How to become a Heavy Vehicle Motor Mechanic

Duties & Tasks of a Heavy Vehicle Motor Mechanic

Heavy Vehicle Motor Mechanics:

• Diagnose, overhaul, repair, tune, maintain and test diesel, petrol and gas-powered vehicles
• Detect mechanical and electrical faults by using instruments that check charging and starting circuitry, batteries, ignition and ignition timing, fuel injection systems and speed control, cylinder compression, engine condition, braking efficiency, and wheel balance and alignment
• Repair and maintain the hydraulic components of diesel, petrol and gas engines that are used to power attachments such as hoists, booms, scrapers, buckets and augers
• Use oxy, ARC, TIG and MIG welding, hand-fitting or machining processes to replace or repair faulty parts.

Tasks

• Tests and adjusts mechanical parts after being repaired for proper performance, diagnoses and tests parts with the assistance of computers.
• Dismantles and removes engine assemblies, transmissions, steering mechanisms and other components, and checks parts.
• Detects and diagnoses faults in engines and parts.
• May inspect vehicles and issue roadworthiness certificates or detail work required to achieve roadworthiness.
• Repairs and replaces worn and defective parts and reassembles mechanical components, and refers to service manuals as needed.
• Reassembles engines and parts after being repaired.

Working conditions for a Heavy Vehicle Motor Mechanic

Heavy vehicle motor mechanics may work on trucks, buses, agricultural machinery, earthmoving equipment, and stationary engines, including generators, pumps, compressors and drilling rigs. They may have to work in regional areas when repairing agricultural, earthmoving and heavy transport machinery.

Employment Opportunities for a Heavy Vehicle Motor Mechanic

Heavy vehicle motor mechanics are employed mainly by machinery dealers, some service stations, heavy vehicle repairers, road transport firms, bus companies and the minerals industry. Public and privatised authorities, such as those concerned with defence, communications, energy supply, public works and transport, also employ heavy vehicle motor mechanics. Some heavy vehicle motor mechanics may establish their own business.

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  Average age

  32

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  Future Growth

  N/A

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  Gender Share

  1% female

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  Average full-time

  46 hours

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  Weekly Pay

  N/A

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  Skill level rating

  Medium skill

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  Unemployment

  Lower unemployment

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  Full-Time Share

  93%

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  Employment Size

  7,400

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  Employment by state

  ACT: 0.6%
  NSW: 25.6%
  NT: 1.5%
  QLD: 21.1%
  SA: 10.6%
  TAS: 2.8%
  VIC: 27.1%
  WA: 10.6%
  
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  Age brackets

  15-19: 8.8%
  20-24: 18.7%
  25-34: 28.8%
  35-44: 18.4%
  45-54: 13.6%
  55-59: 5.9%
  60-64: 3.8%
  65 and Over: 1.9%
  
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  Education level

  Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 2.8%
  Bachelor degree: 0.9%
  Certificate III/IV: 79.4%
  Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 0%
  Year 10 and below: 6%
  Year 11: 3.5%
  Year 12: 7.4%