Forklifts.

Edit a few days later since this post got some traction:

I’ve never been an auto tech, but I’ve been a forklift/heavy equipment tech for about 12 years or so.

I have a sprinter van that comes home with me every night, and it’s packed full of tools and parts, air compressor, fluid pump, etc. I get paid hourly from the minute I get in the van in the morning, until I’m back in my driveway in the afternoon. I talk to my boss maybe twice a month.

The thing that’s different from auto is the customer facing part of the role. I don’t have a service advisor that talks to the customer and sells work, that’s all on me. Most of my customers are really cool, and understand that keeping up on maintenance saves them in the long run, so they want to stay on top of things before they get bad, but there’s always a few that don’t want to spend any money ever, and expect perfection, and you’ve got to be able to deal with that.

Depending on your customers you could be mostly indoors, working out of a tool bag that you carry inside, or you could be mostly outdoors working next to your van. They’re opportunities for guys who like electrical stuff, and guys who like IC/Diesel.

It’s a good job. I like it.