Technical Standards

A student wishing to enroll in the Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technology curriculum must meet the following standards:

• Have sufficient visual capacity to read prints, schematics and other documents, as well as meters and testers
• Be able to clearly distinguish primary colors
• Have good peripheral vision and depth perception and minimum corrective sight of 20/40 in at least one eye (CDL standards – a waiver from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles may be needed)
• Be capable of hearing tones of various pitches emitted by testers and meters
• Be capable of hearing equipment running and/or operating to determine if working correctly
• Be capable of accurately operating and reading lab equipment, including testing and/or measuring equipment, necessary for laboratory work
• Be capable of testing, troubleshooting, installing components or making repairs to items located on any part of a machine or piece of equipment
• Be capable of operating construction, agricultural and industrial equipment and trucks as needed
• Be able to communicate with co-workers, instructors and other students at a moderate distance without line of sight
• Be able to understand, read and comprehend instructions in technical manuals, manufacturer's instructions and warning labels in English
• Be able to work at heights up to 35 feet while carrying tools and equipment
• Be able to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds and install equipment overhead
• Not have a debilitating fear of heights or confined spaces
• Be capable of working with many types of hand, air or other power tools
• Be able to wear hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toe shoes and other safety related equipment as required by the industry
• Be able to use petroleum products or any other chemical used in the program

The diesel and heavy equipment trade is one with many inherent risks, and safety of the employee (student) is of the utmost concern and cannot and should not be compromised just because an individual wants to go into the trade.