Videos

By Roadtrip Nation

Arturo Herrera

Highlight

Milestones

My road in life took a while to figure out.
Is originally from Mexico City, Mexico.
He has over 20 years of experience in the auto industry; he is currently specializing as an emissions lab technician for SEMA.
Growing up, he was always playing with cars and was constantly surrounded by people who were mechanics working in body shops.
As a teenager, his friend helped him buy his first “junk car”, which didn’t run and had missing parts.
He started working on fixing it up little by little, which ignited his love for cars; discovered that he loved having to “work to make IT work.”
He never had an opportunity to go to school or gain any formal training—everything he knows about fixing cars he learned “on the streets.”
Says he feels a strong sense of pride and a personal connection to the parts and cars he tests—“I tested that product, there is a part of me in that car.”
The language barrier has always been a struggle because of the variety of people he has to work and communicate with; it’s never held him back, but he says his next goal is to go back to school.

Career

Emissions Lab Technician

I inspect vehicles and issue certifications to ensure their emissions meet standards for state and federal guidelines.

Career Roadmap

Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Technology
Learning / Being Challenged

Day to Day

I help auto parts manufacturers develop products by obtaining an emissions certificate. My day is usually spent testing a variety of products to ensure they meet the state and federal emissions standards and issuing affordable CARB EOs to manufacturers.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for middle school students

Save your money and go to school. If you have an education you can go anywhere and do anything. You will learn things that you never will anywhere else.

Hurdles

The Noise I Shed

From Society in General:

"You'll never make it. "

Challenges I Overcame

First-Generation Immigrant

Interviewed By

Changing Gears

Changing Gears

Technicians Roadtrip