Doug Wedley, a heavy equipment mechanic employed by a city, braves snowstorms,
unlit roads and gale-force winds to rescue snowplows. He's used to being called
out into bad weather. "November to March are our busiest months," he says.
"Because of winter, things are more apt to fail."
Wedley never planned on being a heavy equipment mechanic. "The job I had
was being eliminated, so my employer offered to enroll me in the apprenticeship
program to become a technician," he says.
Wedley got his certification. Seven years later, he's busy repairing and
maintaining the city's big rigs.
Wedley's training has proven essential to his livelihood. He considers
ongoing experience and education crucial for anyone considering the industry.
"Try to get a job with a wide variety of equipment to work on," he says. "This
will give you the most experience."
Experience and knowledge definitely paid off for Richard Syx. Syx, a heavy-duty
automotive technician, got a bonus for saving his employer thousands of dollars.
"It was one of my best days on the job," he says.
Syx maintains a fleet of tractor-trailers. He provides all maintenance,
repairs and overhauls. "I provide 100 percent of all repair duties, from oil
changes to engine and transmission overhauls," he says. Despite his daunting
responsibilities, he works a standard Monday-through-Friday shift.
"I followed my instincts when I was younger and ended up doing what I liked
to do," Syx says. Rather than attending school to learn his trade, Syx learned
on the job.
But despite his lack of formal technician schooling, he strongly believes
in continuing education and excellent equipment knowledge. "I'm ASE [Automotive
Service Excellence] certified, a gigantic plus in my industry now."
And 30 years after entering his profession, Syx is still going strong.
"I like the challenge. Take an engine apart into a thousand pieces on the
floor. Put it back together. Start it up. Instant gratification."
Lorri Seiger is a diesel mechanic in Cincinnati. She agrees that a wide
variety of knowledge and equipment knowledge is required. "Try to learn something
new every day," she says. "You may change jobs, but nobody can take away what
you learn! Knowledge is yours to keep."
Seiger found her niche in high school. Her mother made her take an auto
mechanics class so she would be able to keep her car in good repair.
"I liked taking things apart and seeing what makes them work," she says.
"I like the feeling of accomplishment that I get every time I send a truck
out of the shop, knowing that I did the job right."
Seiger is a woman in a traditionally male job, but she has no problems
getting along with co-workers. "When I first started it was kind of tough,
because as a woman in a man's job, I had to prove that I could do the job
as well as a man could," she says.
"Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. Don't start out
on the wrong foot by expecting special treatment because you're a woman. Just
do the job and don't expect a free ride. You won't get it."
Lynne Hansen is a diesel technician in Oregon. She agrees with Seiger.
"You have to be able to get along with men, and almost be one of the boys,"
Hansen says. "They know you're a woman without making a big issue about it."
She works side by side with her male co-workers, fixing buses, providing
preventative maintenance to the fleet and acting as supervisor when her boss
is gone.
Hansen has worked in this industry all her life -- she trained in the military
as a mechanic and took that knowledge into the public sector. She recently
returned to college to improve her marketability. Her goal is a management
or supervisory position.
"It's definitely not a mindless job," she says. "It takes concentration,
knowledge of mechanical parts, logical thinking for problem solving
and the ability to take something apart and put it back together.
"If you really enjoy the challenge of finding out what's broken and take
pride in getting it going again, then this job is for you."