why you should become a HD mechanic for 2025

[@mr.nobody68]

I love working on cars but I hate the industry with a burning passion

[@joshua22099]

Right there with ya was a tech for 6 years now in construction not much better with pay but got lucky to find a relatively stress free place working for high income clients

[@GardenStateNJ27]

I would only do auto if it was for a fleet. I worked as a tech at the airport for rental cars and it was pretty nice. Pay was still low but better than the dealer

[@4formsofMATTer]

Heavy equipment or Airplane mechanic. Automotive is a race to the bottom

[@tonylam9548]

That depends on who you work for. Work for a major airline, unlike flat rate mechanics, those guys have union protection and work at snail's pace. These skills are in short supply and it is a very dumb employer that abuses their mechanics.

[@nicmainville9954]

Aircraft is pretty easy as far as everything is kept clean and you have to do everything by the book( you have two books opened to the specific job you're doing on an aircraft), down side is aircraft still burn leaded fuel and you'll likely have to move unless you get a position at your local small airport if it's a busy one.

[@nicmainville9954]

Also, aircraft are relatively simple machines, there is just a lot of redundant systems so it will look like an engine has more going on than the average car but it's just the same systems built 2-4 times over.

[@tonylam9548]

@@nicmainville9954 There are ways in aircraft that you can skip the books too, just as in autos. Except in AC, you have to sign everything you did, especially if you work in a formal shop. The lead in fuel will be gone in a few years , substitute already being field tested .

[@tonylam9548]

@@nicmainville9954 The complexities in AC is in the avionics in well equipped airplanes.

[@ulisesswag96]

I got into HD this year. I love my job! Best decision I ever made! Especially now, with my new boss being super hyped I want to learn and do good!

[@Lancemechanics]

That is awesome!

[@1234563221]

I agree with you on skipping auto and to heavy equipment I did the fly in remote site for 25 years. I’m now working at home 40-50 hours a week for a construction company. I make more than my buddy who is top guy at a dealership. I also have a company 1/2 ton to use as I want. Plus I still have fun most days at work. At the smaller companies a lot of people don’t realize the variety of stuff you get to work on. I still get to do timing chains on an ecoboost. Work on side buy sides. Repair small engines for various small equipment we use and even deal with diesel fired heaters on steamers and pressure washers. I’m into the air ride system on the bosses nieces Range Rover right now. I have nobody on my back for time they just want it fixed. I have the scan tools and service info I need as well.

[@Lancemechanics]

I love the variety. Even though I'm a oem I will work on what Evers available and there's plenty of broken gear underground. Hoping to convince more young and even older people to make the swap. It's worth it!

[@gjre8w9w9wowow]

What I love about heavy equipment underground is no cheap plastic holding everything together. Being able to put new bolts on everything. Never forget it is always the cross shifts fault never your partners.

[@Lancemechanics]

Always nightshifts fault ;)

[@rkan2]

Unless you are in the EU and work with Volkswagen products. 😂

[@TheVigilantEye77]

@@gjre8w9w9wowow underground as in mining?

[@michaelmurphy6869]

Lance thanks again another great video. I'm to old get into heavy equipment repair, but in my younger days l did think about it. One thing you should have mentioned is that heavy equipment is commerial if that piece of equipment is not rolling it's not making money. If it sits idle it's costing the company money. Like with trucking companies if the semi's wheels aren't turning, not making money. Companies will pay (as you stated) to get someone out there to repair and maintain their equipment. Good luck in your new job field looks like you made the right choice. I hope that someone who watches this video takes your advice.

[@epicragegaming2016]

simply put, the crumbs are bigger in heavy.

[@Lancemechanics]

Yeppers!

[@barrymccaulkiner7092]

Every customer acts like they're the poorest idiot in the world and wonders why they have to pay for the repairs. Every. Single. Customer.

[@Lancemechanics]

Yes :( you need a 40cent peanut bulb. Let me think about that. I need to call my husband!

[@michaelmurphy6869]

Everything is warranty. "I shouldn't have pay it!"

[@kimblem.w9952]

@@Lancemechanics If they're Filipino its always "let me check with my wife" lmao

[@king49334]

it stress me every monday you start from 0 flat rate hour.

[@Lancemechanics]

Took me a few years to get over that feeling. It's hard ti explain to non mechanics

[@tonylam9548]

@@Lancemechanics In some construction trades, it is called piece work. You can make good money but you got to be fast. That is about the last thing I want for a mechanic to work on my car , to rush, and is an outright disaster for airplanes.

[@internetpointsbank]

All the mechanics I worked with either smoked a pack a day, a meth head, loved opiates, or mean AF and in debt to their eyeballs. Glad to get out and make more money doing less in a different industry (not heavy equipment)

[@tonylam9548]

The few trades in short supply in Ontario right now, truck/bus mech, Heavy equip mech, hydro lineman, and maybe gas tech?? they are in short supply because they are usually bigger companies that will take apprentice and they are harder to get into. Auto, you can start a shop in an industrial unit, you better have a much bigger place for a truck tractor or bus. Auto is the fastest changing trade, I went for the second fastest ....electrician. The first 3 usually involve working outside in the worse conditions and most suitable to younger guys. Sometimes working as a truck mechanics do not require brute force. I heard of at least one woman who is an expert with electronics diagnose and she basically work in a dealer and do all the diagnose for the other mechanics and told them which sensor to replace.

[@TaylorZ2]

I agree with everything Lance says, but I assure you the corporate world is just as bad if not worse. It absolutely SUX! Go for any government job (Federal, state, city or municipal). Starting pay may not be great but job security and benefits make up for it.

[@isorozco511]

Can you please explain a little? Im thinking or corporate world jobs after being a mechanic for 10 yrs

[@hachi666roku]

Working 2 part time Jobs at 32 hours each one paying $15/hour is more rewarding than being a mechanic. No tool investment Managable Toxicity Same benefits You can be promoted to better things Your skills matter enough No illusions to make yourself sick over You can choose to not harm yourself with hazards like materials or equipment

[@isorozco511]

Servicing the cheap retail customer in any industry including automotive is just not the way to go

[@CharlesJohnstone-c2n]

Im quitting automotive in about 6 months. Im 27 and been in automotive for 29 months. I still have time to go back to college for heavy equipment.

[@Lancemechanics]

Always have time to change careers for the better. You won't regret it. Just take care of your health :)

[@JeffRobertsFix]

I’m going mobile mechanic in 2025.

[@kimblem.w9952]

You can make a lot of money if you're working for yourself as mobile mechanic. At the same time it can be gruelling working on crap jobs in bad weather while chasing deadbeats for payment. Best of luck to you!

[@Volvosemitruckmechanic4926]

Been working on a fleet of semis for 19 years now

[@Lancemechanics]

Hows it's treating you. You must be a senior guy there

[@Volvosemitruckmechanic4926]

@Lancemechanics its a great family owned 100 truck company. We get 11% profit sharing and great year end bonus. I enjoy the work.

[@Lancemechanics]

Hey man that's awesome. Congrats on finding a good place to work :)

[@meh-canics9628]

Getting a red seal in heavy has been both a blessing and a curse

[@tonylam9548]

That sounded like an out of date comment. Starting about 2 decades ? ago, in Ontario Canada , the pass mark for trade exams been moved to 70% which was the red seal minimum years ago. If you get 60-69% , you get a license just for Ontario. So either you failed the written or we are all red seal now.

[@meh-canics9628]

@@tonylam9548 What are you rambling about?

[@tonylam9548]

@@meh-canics9628 If you are not in Ontario Canada you are not expected to understand the "rambling"

[@apaez6834]

Been watching ur vids for a while now, starting to notice the the patterns in the flat raters in my shop u speak of. Im in a toyota dealer right now, lube tech 9 months in, i wanna do heavy equipment but not too sure how to get a job in it? any tips? i only think of websites like indeed.

[@Lancemechanics]

The rental companies are a good place to start. If you get licensed in automotive or what ever they do in the states it's that much easier to get into heavy equipment. Walk up to a place like united and ask what they want and if they're hiring.

[@MowerModdin]

the way I see it, is that you should work long enough in order to get certified as a Master Tech or even a Master Diagnostic Tech, and then take your skills and certifications to someone completely different in order to get paid more and have less stress. Or, is that even a bad idea?

[@ethanbowling342]

What do you think about heavy forestry equipment? I’m currently thinking about making the switch. I’m at Chrysler dealership, been here for 3 and half years.

[@Lancemechanics]

Your in the bush. Its harder work but fun. No waiting around for parts. Get it up and running :)

[@SALEEN961]

You can make great money as an automotive mechanic, but the truth is that most people won't. You can make over 100K per year working less than 40 hours a week in many parts of the US, but an average tech who often sends difficult or complicated jobs to someone else will struggle to make half of that.

[@king49334]

depend on sitution.

[@internetpointsbank]

If you are working 40 hours a week and making 100k as a mechanic you are 10 degrees away from becoming a electrical engeneer.

[@COBRO98]

Whoa there fella.. show me an auto mechanic working less than 40 hours per week. Most don't even get a lunch and pull 10 hour days, almost all dealerships are 5-6 days per week schedule, rotating Saturdays. I can count on my hands how many mechanics I've seen hit $100K in a year and 3 of them were in an independent shop. The average mechanic will make about $34,000/year in the US, the ones who make more work in big cities on higher-end vehicles.

[@SALEEN961]

@@COBRO98 I've never worked for a dealership because their offers were always insultingly bad, but I have worked for chain stores and independents. Good chain stores seem to have the best benefits package and good pay, but you often wind up working long hours like you said. Independent shops tend to have much better hours and pay in my experience, but the benefits package usually isn't great. The nice thing about small independent shops is that you can often negotiate an even higher wage by not using their medical or dental. I have better and cheaper insurance options through the state marketplace and my wife's employer anyway.

[@internetpointsbank]

@@COBRO98 You sound like a shop owner or service writer.

[@donerickson7869]

What I learned was a car seems to be a right to own or drive. In the hd world if you have a billion dollar job being held up on a 300k dozer checks are just written when the job is done. I still do some auto stuff for select customers but my bread and butter is hd. Also the components weigh much more but you also have lifting equipment to move it around

[@MrBeefsnorkel]

Lance, I need your help. Been a viewer for a good bit now. I spent 6 years at toyota and a year at hyundai / genesis, certified and all that (I'm in the USA). I'm in a unique position right now where I have a tiny bit of time to find a job in Heavy Equipment like you did, and I don't have kids or a GF so I don't give a damn where the work is. Where on earth do you find a job like the one you're at? Not having much luck on Indeed and I don't know anyone in the industry. Company names? I like to work hard and love wrenching / problem solving but I just can't go back to a dealership or a low-wage indy shop anymore. I'm 34, I did my time. Thank you

[@COBRO98]

Apply to municipalities for your city/town for automotive, the pay isn't super high but the benefits make up for it and there's a pension. Otherwise look into a different mechanical/electrical field altogether. You have skills ranging from mechanical aptitude to customer service to critical thinking and problem solving. Sell yourself in interviews and point that out, any employer with half a brain will recognize your versatility.

[@grandjab2349]

Yes lance, please, we need answers

[@MrBeefsnorkel]

@@COBRO98 ironically just did that an hour before your reply!

[@StrongerThanBigfoot]

Take your knowledge and skills and start you're own business

[@Lancemechanics]

Epiroc, macleans, sandvik, catapiller, united rentals, sunbelt rentals, volvo, anmar, Kubota, jcb, redpath, there's alot of oems out there looking for skilled automotive mechanics to come to the HD side. The equipment rental companies are a good place to start. If you want to travel then try mader north America.

[@Aaron-or6ov]

It is still not worth it. I have plenty of friends that still are in the auto industry. Not much has or is changing. Warranty times still being cut. Nothing will change unless techs take drastic measures to make change.

[@Lancemechanics]

I could never go back to automotive. Even if 200k a year

[@tonylam9548]

Sometimes you should feel lucky you still have a job , never mind $200K a year. I been through the 1980s and watched a whole generation of points and condensor mechanics , being forced to retire, they cannot learn the new computer and sensor technologies. Now I see mechanics age 40 ? and said they heard of points and condensor and never see one. The truth is, there is still many things they can work on in a car, and it took just a little learning to keep up. I did, but I seems to be the minority. In some ways, cars are easier to fix. For very common problems, I get You Tube to teach me , which was not available in the 80s. I am certified electrician which is second only to auto for fast changes and I also industrial millwright.

[@fb2javii999]

Simple answer NO! Run should u get out in 2025 if you’re in YES do anything else ✅

[@biometal770]

Automotive is the worst. Quit as a mechanic in 2012. If I had stayed on this type of career path, I would have done heavy equipment or industrial maintenance. I have seen many guys (who were previously mechanics) work on maintenance crews in production plants.

[@Radiationstation]

Canadian Heavy Duty mechanic apprentice here. I hate this line of work. Much regret. Once I have the red seal ticket I'm going to look at going back to school.

[@Lancemechanics]

where you situation at? are you doing bush work?

[@rkan2]

Any trade where working with private customers are PIA! Maybe if it is banking and the customers are Swiss. 😂

[@normcameron2316]

Having just retired as a HD Mechanic, same shit different shovel. Same incompetents in charge or wanting to be in charge. Same poor management. Same unhappy customers. Same inept Human Resources that can't seem to get the fact you are married and need to get the wife on the Benefit Plan and change payroll deductions. Same Parts Dept that can't find their ass with both hands. When you're in a new environment, it's all shiny and new but soon the shine wears off and you discover everything you do to polish it up gets resentment. Low caliber people blame you behind your back for stuff you had nothing to do with, at the same time stealing and taking credit for your knowledge. Worst part of being a mechanic is the politics. If you are smart enough to be a good mechanic, you are smart enough to be an Engineer. Get your ticket so you can always get a job and then go back to school. Make a living with a laptop, clean clothes, clean boots and shiny hardhat.

[@TheVigilantEye77]

Underground ? Mining?

[@Lancemechanics]

@@TheVigilantEye77 i work on HD equipment underground. ;)

[@Steve.191]

Heavy equipment shops are the same as automotive shops, it's the same backstabbing employees and owners care about the same as automotive shops ($). Same, same, and same.

[@Lancemechanics]

What kind of heavy equipment shop are you in? I've had complete opposite experience

[@robbirobson7330]

i went to learn heavy equipment mechanic about 24 years ago (i m not in the usa). it was very bad. Salary after you finished the apprenticeship was 1200 euro+250 for danger and dirt. the guys that were there longer were making 1500 euro a month. It was a bigger shop with around 30 mechanics, we did all contract work for trucks, farming equipment, cranes, excavators etc... in our area. The other mechanics were unfriendly, didn't spent time to teach, the company only wanted to use you for cheap labor overall the mood was very bad, the pay was bad, the whole company was shit. So not everywhere and all countries are the same.

[@tonylam9548]

I had that even with union shops, but if you already have your ticket, you do have mobility.

[@tonylam9548]

@@robbirobson7330 Without knowing which country, it is hard to tell how far 1500 Euros will get you.

[@robbirobson7330]

@@tonylam9548 the country that invented cars. it is a very bad salary and not worth it.

[@mikekotarba5828]

sunbeltrentals is good option for equipment jobs

[@Lancemechanics]

Same with united for the young guys getting into it :)

[@internetpointsbank]

Applied there. They where looking for a unicorn that would work for nothing compared to the cost of living in that area.

[@alexlongpre4527]

What's the trick Lance? I know I've asked you how before, but I've sent a bunch of resumes and nobody calls back. I mean I have 22 years experience in German dealerships, that should count for something... No?

[@Lancemechanics]

sandvik and epiroc are pretty big in your area. not sure if how these places are in Europe. Also Like i watch Ashville religiously and there's so much amazing equipment in Europe. keep your head high man! keep trying! that's what I did. just when your close most give up!

[@alexlongpre4527]

@@LancemechanicsThanks for the kind words, truly appreciated. One thing though, I'm not in Europe, I'm in Quebec haha. I misspoke, . I meant German brands, not actual dealerships in Germany.

[@Lancemechanics]

Quebec? if your near the Ontario boarder apply to epiroc Timmins, alamos gold, Anico eagle, newmont. there's alot mines in your area too! always looking for mechanics! if your willing to travel.

[@justinhayward5027]

U need a lawyer to work in automotive. Really referring to dealer tech. All dealer techs would agree.

[@eddiesopatron4148]

Simple answer is a NO!!!!!!!!

[@curiosity2314]

Great information poor title.

[@Lancemechanics]

@@curiosity2314 work in progress

[@COBRO98]

Automotive? Short answer: *No* Long answer: *No*

[@TomPhilbin-e7j]

Can u go into depth about the underground electric machinery u work on like there drivetrain,batterys, what voltage ,howlong do they last on a full charge and is it a recharge or battery swap out when they get low??????? 🤔 btw have u found the level of math has gone up working on electric/hv vehicles ? Cheers in advance for any future replys 👍

[@NegitoroIsBestShip]

Too late to be asking this question, already paid for school so now I’m in lol I’ll just have to do the best I can, thank you for these videos!

[@fb2javii999]

Hope the industry works out for u good luck 😊

[@NegitoroIsBestShip]

@@fb2javii999 Thank you!!

[@IsiloMarz]

same but i think im going to go though a diesel course when i complete automotive. i dont like working on larger vehicles but its where most of the moneys at

[@StrongerThanBigfoot]

​@@IsiloMarzI prefer working on semi trucks compared to regular cars.

[@Lancemechanics]

People can change careers later in life. Build your skills now and see what the future holds. You may enjoy what your getting into and be happy. All our situations are different :)