Diesel Tech (Apprentice or Experienced)

SLO Safe Ride in San Luis Obispo, CA

About SLO Safe Ride

SLO Safe Ride was founded in 2010 by two Cal Poly students and a longtime SLO resident with a simple goal: get people home safely. Fifteen years later, we're the Central Coast's leading ground transportation company, operating a 24/7 fleet of luxury sedans, SUVs, Sprinters, limousine buses, shuttles, and motor coaches across San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and beyond. We're the exclusive transportation partner of Cal Poly, Vina Robles Amphitheatre, and the San Luis Obispo Blues, we hold DOD authority, and we've served clients including SpaceX and NASA. Today we're a team of roughly 70 people who take pride in being safe, clean, reliable - and willing to go the extra mile.

The Role

We're hiring a Diesel Tech for our Maintenance Department - and we're genuinely open to both apprentices and experienced technicians. What we care about is who you are and how you work. The technical knowledge can be taught or sharpened; the work ethic and attitude can't.

You'll be working on a varied, well-maintained fleet that runs the gamut from luxury Sprinters and shuttles to full-size Prevost and Volvo motor coaches powered by Detroit DD13s and Allison transmissions. Every vehicle you touch is carrying real people to real moments - weddings, sporting events, school field trips, military families, and wine country tours. The work matters, and our team takes pride in keeping the wheels turning safely.

What You'll Do

• Diagnose, repair, and maintain our fleet of Sprinters, limousine buses, shuttles, motor coaches, and support vehicles
• Perform scheduled preventive maintenance to keep vehicles compliant and on the road
• Conduct vehicle inspections - including pre-trip, 45-day, annual CHP terminal, DOT, and brake - and complete the required documentation and follow-up repairs
• Respond to road failures and breakdowns to get vehicles back in service or recover them safely
• Work across diesel and gas engines, air brake systems, electrical, drivetrain, HVAC, and chassis
• Road-test vehicles to confirm repairs and catch what others might miss
• Document your work clearly in our fleet maintenance system so the next person - including future you - can pick up where you left off
• Communicate with the Service Writer, fellow techs, and management to keep jobs moving

What We're Looking For

Whether you're starting out or have years under the hood, the right fit shares these traits:

• Strong work ethic. You show up, you stay focused, and you get the job done right.
• Teachable. You ask questions, you take feedback, and you don't pretend to know what you don't.
• Accountable. You own your work, your mistakes, and your follow-through.
• Reliable. When you say you'll be there, you're there.
• Real curiosity for how things work. You'd rather understand the problem than guess at it.
• Comfortable giving and receiving feedback. Our culture runs on it.
• Willing to do what it takes to finish a job the right way.

If you're new to the trade, we'll teach you. You'll be working alongside skilled techs and capable department managers who care about doing things right and are willing to invest in someone who shows up ready to learn.

If you're experienced, we want someone who's tired of being a number at a big dealership or fleet shop, and who's ready to take ownership of a varied fleet, build something real, and grow with the team.

Nice to Have

• Diesel and gasoline engine experience - particularly Detroit Diesel DD13, Volvo/Prevost, Cummins, Mercedes Sprinter, and Ford (both Power Stroke diesel and gas)
• Allison transmission experience
• Air brake and ABS systems experience
• Motor coach, bus, or commercial Sprinter background
• ASE certifications (any of the Medium/Heavy Truck or Transit Bus series)
• California Brake & Lamp Adjuster License
• BIT inspector qualification
• Class A or B CDL (with passenger endorsement a plus)

What You'll Find Here

You'll work in a well-equipped shop with all the specialty diagnostic equipment and vehicle-specific tools required for our fleet - Sprinter, Detroit DD13, Volvo/Prevost, and Allison. You'll join a team of talented mechanics and capable department managers who care about doing things the right way. We have low turnover when someone is accountable, service-minded, and open to feedback - and we're intentionally building a culture where the team itself protects what we've built and recognizes when someone isn't a fit. If that sounds like the kind of shop you want to wrench in, we want to talk to you.

Compensation & Schedule

• Pay: Salary, commensurate with experience. Apprentice range: $46,000-$58,000/year. Experienced range: $66,000-$94,000/year.
• Schedule: Full-time, day shift starting at 5:00 AM, on-site at our SLO headquarters. Rotation possible to support our 24/7 fleet.
• Benefits: Health, vision, and dental insurance with employer-contributed premiums; 401(k) with company contribution; paid vacation accruing at 40 hours per year (increasing to 80 hours after three years of service); paid sick leave
• Tools: Tech provides their own mechanic tools. Shop provides all specialty diagnostic equipment and vehicle-specific tools for our fleet (Sprinter, Detroit DD13, Volvo/Prevost, Allison)
• Location: On-site at our SLO headquarters -241B Prado Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

How to Apply

Interested candidates can reach out three ways - whatever works best for you:

• Email your resume to jared@slosaferide.com
• Call our office at (805) 620-7233 and ask for Jared
• Stop by in person at 241B Prado Rd, San Luis Obispo, and ask for Jared

We look forward to hearing from you.

SLO Safe Ride is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: $46,000.00 - $94,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person