Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Urban Transport Technician

🎯 Role Definition

An Urban Transport Technician performs preventive and corrective maintenance, diagnostic testing, and repair of public transit vehicles and associated infrastructure (buses, trams, light rail, signal equipment, fare systems). The role ensures safe, reliable, and punctual transit service by maintaining mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and electronic systems, documenting work in the computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), supporting on-road response teams, and collaborating with operations, engineering and safety teams to reduce downtime and extend asset life.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Bus or truck mechanic apprenticeship
Electrical or electronics technician apprenticeship
Automotive technician / diesel mechanic

Advancement To:

Senior Urban Transport Technician / Lead Technician
Transit Maintenance Supervisor / Workshop Supervisor
Fleet Reliability Engineer or Systems Integration Engineer
Depot Manager / Maintenance Operations Manager

Lateral Moves:

Signal and Track Technician
Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Technician
Vehicle Inspector / Quality Assurance Technician
Transit Operations Planner

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct scheduled preventive maintenance, servicing and safety inspections on buses, trams and light rail vehicles, following manufacturer service schedules and transit agency standards to ensure regulatory compliance and minimize service disruptions.
Diagnose electrical and electronic faults using multimeters, oscilloscopes and onboard diagnostic tools; isolate and repair wiring harnesses, controllers, CAN bus networks, and vehicle communication modules to restore vehicle functionality.
Perform heavy vehicle mechanical repairs including engine overhaul support, transmission maintenance, drive axle and differential repairs, brake system troubleshooting (including ABS/EBL systems) and replacement of wear components.
Troubleshoot and repair HVAC systems on transit vehicles, including compressors, evaporators, condensers, thermostatic controls and refrigerant handling to maintain passenger comfort and system efficiency.
Inspect and maintain traction and propulsion systems on electric or hybrid vehicles, including inverter modules, traction motors, pantographs and high-voltage cabling while following high-voltage safety procedures and lockout/tagout protocols.
Maintain and repair pneumatic and hydraulic systems: compressors, reservoirs, valves, actuators, cylinders and air suspension systems to ensure correct braking and door operation.
Respond to on-road breakdowns and service interruptions, provide roadside repairs and rapid diagnostic support to return vehicles to service with minimal delay and document incident details in the CMMS.
Perform wheel and bogie inspections, flange and tread measurements, wheel truing and replacement where applicable to maintain ride quality and meet track safety standards.
Maintain, test and repair onboard fare collection hardware, ticket validators, validators, vehicle Wi-Fi and passenger information displays to reduce customer-facing equipment failures.
Inspect and maintain CCTV, PA systems, automatic passenger counting (APC) sensors and passenger information systems, diagnosing network and power issues and coordinating with IT/communications teams for complex faults.
Conduct testing and adjustments of door mechanisms, safety interlocks and emergency exits; replace door motors, limit switches and control relays to prevent service interruptions and passenger safety incidents.
Execute preventive lubrication, alignment and adjustment tasks and maintain accurate maintenance logs, parts usage records and compliance documentation in the CMMS (e.g., Maximo, Trapeze, Infor).
Fabricate, modify and fit small structural components using welding, cutting and sheet-metal techniques to restore vehicle body integrity and weatherproofing as required.
Assist in trialing and commissioning new vehicle models, retrofit programs and supplier-supplied components by performing acceptance inspections, baseline testing and reporting on performance metrics.
Collaborate with engineering and inventory teams to recommend spare parts stocking levels, lifecycle replacement plans and reliability improvements based on failure trend analysis and root cause investigations.
Follow regulatory and company safety standards (OSHA, local transit authority rules), complete safety checklists and participate in incident investigations, corrective action plans and toolbox talks.
Support depot infrastructure maintenance including chargers for electric buses, overhead contact line inspections (for trams/light rail), depot cranes and workshop tooling to ensure a safe working environment.
Provide technical mentorship and on-the-job training to apprentices and junior technicians, reviewing work quality and contributing to skills development programs.
Liaise with operations control, drivers and service planners to prioritize repair work, manage vehicle availability and coordinate out-of-service movements.
Prepare detailed repair reports, warranty claims documentation and test certificates for supplier-funded repairs, ensuring evidence and parts traceability for recoverable costs.
Participate in continuous improvement programs to reduce turnaround time, increase mean time between failures (MTBF) and improve first-time-fix rates through data-driven maintenance action plans.

Secondary Functions

Support depot-level asset condition assessments and contribute to multi-year capital upgrade plans by providing field insight and failure mode data.
Assist with inventory management tasks including parts requisition, returns, labeling and bin replenishment to maintain workshop productivity.
Perform periodic training and safety demonstrations for operations staff on basic emergency procedures and equipment handling.
Support pilot programs for new technologies such as depot electrification, battery swapping, telematics and predictive maintenance tools by providing hands-on testing and feedback.
Contribute to periodic audits and compliance reporting (safety, environment, quality) by preparing required documentation and implementing corrective actions.
Participate in shift handovers, ensuring accurate transfer of outstanding work, safety notices and vehicle statuses to incoming teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Vehicle diagnostics and fault-finding using onboard diagnostic tools, code readers and oscilloscope analysis (OBD, CAN bus diagnostics).
Electrical systems troubleshooting including high-voltage DC/AC systems, battery management, inverters and traction motor components.
Mechanical systems repair expertise: engines, transmissions, drivetrains, steering, suspension and brake systems (air brakes, ABS, EBS).
Preventive maintenance planning and execution, with strong experience using CMMS software (IBM Maximo, Trapeze, Infor, FleetWave).
HVAC refrigeration servicing (EPA refrigerant handling certification where required) and climate control system repair on transit vehicles.
Pneumatics and hydraulics maintenance with experience in compressors, reservoirs, valves, actuators and leak diagnosis.
Experience with rail/tram systems: pantographs, overhead line equipment (OLE), track circuit testing and bogie maintenance (if applicable).
Knowledge of fare collection hardware, telemetry, passenger information systems, APUs and CCTV/communication networks.
Welding and metal fabrication skills (MIG/TIG, brazing) for body repairs and fabrication of brackets and mounts.
Use of technical drawings, schematics, wiring diagrams and service manuals to implement repairs and modifications.
Familiarity with safety systems and standards: lockout/tagout, confined space, electrical isolation, PPE, and local transit regulatory requirements.
Basic IT/network troubleshooting for vehicle telematics, AVL/GPS systems and CANbus network integrity checks.

Soft Skills

Strong problem-solving and analytical mindset with the ability to triage faults under operational pressure and prioritize repairs to meet service timetables.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for reporting, interacting with operations staff, suppliers and documenting maintenance actions.
Teamwork and collaboration across workshops, operations, engineering and supplier partners to achieve uptime targets and safety goals.
Attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship, safety compliance and accurate maintenance records.
Time management and organizational skills to balance scheduled maintenance, ad-hoc repairs and emergent breakdown response.
Customer-focused attitude with awareness of public-facing impact of vehicle reliability and cleanliness on passenger experience.
Adaptability to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends and emergency call-outs as transit service requires.
Continuous learning orientation and openness to upskilling in electrification, digital diagnostics and new transit technologies.
Leadership potential to mentor apprentices and lead small teams during shift operations or special projects.
Stress resilience and decision-making capability in urgent roadside or depot-based failure scenarios.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (required). Technical/vocational certificate in vehicle mechanics, electrical or electronics preferred.

Preferred Education:

Completed apprenticeship or trade qualification in Heavy Vehicle Mechanic, Automotive Technician (Diesel), Electrical/Electronic Technician or equivalent.
Certifications in high-voltage safety, refrigeration handling, welding or manufacturer-specific training for transit vehicles are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Heavy Vehicle Mechanical Technology
Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technician
Automotive/Diesel Technology
Mechatronics / Industrial Maintenance

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of hands-on experience in heavy vehicle maintenance, public transit fleet maintenance, or rail/tram systems.

Preferred:

3+ years working on buses, trams or light rail vehicles with demonstrable experience diagnosing electrical and mechanical faults.
Experience using a CMMS to document maintenance, track parts usage and generate work orders.
Prior exposure to high-voltage vehicle systems, depot electrification projects or ITS equipment strongly preferred.