Heather Opp
Technician II
Ryder
Phoenix, AZ USA
“Never be afraid to ask questions! ”
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Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
Started out as a personal trainer, but got burnt out by the long hours spent in the gym; realized it wasn’t fun for her anymore, so she decided to branch out and do something different.
She always had a dream of fixing up an old Volkswagen Beetle, but lacked the knowledge and skills to do it.
Says that prior to pursuing mechanics, she was always too scared to work on her own vehicles.
After visiting the Ryder shop and meeting some of the mechanics, she fell in love with the people and the atmosphere—has been working for Ryder ever since.
For her, transitioning into the diesel industry was a huge learning curve because she had zero experience; says it’s an industry that is open to teaching you and letting you learn in your own way.
She says that lacking an educational foundation in mechanics has hampered her, but it’s forced her to work harder to be the best mechanic she can be.
Emphasizes never being afraid to ask questions because that’s how you learn.
Her favorite part of working in the diesel industry has been the opportunity to get out of her comfort zone.
Career
Technician II
I am an experienced diesel mechanic with Ryder.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Engineering
Technology
Learning / Being Challenged
Day to Day
I work from 5:30am to 2pm every day. We have a list of trucks that need to be prepped and serviced each day so they are ready to go. When I am assigned the truck I am supposed to be working on, I have to print out a record of all of the preventative maintenance that has already been done to it and figure out the repair tasks that I need to complete. I complete my checklist of repairs, clean it up, and get it ready to be sold.
Skills & Qualities Beyond School
Always ask questions and never stop learning.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for high school students
If you are interested in pursuing a career in mechanics or another auto industry job, considering going to school in order to gain a foundational understanding. You can (and will) learn a lot on the job, but having that foundation eases the sharp learning curve when first entering this field.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Myself:
"I should've gone to school."
When I first started this job I felt like a fish out of water. I had the basic training, but I never went to school for this so there was a steep learning curve. Luckily, I had a great support base and coworkers that were willing to help me learn all that I could.
Challenges I Overcame
Learning Issues
Learning Issues
Entering this industry was a huge learning curve because I had zero experience. Lacking an educational foundation in mechanics has hampered me, but it’s forced me to work harder to be the best mechanic I can be.
Interviewed By
