“ A good mechanic could be making $ 60,000 by the time they are 26 years old ,” Ott said .
Today ’ s trucks have all the bells and whistles advertised for new cars and more . Ethan Evans , a road service mechanic , said sometimes he is as much an information technology specialist as a mechanic .
Newer trucks have a network system and radar . A truck can read speed limit signs and detect obstacles in the road . It can even apply 75 percent of the braking power of the truck .
One company will train you for one of the highest paying and most in-demand careers in Northwest Arkansas .
MHC in Springdale sells Kenworth and Volvo trucks , and services all types of semis and other diesel equipment , said Jacob Ott , Store Manager .
The company needs more diesel mechanics to serve customers , which include some of the largest truck fleets in the country , Ott said .
“ There is a shortage in this field ,” he explained . “ I ’ d add eight employees if I could find them .”
Nationally , there is expected to be a huge demand for diesel mechanics over the next 10 years . The job of a diesel mechanic is changing , Ott said .
“ It ’ s not changing tires and oil . With computers and radar being added , the work is what you put into it , what you invest in it ,” he said .
That investment could pay off in a big way .
Evans didn ’ t work on those types of tasks when he first got out of Northwest Technical Institute , where he studied diesel mechanics .
“ I try to learn as much as I can ,” Evans said . “ Now , I can work on everything from road graders to backhoes . I like trying to work on a broad range of vehicles in my job .”
MHC needs more workers like Evans , but qualified people are hard to hire , Ott said .
Ott said he thinks it is because of the misleading perception that a job in the trades , like a diesel mechanic , isn ’ t a good career .
In reality , working as a diesel mechanic is a goodpaying , technologically advanced job . In some cases , mechanics can earn as much , if not more , than workers in other fields that require a college degree .
The company sends its new diesel mechanics to master more skills and invests heavily in training , Ott said .
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