Is It Hard To Switch Fields as a Heavy Duty Mechanic?

Heavy-duty mechanics have the option to boost their careers by switching between different fields. They come across various opportunities to switch between the industries like transportation, construction, forestry, manufacturing, farming, and oil and gas but may lack the confidence to shift. 

So if you’re one of those heavy equipment mechanics who has been wondering “Is it possible to make a switch between the industries?” Then the answer is yes.

In a nutshell, it’s not very hard to switch between different fields as a heavy-duty mechanic.

There are many different factors to consider before making a transition. The difficulty of transition comes down to two main factors:

1. The type of equipment primarily used in a particular industry
2. Transferable skills from one trade to another

It’s not very difficult to switch from one field to the other because many of the skills are transferable from one trade to the other. For example, suppose a heavy-duty mechanic has the skills to perform a 250-hour service on an excavator used in the construction industry. They can perform the same service for the excavator or other heavy equipment used in mining or forestry. Mostly, the same type of equipment is used in these industries.

However, it is a little challenging to transition from construction to the oil and gas and the manufacturing fields. The reason is oil and gas deals mostly with chemicals, instrumentation, and automation. The type of equipment and its maintenance requirements are very different from the equipment being used in construction.

The construction industry relies mostly on mobile equipment, while mostly stationary equipment is used in the oil and gas and manufacturing fields.

While it is not hard to switch from one field to the other, the biggest hurdle for people is to get their foot in the door.

For example, If you’ve been working on transport trucks for years and wish to transition to heavy equipment, it may take a little effort and courage to get started. But once you get in and get that first job, the transition becomes smoother.

The best option is to familiarize yourself with the industry by joining relevant programs, networking with people in the target industry, career coaching, and gaining relevant skills.

Heavy equipment operators are still in demand and in no danger of being made obsolete anytime soon. It can be a challenging but rewarding career if you’re up for it. You will have to undergo heavy equipment operation training to make the transition, but you’ll have the advantage of already being familiar with the equipment.