First Year as a Service Technician at RDO Equipment Co.: What to Expect

Finding a great company to work for as a heavy equipment technician can be challenging. It’s not always easy to know what it’s like to work for an organization before your start date. 

You might look for different things in an employer depending on your needs. For some, this could be culture — wanting to work for a company with a collaborative, supportive environment. 

Others might prioritize training and development opportunities or great management over everything else. 

No matter what your needs are, this is an important decision. The last thing you want is to start working at a company only to find out it’s not a good fit, and you need to move on. 

As I wrap up my first year at RDO Equipment Co., I’m writing this article to give you an idea of what to expect as a service technician here. That way, you can feel more comfortable when considering RDO as your next employer.

What is Onboarding Like as a Service Technician at RDO? 

My onboarding process was relatively smooth. It’s similar to other companies — especially bigger ones — where you spend a good chunk of time completing workplace safety training and onboarding training. 

While it could vary for you, it took me about a week to get through this portion of my onboarding. 

Much of this was on a computer, watching videos, taking quizzes and filling out documents. 

Over the first couple of weeks, I also spent time getting acquainted with my new work environment (I work out of our Chandler, AZ, location) and meeting my coworkers. 

My onboarding also included meeting with my manager to discuss my new role and outline my first 90 days. 

I also participated in training (online and in-person) as I started up again. This helped me improve my understanding of the equipment and product lines I would be working on in this new role. 

Although my onboarding was relatively smooth, I found it took time to get fully up and running, probably about two weeks. Once I was through those initial weeks, here’s what a day in the life of my first year was like.

What Did a Typical Day Look Like During My First Year?

Things can look pretty different from one day to the next as a heavy equipment tech. This is the case with RDO. Sure, certain times of the year are busier than others, and sometimes, you might spend multiple days working on a single piece of machinery, but things can also change a lot each day. 

Over my first year, my time was spent doing these kinds of things (and more): 

• Inspecting, troubleshooting, diagnosing and repairing John Deere heavy machinery for customers
• Mentoring newer technicians
• Participating in company-sponsored and manufacturer training
• Filling out work orders and other miscellaneous tasks
• Meeting 1:1 with my manager
• Attending team huddles

While my primary responsibility is to help troubleshoot and fix customer and rental equipment as it comes into the shop, as a Service Technician - Level 3, with decades of experience in heavy equipment maintenance, I like to spend my time mentoring and supporting those around me. So this also plays a big part in my days. 

What Challenges Have I Faced in My First Year?

Getting started in this role with RDO has been great in many ways. I have felt very supported by my leaders and connected to the other shop members. 

However, getting up and running in this job — especially in the beginning — was challenging. 

One of the bigger hurdles I faced was adjusting to RDO’s processes and procedures. 

Coming from a company that did many things differently (work order processes, billing processes, warranty programs, software systems, etc.) made this difficult. 

It’s funny, however: Even though these things felt foreign and didn’t make sense to me when I started, over time, I have gotten used to them again (I worked for another John Deere dealership earlier in my career). 

If you’re planning on joining RDO from a competing company, this will be a challenge to keep in mind, but it will get better. 

Another hurdle was adjusting to the position itself. Previously (for a significant period of time), I was working as a quality control inspector. So, transitioning back to working directly on the equipment took time to get used to again. 

Beyond this, I’ve faced the normal workplace challenges you would expect — prioritizing tasks, managing my workload and time, etc.

What Have I Enjoyed Most About My First Year?

I liked my first year here at RDO a lot.

Perhaps the best thing I’ve encountered (and this is very important to me) is the way I’m treated here. To be honest, I’m still looking for the ‘ol bait and switch. 

I have been supported and respected from start to finish. I value good management in my career, and that’s exactly what I’ve found at RDO. 

Additionally, the people here trust me to do my job and give me the flexibility to do it how I feel it should be done (safely). I’ve always been a hard worker, which has served me well here and given me credibility within the shop and with my managers. I don’t ever feel pressured to get work done faster than I’m comfortable with, which is a big plus.

You will do well here if you have a good work ethic and a passion for heavy equipment service. 

The final thing I’d like to highlight about my first year with RDO is the support I’ve felt. 

This company truly invests in the training, development and success of its team members.

This shows up in the training opportunities they offer and the open line of communication I have with other leaders in the shop. If you want to learn something to expand your skillset, RDO will give you options for getting this training/experience.

Related Article: Service Technician Construction Technology Training at RDO Equipment Co.

Is RDO The Right Company For You?

For me, RDO has been a very good fit, especially as I’ve faced the challenge of transitioning back into working directly on machinery. Although hard in some ways, my first year has also been fulfilling and I’ve been surprised by the amount of support I’ve received.

Now that you know my experience, you have a better understanding of what to expect at RDO, you’re one step closer to making a decision. 

Take the next step by learning more about our careers and what to expect over your first 30, 60 and 90 days as a service technician. 

If you haven’t already, and feel ready to apply, find an open position in your area here. Please reach out with any questions you have about working at RDO. We’re happy to help you in your journey to build a career you’re proud of.