • Cutting torches
  • Gas welding equipment
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable crescent wrenches
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Bleeder wrenches
  • Box end wrenches
  • Combination wrenches
  • Flare nut wrenches
  • Hex keys
  • Open end wrenches
  • Pump wrenches
  • Ratchets
  • Screwdrivers
  • Slug wrenches
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Torque wrenches
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Diagonal cutting pliers
  • Locking pliers
  • Needlenose pliers
  • Slip joint pliers
  • Snap ring pliers
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Water pump pliers
 Forming tools
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Brass hammers
  • Claw hammers
  • Cross peen hammers
  • Sledgehammers
 Pneumatic tools
  • Blast cleaning cabinets
  • Blow guns
  • Pneumatic wrenches
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Bore gauges
  • Dial calipers
  • Dial gauges
  • Feeler gauges
  • Inside calipers
  • Micrometers
  • Outside calipers
  • Snap gauges
  • Spark plug gapping tools
 Braking systems and components
  • Brake shoe adjusting tools
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Brass drifts
  • Hacksaws
  • Punch sets
  • Shears
  • Utility knives
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire cutting tools
  • Wire strippers
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Chain slings
  • Forklifts
  • Hoists
  • Jacks
  • Workshop cranes
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Cold chisels
  • Rat tail files
  • Single-cut mill saw files
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Decelerometers
  • Injector pop testers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
 Computer data input devices
  • Detroit diesel electronic control DDEC readers
  • Flash card readers
  • Handheld diagnostic computers
 Power tools
  • Drill machines
  • Grinding machines
  • Impact wrenches
  • Power drills
  • Power grinders
  • Power sanders
  • Power saws
 Metal drilling machines
  • Drill presses
  • Punch presses
 Manufacturing tables and stands
  • Fuel pump test stands
  • Governor test stands
 Hearing protectors
  • Hearing protectors
 Vehicle servicing equipment
  • Hones
  • Spark plug sockets
  • Valve seat grinders
  • Wheel balancers
 Pumps
  • Hydraulic pumps
  • Hydraulic rams
  • Vacuum pumps
 Welding machinery
  • Metal inert gas MIG welders
  • Portable welding equipment
  • Shielded arc welding tools
  • Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
 Sealing tools
  • Putty knives
 Safety apparel
  • Safety gloves
 Cleaning equipment
  • Steam cleaning equipment
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • Computerized maintenance management system software CMMS
  • Cummins Insite
  • Dassault Systemes CATIAHOT
  • Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKSHOT
  • Engine diagnostic software
  • Shop management software
 Business function specific software
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Scheduling software
  • Word processing software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Northern Virginia Community College
Rappahannock Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College