Blog

An apprenticeship is a great way to kick-start your career. However, you should always remember that different apprenticeships have different requirements. If you are interested in doing a heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeship (more commonly known as a “heavy vehicle mechanic apprenticeship”) you will generally be required to repair and service huge diesel trucks, locomotives, power plants, oil rigs as well as other heavy industrial equipment that are diesel powered.

The main difference between a heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeship and other automotive apprenticeships mainly lies in the kind of vehicles and equipment that you will be required to work with. Some of the duties that you will be required to perform as a heavy diesel mechanic include:

• Performing inspections and carrying out preventive measures meant for the maintenance of heavy diesel equipment
• Diagnosing and fixing problems that may exist in heavy diesel vehicles and equipment as well as servicing and repairing diesel engines
• Servicing and repairing the brake system of heavy diesel equipment as well as the heating and conditioning systems of heavy diesel equipment.

Also, a heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeship provides you with a foundation in the latest diesel technologies in addition to skills that you may need in the interpretation of technical manuals. Other automotive apprenticeships may not necessarily equip you with such knowledge and skills since you may not need to apply the same in your line of duty such as in light vehicle, panel beating and motorbike apprenticeships.

Further, as a heavy diesel mechanic, you are generally more likely to earn higher wages than other automotive apprentices. This is because you will constantly be required to work with heavy equipment and therefore require more skills and strength in order to be able to do so. Also, as a heavy diesel mechanic, heavy lifting is something you will be required to do on a regular basis. This means that you are at risk of getting very serious injuries and may well explain why you should work with great precision.

In conclusion, a heavy diesel mechanic apprenticeship involves working with heavy diesel vehicles and equipment and requires knowledge and skills that will enable them to do so. In other automotive apprenticeships, the knowledge and skill required may be different. After all, systems operate differently and you need to be aware of this fact.