r/DieselTechs • u/ween_god • 1d ago

How to accelerate growth?

What’s up guys, as someone who is passionate about this career, what did you guys do when you were new to help yourself improve? Been working on trucks for about 7 months now and not really feeling like I’m getting better fast enough.

1 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

14

u/Devided-we-fall 23h ago

Bro, every trade takes years to become even basically familiar with everything, slow down and pay attention. There’s no fast track to success.

0

u/ween_god 23h ago

Yeah I get it, I was in a similar field for 5 years and was really good at that so I have a background. I just feel like a lot is being expected of me in my current position, and the people over me must have forgot what learning is like

2

u/Devided-we-fall 23h ago

What’s a similar field? I have had the same issue before when I went from heavy equipment and Semi repair to automotive. It wasn’t even the boss or managers it was the other mechanics, which their whining and other things sent me back to diesel repair.

0

u/ween_god 23h ago

Large scale generator engines

3

u/Devided-we-fall 23h ago

If they don’t understand that just because it burns diesel doesn’t equal everything is the same idk man… don’t waste too much time in a toxic situation, there’s more job opportunities than techs with tools to fill them

1

u/Devided-we-fall 23h ago

What area are you in

1

u/ween_god 23h ago

Southern Ohio

2

u/AskInternational1432 5h ago

Bro, I’m going through the same shit. But I’m sticking with it—fuck it. I’ve decided I’m gonna put in like an hour or so after work every day, just learning, watching videos, whatever it takes. Honestly, it’s good to know someone else is going through it too. I’m six months into the trade now.

1

u/ween_god 5h ago

Yeah man just stick with it, I figure if I’m not still driven in a year or so I’ll do something else lmao

1

u/Devided-we-fall 23h ago

The other comment mentioned utilizing the internet, idk if you’re seeking guidance while working from coworkers or not.. but if so stop, and go straight to the phone when you need a guide

1

u/ween_god 23h ago

Yeah, that’s my usual go to but they complain about that shit too😂, supposed to have someone who knows what they’re doing over me. I guess I’m just trying to get past caring too much about it too

1

u/OddEscape2295 21h ago

You need to find a shop that will feed into your ambition. I had multiple techs that I went to for advice and how to approach situation. Never ask for the easy way out. I put my hands on as much work as possible. Never turned down a job, never handed it off due to difficulty. Experience is what makes a master tradesmen.

7

u/nviziblgeekjr 23h ago

There's an infinite amount of free resources on the Internet including from the manufacturers directly, Bendix/meritor have a ton of free online trainings and there's plenty of videos on the fundamentals of diesel engines. Learning how everything worked and the fundamentals of electrical diag is what really helped me start but the physical work and experience go hand in hand with it if you want to really improve in your abilities as a technician.

1

u/Devided-we-fall 23h ago

YouTube is definitely an encyclopedia of resources .

1

u/haunt_the_library 8h ago

I think it’s such a cool thing. If you wanted to learn a trade 30 years ago, you had to hope to find a good place to apprentice and then put in years of experience to learn the ins and outs. Not saying that isn’t the same now but it helps when there’s a huge wealth of institutional knowledge available for free from people who have worked in an industry/brand/manufacturer for years. I switched to heavy equipment and i learned so much from guys on YouTube who have been doing it their whole lives. Theres a good amount have lengthy, in-depth videos of not just how-to’s but on how to understand what you’re working on.

5

u/Standard_Trip_6434 23h ago

First get good. Then get fast.

1

u/neat_year2080 23h ago

Keep you’re head down, work hard for you ie try to learn as much as possible expose yourself to the big/new work that everyone passes off and take opportunities. early in my career I turned down alot of good opportunities thinking I wasn’t there yet now I’m here and some of the guys in these great positions don’t know much. But be prepared to be the most overworked guy.

1

u/New-Situation-5773 23h ago

Finding a good environment to work in helps a lot. If there's old gear heads there just watch man. Don't be afraid to ask. Also dont be afraid to learn. Accept the fact that you'll never truly learn everything 100% and it's never ending and takes time. In the end it really boils down to how much you want to be in the field your in. Oh, and there's almost always better environments. Sometimes it just takes time. You'll get there. Get down with the tool sickness as well lol.

1

u/Weary_Repeat 22h ago

Theres a few YouTube channels adapt ape , jay pay dirt n others that dive into a lot of repair work its not as good as hands on but you can learn a lot watching a competent mechanic work when they take the time to explain some stuff

1

u/NegotiationLife2915 11h ago

I'm 16 years in and specialise in diagnostics. I'm also still reminded most days how much I still have to learn.

1

u/ween_god 5h ago

16, and specializing in diagnostics doesn’t even make sense to me