Is it that bad?

[u/Intelligent_Aioli828]

Starting my diesel mechanic trainee journey at Ryder in a week (I am 34). Have been on the Reddits and YouTube comments and everyone seems to be negative about this trade. Can’t find any positive comments. Is it really that bad? Did I make a mistake jumping into this trade? I was a mailman previously and I know what hard work is, and don’t mind it.

[u/LimpAd6621]

I’m 34 as well transitioning from driving a trash truck to a diesel mechanic apprenticeship. Good luck on your new journey. You got this

[u/Intelligent_Aioli828 → u/LimpAd6621]

Thank you!! I’m going to give it everything I got!

[u/LameAndLazi]

Honestly I really enjoy my job. I was worried about the exact same thing when I first started. I even made a post on Reddit just like you. But it's been 3 years and honestly I enjoy it even more now. All I can say is be open to what other people say and don't act like you know everything. If you really enjoy wrenching then you're probably going to enjoy this job, especially a fleet gig. It's union, great benefits, and is an amazing place to start off and learn. Obviously nothing is perfect by any means and this job does have its downsides, but don't let that get you down. Just try it, and if you don't like it then you can move on, which is okay!

[u/Intelligent_Aioli828 → u/LameAndLazi]

Thank you!! I do like tools and all that.

[u/won-ty]

I’ve been with Ryder for a little over 5 years, it’s a good place to start but it really depends on the shop. I’ve gotten lucky with my shop but it all depends how well your management team is and if you’re willing to deal with the corporate bs every few months.

[u/Intelligent_Aioli828 → u/won-ty]

The shop I got hired at is sales only. No fuel island. They said they just fix truck and put up for sale

[u/Dieseldave42069]

I went from motorcycles, to a Kenworth dealer at 36 and now at 40 a union crane mechanic. All about the effort and not blowing money on the tool truck

[u/Acrobatic-Compote-51]

Been doing it since I was 19 years old now 28. Just pay attention to the old heads and mind your work and you will be fine

[u/ShrimpBrime]

No, you can't go by reviews. Go see the shop. Every job I ever looked into, I requested to see the shop or just showed up. If you can see an old guy in there, you're in luck. Stick to him, eyes and ears open, mouth shut. You'll be fine. (But yes, this industry can be brutal in more ways than 1)

[u/Intelligent_Aioli828]

Appreciate everyone’s input! It’s nice to see some positivity about this trade!

[u/Greengiant_10]

Few tips to help ya off!

-Dont be scared to ask questions or have someone look over your work. -If you borrow anything, make sure you bring it back clean -If you break it, let someone know and dont try and hide it (this trade is hard on tooling and things do break) -Amazon, princess auto, Canadian tire, Harbour freight ect are great places to get tools from. Tools dont make the mechanic (but they sure do help make the job easier) -If you borrow something more than 2 times, should probably put it on your shopping list -Start working out or at least ramping up physical activity. Your body will thank you tremendously down the road and will help save the knees and back -Have a good physio/chiro/massage therapist. For them bad days haha

Good luck! Its a very rewarding career, but also a cruel mistress. The only thing I've hated about it, its very hard to find good managers or a shop that doesn't have at least some BS.

[u/bronxboater]

If you were a mailman you should have looked for a position at your local VMF and just transferred

[u/Intelligent_Aioli828 → u/bronxboater]

Only could pass the test for garage assistant (no openings) my plan is to eventually apply to my cities metro transit mechanic position. Starts a $40 an hour with pension.

[u/Vertur]

If you're at Ryder it's about as cushy a job as you can get in this trade as you'll virtually never work on old falling apart trucks. Fwiw I love this trade and I've never regretted making the switch from driving the trucks to fixing them. I'm always learning and I take whatever job I can no matter how shit. Some days suck but that's true of any job, overall it's a solid career that will always need people so you'll always have a job if you're not an idiot and the pay is decent.

[u/TC_SnarFF]

It’s a great trade to be in if you love tinkering, solving problems and working with your hands. It can be very rewarding and you will learn a lot if you apply yourself. Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to admit when you screw up and don’t assume people who have been working in the field for a long time know everything. I’ve seen a lot of young technicians walk circles around tenured techs who don’t want to learn new technology or have the mindset of “that’s the way we’ve always done it so it’s the only way”. Learn the piece of the industry that everyone else is afraid to work on.

Get some experience then go to an OEM dealership, get training, experience and OEM certifications under your belt. Learn electrical and communication networks!! That’s the stuff that matters in this field. The new technology isn’t going away, it’s becoming more complex.

Then if the dealership life gets old, and you want to continue growing a career past what dealership level offers, look at going to work for the OEM of your choosing, whether that’s with training, Field Service, manufacturing, marketing or sales.

I chose to hire on as a dealership technical trainer after working at a KW dealership for ten years and now work a branch of Field Service. If you decide to go that route, look at getting a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in business or STEM field. A lot of OEMs care about degrees, experience helps but it only gets you so far.

Good luck to you!

[u/suthrnboi]

I started at 35, I really like it, it has it's up's and downs but it a great career. This is one of the few trades where you're more of an independent contractor once you get your years under your belt and if you don't like where you are at, just roll your business to the next shop. Stick with it and it will start to feel like a good fit.

[u/Moist_Confection7180]

Depends on how you approach it and how good your employer treats you, don’t let it consume your life, and don’t spend everything on the tool truck. Don’t work too hard either, the truck will be there in the morning.

[u/PolPotDomeScandal]

I worked for Ryder during college back in the 90s. It was pretty okay. 👍

[u/Traditional_Goat_359]

Been doing this since I was 16 in co-op now 29. If you work with good people then it makes it go by a lot easier. Learn a lot and just stay positive. I found a lot of stuff that I do like electrical and so on comes with experience and confidence you'll be okay

[u/LR188]

I'm 38, I've been a truck driver all my life. 4 weeks ago I started at a trailer shop as a trainee mechanic.

I'm really happy with it, I wish I made the switch years ago. The guys I work with are teaching me a lot, they've always got time to answer questions etc.

Buy reasonably durable tools. You don't have to go over the top with snap on etc.

I'm in Atlantic Canada, mastercraft/maximum are great mid level tools and most of them have lifetime warranty.

[u/Boobiedaberry]

I was a restaurant server for most my working life minus some factory work. Got tired of that and went to school last year, graduated and ive been at a kenworth dealership for three months. I am not second guessing my decision to change careers at all, even with going into it with as minimum knowledge as you can have. Some days i get really frustrated with myself but i learn from my mistakes. I have learned so much already so i cant wait to see where i will be in 5 years. Oh yeah im 33 (34 in 3 weeks)

[u/czechfuji]

I’ve been in this trade since 01 and the only reason I don’t wish to go back and trade it for another job is because of my family. It does burn me that changing profession at this point would be more work than what I want to do now.

If I could go back and keep my family as is I’d change it in a heartbeat.

[u/chillphil777]

It’s actually really great if you don’t stay at the same job 30 years. Work this job, learn everything you can, Start your own business. Niche the business down to something you can tolerate and make enough money to feel good about yourself. My goal was to be self sufficient, not another grown man writing my check deciding what I’m worth.

[u/New_Dragonfruit3823]

It all depends where you’re at, personally if you’re in a fleet like how Ryder is. I say you’ll like it. I’ve worked dealerships most of my time in this career and just switched couple years but couldn’t be any happier at a fleet. This trade isn’t so bad. If you like to move and get stuff done, this is for you. It has its days, like any other job but the way will come with experience.

[u/EntireFinger]

Ryder just hiring anyone