diesel_kid

Hi there,

I haven't been on here for a while been busy with school and working on a few new toys. Anyways, right now with school I have the oppurtunity to go into a Co-op program at a couple different diesel shops. My first option is at a Peterbilt Service Centre about 40 minutes away, in there I have the choice of working in the service department, or the quality control of the new trucks, such as checking everything over, torquing stuff down etc. The second oppurtunity that I have is working at a Diesel shop about 20 minutes away who just service big trucks, and it is just privately owned.
I like the sounds of the first one as it is alot bigger operation, but the only thing is that it would be less chance of getting a job there afterwards and also since it is such a big place, I wouldn't be able to get as close to the bosses as I would a smaller operation. With the smaller operation I could get in closer with the bosses, and also I could probably work on my truck in there after hours If I wanted to. After the program I would also probalby have a better chance of getting a job there.
With the Peterbuilt shop, it is a recognized name, and It would look better on a resume, and also I think there is more of a demand for quality control technicians out there right now, which is what I probably would be doing there, but I don't know if I would learn as much as I would there as at the private diesel shop.

Anyways, I was just wondering what you guys think I should do this co-op program, after the program, I plan on going through school for a Diesel Mechanic, then doing that for a couple years, then going through school for a technician, doing that for acouple years, then technologist, then eventually engineer. That way I would have more of an understanding of what needs to be done, and how, by going through all the ranks, then say a person who comes straight out of University for an engineer.

Thanks for any help at all and if there is any guys out there that have Diesel related jobs, or engineering jobs, please chime in. Thanks again.

-Jared

cumminsdriver635

I also co-op with my school, but i have yet to find a job anywhere. No Diesel shops close at all either. I would talk to the owners of each, and see which you wold feel more comfortable working under/asking questions, etc. I almost believe I would work for the 2nd one if the guy is nice, and seems knowledgable. Good luck!

Eric

Red3quarter

Diesel Kid,
I never went through a Co-op program (kinda wish i did have the chance to) but instead i went school for diesel and heavy equipment mechanics and worked for a trucking outfit part time during my breaks while in school. Now i've been out of school and working for a couple yrs and have worked for a larger Fuel and oil distributor in my area that was family owned and i've worked for a smaller dump truck company near me that was family owned. I personally liked the larger company because of the benefits and the people i worked with there over the smaller one. The smaller one had less benefits and it was very close knit so if there was a "problem" in the family that owned it, it always got in the way of work. But it's all up to you and who you think is a better employer, get yourself in a position to ask questions about each company like what cumminsdriver said. Also I would like to go back to school for engineering at some point. I think it would benefit you to work as a mechanic for a while, get the expierance and then go back to school. Thats just my $0.02.

Matt