The hardest part of the job is walking away without an answer.
For truck service technicians, unresolved problems rarely stay in the shop. They linger overnight, replayed mentally until a fresh look the next day reveals the solution. It is a process built on patience, attention, and an unwillingness to let the truck win.
That mindset has defined Terry Truman’s nearly 30-year career. Based in Mississauga, Ont., Truman says persistence remains essential as trucks become more complex.
Since entering the trade in 1995, Truman has watched it shift from mechanical systems to electronics, software, and advanced diagnostics. The pace of change has accelerated, he said, making training and ongoing study a constant requirement rather than an occasional task.
The same approach resonates with Shannon Smallman, an Ottawa-based service technician who now works as a mobile technician. After nearly two decades in the trade, Smallman said troubleshooting is as much about discipline as it is about tools.
Understanding service manuals, reading wiring diagrams, and following diagnostic steps in sequence remain central to the job. When multiple fault codes appear, isolating shared circuits and power sources helps narrow down the true cause. Skipping fundamentals, he said during Rush Enterprises Tech Skills Rodeo in Nashville, Tenn., can quickly turn simple problems into extensive repairs.
For Dan Paquette, a service technician apprentice in Sudbury, Ont., that structured problem-solving was part of the appeal of switching careers. After 14 years as a truck driver, Paquette enrolled in the 310T program at Cambrian College and joined Rush earlier this year.
Paquette said modern trucks demand technicians who know how to find and interpret information, not just replace parts. Staying current with technology and understanding how systems interact are critical as platforms continue to evolve.
His time behind the wheel provides an added perspective during road tests. Recognizing familiar symptoms helps him narrow down possible causes, particularly when issues are not directly tied to computer-controlled systems.
As new technologies enter the market, electric trucks are adding complexity to an already demanding trade. Truman, who is trained on EV platforms, said while structural elements remain familiar, systems beyond the cab are fundamentally different and require a new learning curve.
Despite those changes, technicians rely on the same core approach. Use available resources and keep working the problem until it is resolved.
Both Truman and Smallman said dealership environments amplify the need for motivation. They expose technicians to a wide range of equipment, manufacturers, and technologies, increasing both the challenge and learning opportunity.
Smallman said long-term commitment to one employer has allowed him to build deep expertise while benefiting from continued training. That continuity, he said, becomes more valuable as systems grow more complex.
For Paquette, adaptability is essential for those entering the trade today. With rapid technological change, he said learning cannot stop once formal schooling ends.
While trucks continue to evolve, the technicians said the heart of the job remains unchanged. Diagnosis is still a puzzle. One that is solved through logic, patience, and persistence, and by refusing to let the truck get the better of you.
