Ryan Buchter

At my current employer, Boyd Caterpillar (formerly known as Wayne Supply), I am responsible for the operation of the cooling system rebuild shop as well as leading the monthly environmental health and safety meetings and inspections. My duties typically consist of cleaning, repairing, or entirely reconditioning cooling systems, which include hydraulic oil coolers, powertrain/transmission oil coolers, fuel coolers, AC condensers, engine oil coolers, charged air coolers, radiators, and heat exchangers.

A typical cooler is constructed from a mixture of copper, brass, steel, and/or aluminum; in some cases, plastic and aluminum are also used. Common repairs involve fixing leaks and cracks, which are addressed using high-temperature epoxy, MIG/TIG welding, soldering, or brazing.

In addition to the physical work I do in the shop, I also train new employees on how to use our company software and how to maintain a positive reputation for the quality of the shop's work.

During my time at Louisville Auto Spring, I performed a wide range of repairs and services. These included alignments and the replacement of steering and alignment components on pickup trucks, semi-trucks, and specialized vehicles and equipment. My experience also extended to working on fire trucks, crane trucks, cement mixers, logging vehicles, and heavy haul trucks.

In addition to suspension work, I handled various tasks such as drum and disc brake replacements, clutch and transmission replacements, drivetrain rebuilds, and differential housing services and replacements. I also conducted routine maintenance, including oil changes and tire rotations.

As a laborer and shop technician at Seven Seas, I spent about half of my time working with concrete crews and demolition, either tearing out old concrete or forming, pouring, and finishing new slabs typically for the Americans with Disabilities Act. This involved sidewalks and the installation of ADA pads for the visually impaired. The other half of my time was spent in the shop, maintaining and making small repairs on cars, diesel pickup trucks, heavy equipment, various semi-trucks, and small engines such as concrete saws and water pumps.