Mechanic (Heavy Vehicle Mobile Equipment) Profile
After I completed my VCE I made a conscious decision that I wanted to get involved with heavy vehicles – that was where my passion lay. I have always had an engineering bent to things; I guess it was just my make-up. I always loved pulling apart engines to discover how it all worked. I had my father’s lawnmower stripped down maybe five times a year, and basically took a real liking to it all.
There was always the option of going to university, but I was very keen to enter the workforce and become independent. So I began an apprenticeship. I had a passion to know how things worked and wanted to develop this, which is why, once I completed my apprenticeship, I decided to further my education. So I started studying engineering at night school as well, which gelled in quite well.
I guess that’s how I got into the industry and I have ventured on further from there, taking on all different areas of business to the point where I am now Operations Manager. So it all started from when I commenced my apprenticeship at a privately owned truck repair outlet in Melbourne . I was situated in a smaller environment, and therefore I was thrust into a lot of diverse work situations. This was an excellent position, as by the time I was in my second year I had already developed a really well-rounded perspective of the job through my extensive on-the-job training.
The work I do
When I began my apprenticeship working as a mechanic on heavy vehicle mobile equipment, I primarily worked on the service and repair of mechanical parts such as the engine, transmission (clutch, gear box and differential) and the suspension systems (springs, steering, brakes, wheels and tyres).
I also performed tasks including discussing problems with the drivers/users to discover faults and carry out diagnostic procedures. I repaired and serviced engines, cooling systems, exhaust systems, diesel fuel systems, engine forced induction systems and clutch assemblies. In addition, I also repaired and serviced manual and automatic transmissions, braking systems, hydraulic systems, final drive assemblies and steering and suspension systems. The repair of ignition, electronic engine and drive management systems is also encompassed in the heavy vehicle mobile equipment mechanic’s duties. With the rapid change in automotive technology, mechanics are becoming more specialised in their areas of work.
Currently though, I am working within a large dealership environment, which is excellent as it provides me with exposure covering many different functional areas. As Operations Manager I ensure the branch is run efficiency and profitably. This is no easy task considering we employ around 120 people with a turnover of around $35 million in annual sales. So this requires a fairly efficient workplace to accommodate for the broad spectrum of industry representatives.
It’s an intense job, but the rewards are good; there is a great deal of satisfaction when you see the improvements in productivity through practices I put in place.
My workplace
The workshop is incredible. Working in a prestigious dealership, we use the latest equipment and tooling to ensure we can handle even the most sophisticated technology, so there is always an enormous opportunity to learn and develop important skills.
The atmosphere is also very friendly. There is a bit of friendly rivalry amongst the different workshops, which is good for competition and it gets the guys thinking. We have annual in-house awards such as ‘Apprentice of the Year’ and the Skills Olympics. This tends to generate a bit of competitiveness and enthusiasm, and that builds solid camaraderie.
Education and training
All of our apprentices are currently completing the Certificate III in Automotive (Mechanical – Heavy Vehicle Mobile Equipment). Every month apprentices are formally rotated through new areas to maximise the on-the-job training proportion relevant to which competencies they are learning for that period in trade school.
Once our guys have completed their apprenticeships they will often get
involved in our exchange program, allowing them the opportunity to gain
experience throughout the different dealerships across Australia . We have
sent guys to Western Australia to work directly in the mining environment
and gain a greater understanding. After a couple of years, we often get
them back with a lot more experience and training.
>> course/qualification
Why I love the industry…
I love the product and I love being around mechanical things. I like the noise of diesel engines, and love the raw power that you get, especially with earth moving equipment.
It’s an exciting industry to be in, particularly for apprentices now getting into the game. Nowadays, simply because of the lack of numbers, Heavy Vehicle Mechanics are in huge demand, and consequently their level of pay has increased enormously. We have field service mechanics that are earning in the $80-90K mark, which in a main city was unheard of 10 years ago. So it’s definitely not a low paying occupation anymore. Wages can almost double at the completion of an apprenticeship. So there are plenty of opportunities.
I love what I’m doing now; it has provided me with a lot of opportunities. I’m also still able to interact with the workshop everyday. Often I’ll spend a fair bit of time talking with the mechanics and understanding what they are doing, so I can get a better picture for the customer. It’s important to have that direct relationship with the staff, which also helps me do my job better. I guess it breeds an environment where they feel valued, which is important.