(This'll be a long read, so if you get bored quick, might as well move along)

So working on cars has pretty much been my whole life. Been doing it since I was 14 and being paid to work on them since I was 16. Every job that I've taken, I've gone up in pay. I've worked hard and busted my ass for years. I'm ASE Master certified and Toyota Expert certified (I should be Toyota Master but my service manager never sends anyone to school which directly affects myself and the other techs).

Started out with the basics as an Install tech at Best Buy doing radios, amps, speakers/subs, alarms and video systems. Did that for about 4-5 years but it got boring. I always liked working on cars but I wanted to get into the mechanical side of things, and less on the A/V mod stuff.

Decided to go to Lincoln Tech as a way to get into a high end dealership. Graduated in the top 3 in my class. Got into a Lexus dealer out of school and was there for about 1.5 years. I was still an apprentice at the time and when the industry started taking a shit, they cut their non-union techs. Unfortunately, that was myself and 2 other guys. This has been the only time I've ever been 'fired' from a job in my life. I genuinely liked working there. I liked the other techs and even though you had to be careful with the cars (rich people inspect everything), I really enjoyed the place.

Went to an Audi dealer for about 8 months because I had a 'in' there. That was a mistake. The cars are nice to drive, but shit to work on. They're built like they're never meant to be taken apart. They had so many ghost issues, it was unbelievable. It didn't help that management was incompetent and couldn't keep customers coming in the door with their awful CSI scores.

Left to go to a Ford dealer because again, I had 2 other friends there. This wasn't so bad. The problem is the place was dead. Really liked the guys there. I didn't care for the cars, but at least they weren't Audi's. I only stayed there about a year because of the lack of work. Towards the end, because I was the new guy (even though I was a better worker and smarter than others) I got the least amount of work. As a tech, you can't survive on 20 hours a week. Ford was really cracking down on warranty work, so you couldn't even work the system that well there. The good thing was that I became closer with the guy who helped me get in, and when he left Ford, he really helped to get me into my newest job (later in the story).

After Ford, I went to an independent shop close to home. I was there for about 2 years and probably learned more there than any other time in my life because you literally worked on everything. Domestics, Asians, and Euro cars with trucks of decent size thrown in. The problem with them was my manager was the biggest scumbag I've ever met (and he wasn't even the owner). I've never wanted to punch someone every single day in my life except for when I worked there. He was the owner's puppet. He knew how to cup the balls and he did it well. You could never ask him a single question without getting some stupid, sarcastic remark.

Luckily, a guy that I'm now best friends with and he's also my fishing buddy put in a word for me at a Toyota dealership. I had experience with Lexus, so I wasn't concerned at all. It started out great and I Was making really good money. I kicked butt and over the next 6 years, made my way up the ladder. I was one of the few guys (out of 25) who was getting raises every year. I loved the guys I worked with, even when the management changed. They started cutting times and we really started struggling to even make 40 hours a week at times. Luckily, my hourly pay made up for slower weeks.



The main problem with this industry is that the money can be tough to come by sometimes, and unless you start a 401k, you'll never have any kind of retirement or pension plan. Because of that, 2 years ago, I started applying to various local railroads and power companies. My buddy left Ford a few years ago and joined up with the railroad.

Amtrak never had any openings and have been on a local hiring freeze for a while. Never heard a thing from CSX. Finally heard from NJT.

Took a test for Bus mechanic 2 years ago - Passed. Never heard a thing.
Took a test for Electrician 1 year ago - Somehow passed even though I don't have any commercial or industrial electrical experience (FYI, I never applied for electrician but was invited for the test). It was not an easy test either. I only have 12v AC/DC and Hybrid high-voltage experience. For the position though, they brought in 1 or 2 guys who had more experience (which made sense) than I did. They'd keep me in mind however.

Finally, after myself and my buddy bugging the recruiters, they got me on the list for Machinist. I passed (making me 3 for 3 on tests). Got a fast interview (the only fast thing NJT has done) and proved myself. 2 weeks later, I passed my medical screening and got my start date.

Now, I'm working on giant locomotives which is just super surreal. 16cyl, twin-turbo diesels that are bigger than my 4Runner and can generate around 3000hp. Some locomotives have 2 engines. Some just one. Others are a hybrid electric/diesel (can operate in either mode). Brake rotors the size of my rims and tires. Big Timken bearings and oversized Sachs shock absorbers.



It's weird not working on cars anymore. Not having my toolbox or having the guys around me that I've been around for the last 6 years. But with my backround, I don't think I'll have any issues in this industry and looking forward to learning as much as I can. Looking forward to a pension in a few decades. Maybe one day, I'll get to drive them too.


Thanks for reading.



P.S. @BlackWorksInc - looks like another bit the dust!

Damn. You're getting out and I'm trying to get in! Best of luck to you sir. Sounds like you'll be just fine.

Good luck brother. Truthfully, there are only 2 things I'm going to miss about the industry.

1. My friends at my last job. We were always able to laugh and joke around. At least that made the slow days go by quicker.
2. Having access to a lift. I'll miss being able to work on my truck/car after work. I will have one in my future house for sure.

I had a similar situation, though im younger than you. Worked on cars as a kid and teenager long side my dad and uncle and figured it would be the go to route for my career. Graduated tech school with a 4.0 and an invite to BMW school (denied it, needed to make money). Went through 3 dealers in 2 years that screamed dead end jobs to me. Moved out of FL in search of a more professional progressive career, the oil field. Enjoyed it for 3.5 years best money I have made and ever will make but all thats good must come to an end, market took a shit. I was nervous, didnt want to go back to working on cars for the life of me. Well things worked out and although my company did not want me to leave my family and I headed back to FL and I am now a heavy equipment technician for Synergy Equipment. Its an awesome job and the pay is unheard of in FL, especially starting pay. AND NO MORE FLAT RATE BULL ****! All the over time one could want and tons of training and knowledge gaining.

I hear ya. What I'm really wanting to do is open my own place. I don't want to label it a "custom" shop or a "performance" shop, etc. I just want to give the DBs around here a little competition, be my own boss and do something I enjoy. I won't go into what I'm doing now, but it blows. I've just been here so long that I can't start over at what I'm making now.....unless I'm paying myself.

I get your reasons, it's why I moved to another dealership in Bend (haven't leftt the industry yet), the training opportunities, workload, income, quality of life, ect is just so much better than when I lived in the Bay Area and worked for a dealer there. But it is weird to not be working with the guys I've known for seven going on eight years.

I totally agree, this industry is becoming harder and harder to work in. The good news is that will probably change in the near future as baby boomers retire and the industry scrambles for replacements from a long dwindling influx of potential new mechanics.

I admire you drive for change...

Awesome story. Congrats!

I didn't really want to leave the industry, but without a steady income, you can never plan on anything. Now that I have an 8-month old and I'd like to buy a house, I didn't mind a change of careers for something a lot more permanent.


The funny thing is that I picked up a 2005 Prius for a couple hundred buck with 213k and a blown motor. The original intention was to swap the motor and flip it. Got it running for less than $1k and it drives great. Then I got this job and my drive went from 20 miles one way to 45 miles one way. Decided to keep it. Can't beat getting nearly 50mpg every day. At least it'll keep the mileage and gas money out of the 4Runner for now.

Mileage, that's the killer. The gas money sucks, but it's the extra mileage that really kills you with little things like brakes, suspension, and transmission.

Good read. A friend of mine just published his memoirs from working for 3-4 decades on steam locomotives. It's not the most widely known job, but it's good work and it makes a difference. At least you'll still be using the skills you've built up, and you don't have to completely scrap it. My wife's changing careers from computer sales, which she's done for 8 years, to cosmetology to try and find a career she enjoys more. We're 30 and she's going back to school for two years... at least you're not doing that.

Hey guys. Just wanted to throw ya'll an update.

So I just finished my probation period of 4 months, and love where I'm at. I working in the 'truck shop' which works on the massive trucks that sit underneath the passenger cars. I service and repair the generators/gearcases that drive the electric-powered Arrow trains (trains that are nearly 40 years old) and still perform like a top. I also work on the ground-current units that transfer ground current from the motors to the axle, then to the wheels and the rails.

The only thing is that it's not a safe job. Everything there weighs as least a couple hundred pounds to well over tens of thousands. We have to be safe because anything and everything can kill you.

But I honestly love it. It's good physical mechanical work. I don't miss the auto industry whatsoever. I love doing it, and the overtime is nice too.

I'd love to post some pics but the FRA is always watching us and cell phone use can get you on the street with a fine, so unfortunately I have nothing to post pics of.

Congrats. It's always great to find a job you love. Makes it feel like your not really working.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice glad to hear your enjoying it, it can be either a terrible experience switching industry's or a great one.
I got out of the auto industry almost 2 years ago to work at a major shipyard on the west coast building commercial tanker/container ships and navy vessels.
It wasn't easy to adjust and the work itself can be very dangerous but it's very rewarding and at this point the only thing I miss about the auto industry is a lift, I was reminded of that last night doing an oil change on my back haha

I was in the parts department for 5 years. Not much room for promotion and hated the hours. Been self employed for the last 10 years and enjoy all the perks that come along with it. Life can be short so find something you enjoy doing.

Good to hear you've found something you enjoy. That's the most important thing.

A few years ago I lived a couple doors down from a guy who started his own BMW indy shop. He was making money like crazy; he threw a huge Christmas party one year and raffled off gifts to all of his guests; nobody walked out of there with anything less than a $20 Starbucks gift card. A part of me thought he was on to something: These modern German cars are all junk; people lease them for cheap and by the time they're second-hand, they're falling apart. He was making a fortune doing mundane repairs: water pumps, valve cover gaskets, brake jobs, etc. But he told me he was growing tired of doing the same thing over and over...

There will come a day when auto mechanics are a rare breed. If Tesla and Google and all the rest have their way, cars will move from being gas-fired to electric and fewer people will own them as they become more and more autonomous.