The College of Davidson & Davie Counties

Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology  

The Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program at The College of Davidson & Davie Counties is designed to provide students with the skills needed to become successful transportation service technicians.

In the classroom students are taken through an in-depth study of transportation systems theory. Through observation and hands-on assignments, students learn how to troubleshoot, repair, and maintain diesel engines and their integrated system components in the laboratory.

Students work independently and in groups, disassembling, inspecting, diagnosing, fixing, and reassembling diesel engines and auxiliary systems using sophisticated diagnostic equipment, specialized instruments, schematics, wiring diagrams, and hand tools. Students are taken through all aspects of diesel engine and heavy equipment repair, including diesel engines, transportation electricity, diesel electronics, diesel fuel and power systems, sustainable transportation, suspension and steering systems, medium and heavy duty brake systems, air brakes, medium and heavy duty hydraulics, power trains, and climate control systems. Preventive maintenance and basic welding for transportation is also discussed and practiced. 

Students are also taught the importance of ethics and safety in the workplace and how to develop effective interpersonal communication skills. Proper time management and a positive workplace attitude are also stressed throughout the program as students are expected to complete every assignment given to them by their instructors in an efficient and timely manner.

What to Expect After College 

Graduates of the Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology program at The College of Davidson & Davie Counties will be equipped with the knowledge needed to pass the licensure exams, and the skills needed to secure an entry-level position as a qualified diesel mechanic in the transportation industry. Occupational opportunities include working for commercial trucking companies, bus lines, rail yards, heavy construction companies, farm equipment dealerships, and independent repair shops.

As the diesel industry continues to grow rapidly, job opportunities for qualified diesel mechanics is expected to increase 11% by the year 2020, as fast as average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The mean annual wage for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists working in the United States in 2014 was $45,160, while the mean salary for bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists employed in the state of North Carolina was $42,510 yearly and $20.44 hourly, just 5% lower than the national average.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree, Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology Diploma, and Undergraduate Certificate

The College of Davidson & Davie Counties offers a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology. The College of Davidson & Davie Counties also offers a one-year Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology Diploma and a one-year Undergraduate Certificate in Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology with an emphasis in Advanced Medium/Heavy Duty Servicing. The College of Davidson & Davie Counties also offers two 4-month Undergraduate Certificates with an emphasis in Diesel Engines and Basic Medium/Heavy Duty Servicing, respectively. High school students may enroll in the two-year Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technology High School Career and College Promise Certificate program. The two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree program, the one-year Diesel Technology Diploma program, and the one-year Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology Undergraduate Certificate program are all Pell Grant eligible.