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Summary  •  Details  •  Custom

Automotive Body and Related Repairers - 49-3021.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Repair and refinish automotive vehicle bodies and straighten vehicle frames.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Auto Body Man
  • Auto Body Repair Technician (Auto Body Repair Tech)
  • Auto Body Repairman
  • Automotive Body Technician (Auto Body Tech)
  • Body Man
  • Body Technician (Body Tech)
  • Collision Repair Technician (Collision Repair Tech)
  • Collision Technician (Collision Tech)
  • Frame Man
  • Refinish Technician (Refinish Tech)

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Adjust or align headlights, wheels, and brake systems.
  • Apply heat to plastic panels, using hot-air welding guns or immersion in hot water, and press the softened panels back into shape by hand.
  • Chain or clamp frames and sections to alignment machines that use hydraulic pressure to align damaged components.
  • Clean work areas, using air hoses, to remove damaged material and discarded fiberglass strips used in repair procedures.
  • Cut and tape plastic separating film to outside repair areas to avoid damaging surrounding surfaces during repair procedure and remove tape and wash surfaces after repairs are complete.
  • Cut openings in vehicle bodies for the installation of customized windows, using templates and power shears or chisels.
  • File, grind, sand, and smooth filled or repaired surfaces, using power tools and hand tools.
  • Fill small dents that cannot be worked out with plastic or solder.
  • Fit and secure windows, vinyl roofs, and metal trim to vehicle bodies, using caulking guns, adhesive brushes, and mallets.
  • Fit and weld replacement parts into place, using wrenches and welding equipment, and grind down welds to smooth them, using power grinders and other tools.
  • Follow supervisors' instructions as to which parts to restore or replace and how much time the job should take.
  • Inspect repaired vehicles for proper functioning, completion of work, dimensional accuracy, and overall appearance of paint job, and test-drive vehicles to ensure proper alignment and handling.
  • Measure and mark vinyl material and cut material to size for roof installation, using rules, straightedges, and hand shears.
  • Mix polyester resins and hardeners to be used in restoring damaged areas.
  • Position dolly blocks against surfaces of dented areas and beat opposite surfaces to remove dents, using hammers.
  • Prime and paint repaired surfaces, using paint sprayguns and motorized sanders.
  • Read specifications or confer with customers to determine the desired custom modifications for altering the appearance of vehicles.
  • Remove damaged panels, and identify the family and properties of the plastic used on a vehicle.
  • Remove damaged sections of vehicles using metal-cutting guns, air grinders and wrenches, and install replacement parts using wrenches or welding equipment.
  • Remove small pits and dimples in body metal, using pick hammers and punches.
  • Remove upholstery, accessories, electrical window-and-seat-operating equipment, and trim to gain access to vehicle bodies and fenders.
  • Replace damaged glass on vehicles.
  • Review damage reports, prepare or review repair cost estimates, and plan work to be performed.
  • Sand body areas to be painted and cover bumpers, windows, and trim with masking tape or paper to protect them from the paint.
  • Soak fiberglass matting in resin mixtures and apply layers of matting over repair areas to specified thicknesses.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust vehicle components according to specifications.
  • Apply protective coverings to objects or surfaces near work areas.
  • Clean work areas.
  • Confer with customers or users to assess problems.
  • Cut materials according to specifications or needs.
  • Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
  • Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper functioning.
  • Install machine or equipment replacement parts.
  • Install vehicle parts or accessories.
  • Measure distances or dimensions.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Operate welding equipment.
  • Paint surfaces or equipment.
  • Plan work procedures.
  • Prepare compounds or solutions to be used for repairs.
  • Read work orders or descriptions of problems to determine repairs or modifications needed.
  • Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
  • Remove dents from equipment, materials, tools or structures.
  • Remove parts or components from vehicles.
  • Replace vehicle glass.
  • Smooth surfaces of objects or equipment.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Allied Trades Specialist (Army - Enlisted)
  • Allied Trades Warrant Officer (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Automotive Maintenance Technician (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Aviation Maintenance Technician (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Body Repair Mechanic (Marine Corps - Enlisted)
  • Construction Mechanic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Conversion NEC CM Construction Mechanic Basic (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Hull Maintenance Technician (Navy - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Apprentice, Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Craftsman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Helper, Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance Journeyman, Firefighting and Refueling Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance, Apprentice, Material Handling Equipment (MHE)/463L Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance, Helper, Material Handling Equipment (MHE)/463L Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Mission Generation Vehicular Equipment Maintenance, Journeyman, Material Handling Equipment (MHE)/463L Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Tracked Vehicle Repairer (Army - Enlisted)
  • UH-60 Helicopter Repairer (Army - Enlisted)
  • Vehicle Body Maintenance (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Vehicle Body Maintenance Apprentice (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Vehicle Body Maintenance Helper (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Vehicle Body Maintenance Journeyman (Air Force - Enlisted)
  • Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic (Army - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Automobile Body Repairer
  • Service Mechanic (Auto Mfg)
  • Truck Body Builder

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Auto-Body Repairer, Fiberglass
  • Automobile-Body Customizer
  • Automobile-Body Repairer
  • Service Mechanic
  • Truck-Body Builder