Heavy equipment technicians keep diesel and gasoline-powered equipment moving freight, earth and people, pumping water for irrigation, drilling for oil, powering farm tractors, and generating electrical power. They not only diagnose malfunctions and repair engines, they repair and service fuel injection systems, electrical and electronic systems, hydraulic systems, brakes, steering systems and power transmission systems. Students in the Heavy Equipment Technology program learn to use shop manuals, reference charts, diagnostic instruments and special tools to diagnose equipment malfunctions. They identify problems through measurement and observation, interpret data collected and decide on a course of action. In hands-on labs, students repair, replace or adjust components and perform preventive maintenance tasks. Knowledge and skill-development concentrations include inspection, diagnostics, repair/rebuild of all types of heavy-duty equipment and mechanical and electronic components.