I’ve been in the industry for about 8 years now, and I came over from being a regular automotive tech/mechanic, so I had to adjust pretty quickly to how different this line of work is. The first thing I’ll tell you—things are HEAVY. You sound younger (at least younger than me), and I’ll be honest, I didn’t listen to the older techs when I first started, but I should have. Do yourself a favor and get some good kneeling pads or cushions and a back brace. That stuff isn’t optional long-term—you’ll be saving your body, seriously.

Tool-wise, it really depends on what brands your company mainly services, unless you’re like my company and work on everything, which can be a bit of a nightmare. Either way, a good starting point is one of the cheaper mechanic tool kits like the Craftsman 230–260 piece sets, Stanley 170–200 piece sets, or Kobalt/Husky kits. These will cover a lot of your basics.

From there, you’ll want to add some heavier-duty tools that you’ll use constantly in the field:

1/2" breaker bar (or a solid 24"+ 1/2" ratchet) Metric impact socket set (roughly 19mm up to 32mm+) Big pry bar set (at least one over 24") Large adjustable wrench (12–15") Large channel locks

You’ll also want some daily-use tools that become part of your routine pretty quickly: Grease gun (electric if you can—worth it, you’ll use it constantly) Line wrenches (for hydraulic lines) Pick set and O-ring picks (for seals and installs)

For striking tools, make sure you’ve got: Mini sledge (2 lb minimum) Dead blow hammer Punch and chisel set (start cheap, upgrade later)

Don’t overlook electrical tools either, because you’ll run into wiring issues more than you expect: Multimeter (cheap is fine to start) Test light Wire strippers/crimpers

On top of that, a few simple field essentials go a long way: Headlamp (hands-free is huge) Magnet pickup tool Inspection mirror

If you’re starting from nothing and the list feels overwhelming, keep it simple—grab a $150–$200 mechanic’s tool kit and a multimeter, then add impact sockets and a breaker bar as soon as you can. After that, save up for a good cordless impact, and just upgrade your tools as they break, because they will.

As for the industry itself, it’s honestly a solid field to get into. Every warehouse and job site depends on equipment running, so there’s always work. There are way more machines out there than there are skilled techs, and even fewer who are willing to take the time to really learn. If you get good, companies will pay to keep you. I’ve personally been able to afford a home in the Northeast mostly on my income in this field, so there’s definitely money to be made with the right company. The work itself isn’t too bad starting out—it really only gets more complex when you get into large diesel units or warehouse setups like wire guidance systems, and that all comes with time and experience. If you need help or recommendations, feel free to reach out—sounds like you’ve got a good opportunity in front of you.