Diesel Mechanic Jobs in Arlington, TX
Diesel mechanics in Arlington work on the trucks, buses and leased fleets that keep the I-20, I-30 and SH 360 freight corridors moving. Mid-level fleet techs next door in Grand Prairie are being offered $27.50 to $29.51 an hour. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get started.
Current diesel mechanic Openings in Arlington, TX
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Diesel Mechanic Work in Arlington
Arlington sits between Dallas and Fort Worth with I-20, I-30 and SH 360 carrying freight through it, so diesel work here follows the fleets. Leasing shops keep trucks running for the warehouses and distributors of the Great Southwest Industrial District on the east side, truck dealers handle warranty and heavy repair, and distributors such as Core-Mark on the east side of Fort Worth run their own fleet shops overnight.
School buses are a local specialty. Rush Truck Centers on East Division Street is a school bus dealer as well as a truck service shop, which puts bus and medium-duty work in the middle of the city. Many shops also send mobile techs out to customer yards, so a clean driving record matters almost as much as a full toolbox.
Top Arlington Employers Hiring Diesel Mechanics
These employers have posted or named diesel technician roles in and around Arlington on their own careers sites:
- Ryder - the fleet leasing and maintenance company is hiring mid-level diesel mechanics on second shift at its Grand Prairie shop, with ASE certification bonuses.
- Rush Truck Centers - the East Division Street location sells and services school buses and trucks and lists Arlington among its technician hiring locations, including mobile diesel roles.
- Premier Truck Group - the Freightliner dealer on NE Loop 820 in Fort Worth is hiring diesel mechanics with a sign-on bonus.
- Core-Mark - the convenience store distributor on East 1st Street in Fort Worth keeps a Diesel Mechanic Technician A opening on third shift for its delivery fleet.
Diesel Mechanic Salaries in Arlington
- Entry level: about $21 to $25 per hour for PM and apprentice technicians.
- Experienced: roughly $27 to $32 per hour, in line with current Ryder and Core-Mark postings.
- Master / lead technician: about $36 to $43 per hour, or $75,000 to $89,000 a year.
These are estimates drawn from local postings and the BLS national figures for diesel service technicians (median $29.70 an hour in May 2025, top 10 percent above $88,740 a year). Pay moves with ASE certifications, shift (second and third shift often pay more), dealer versus fleet work, and mobile service. Several local employers add sign-on bonuses or pay for each ASE test you pass.
How to Become a Diesel Mechanic in Arlington
Most shops want a high school diploma or GED plus diesel training or about two years of hands-on experience. Tarrant County College offers a 30-credit Diesel Technician certificate at TCC South Campus on Campus Drive in south Fort Worth. Lincoln College of Technology on Alouette Drive in Grand Prairie runs a Diesel and Truck Service Technology program, and UTI Dallas/Fort Worth in Irving offers a Diesel Technology program of about 45 weeks. Texas does not license diesel mechanics; employers look for ASE Medium-Heavy Truck tests T2 through T8, which together earn Master Medium-Heavy Truck Technician status. A commercial driver license from the Texas Department of Public Safety helps for road tests and mobile work.
What the Job Involves
Diesel mechanics inspect, diagnose and repair heavy trucks, buses, trailers and diesel equipment. A typical shift covers preventive maintenance inspections, brake and suspension work, engine and aftertreatment diagnostics with a laptop, electrical troubleshooting, and logging every repair in a fleet maintenance system. Mobile techs carry the same work to a customer's yard in a service truck.
Skills Employers Look For
- ASE Medium-Heavy Truck certifications, or progress toward them
- Diesel engine, drivetrain and aftertreatment experience
- Electrical diagnostics and computer-based troubleshooting
- Brake, suspension and DOT inspection knowledge
- Your own hand tools and safe shop habits
- A clean driving record, and a CDL for road testing
Career Path and Advancement
Many Arlington diesel techs start on preventive maintenance at a leasing shop or dealer, add ASE tests one at a time, and move to mid-level and then lead or master technician. From there the ladder runs to shop foreman, service manager or fleet maintenance supervisor, or into specialty work such as school bus service on Division Street or mobile repair across the Great Southwest Industrial District.
Related Careers in Arlington
If diesel work interests you, these related Arlington roles are close matches:
- Automotive Technician Jobs
- Transmission Specialist Jobs
- Tire Technician Jobs
- Auto Parts Specialist Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a diesel mechanic in Arlington?
No. Texas does not issue a state license for diesel mechanics. Employers look for ASE Medium-Heavy Truck certifications instead, and some, like Ryder, pay a bonus for each new ASE certification you earn.
How much do diesel mechanics make in Arlington?
Entry-level techs generally start around $21 to $25 an hour, and current mid-level postings near Arlington pay $27.50 to $32 an hour. Master and lead technicians can reach roughly $75,000 to $89,000 a year. These are estimates that vary by shift, employer and certifications.
Do I need a CDL to work as a diesel mechanic?
Not always, but it helps. A CDL from the Texas Department of Public Safety lets you road-test repaired trucks and buses, and mobile service jobs usually expect a clean driving record.
Where can I get diesel training near Arlington?
Tarrant County College offers a 30-credit Diesel Technician certificate at its South Campus in Fort Worth. Lincoln College of Technology in Grand Prairie and UTI Dallas/Fort Worth in Irving also run diesel programs.
What shifts do diesel mechanics work in Arlington?
Many fleet shops run second and third shifts so trucks are ready by morning. Current local postings include a 12:30 pm to 9 pm shift at Ryder in Grand Prairie and a 10 pm to 6:30 am shift at Core-Mark in Fort Worth.
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