Review the evidence signals before interviewing. Then use the anchored descriptions—not instinct alone—to choose the score that best matches each answer.
01
Evaluation factor
Hands-on competence
35% weight
Check hands-on range across Cummins ISX, Detroit DD15 or Cat C15 rebuilds: in-frame overhauls, injector cups, turbo replacement, plus air brake and differential work.
Evidence to listen for
Names the equipment, materials, and tolerances they work to
Can describe a job start to finish without hand-waving the hard parts
Holds the tickets, licences, or certifications the work requires, and they are current
Knows what they are not qualified to touch
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Cannot describe the work concretely; lacks required tickets or licences.
2
Needs Improvement
Basic familiarity; needs supervision on routine tasks.
3
Satisfactory
Competent on standard work; slower or unsure on unfamiliar jobs.
4
Very Good
Skilled and independent across the normal range of the role.
5
Excellent
Names specific engine families rebuilt, torque specs and clearances used, and describes an in-frame overhaul completed start to finish.
02
Evaluation factor
Safety discipline
30% weight
Probe lockout tagout on shop air and electrical, wheel chocking, jack stand ratings, cab-tilt supports, and handling DEF, coolant and diesel spills to OSHA standards.
Evidence to listen for
Treats procedure as protection rather than paperwork
Can describe a time they stopped work and why
Knows the specific hazards of this trade and the controls for each
Reports near misses instead of hiding them
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Casual about safety; describes shortcuts with pride.
2
Needs Improvement
Follows procedure when watched; cannot name the hazards that matter.
3
Satisfactory
Sound safety habits; less certain on unfamiliar hazards.
4
Very Good
Safety is instinctive; can describe stopping work over a real concern.
5
Excellent
Describes refusing unsafe lifts or trailer work, keeps DOT annual inspection discipline, and treats hot exhaust and pressurised systems methodically.
03
Evaluation factor
Fault finding
20% weight
Test diagnostics ability: reading fault codes on Insite, DiagnosticLink or Cat ET, tracing intermittent electrical faults, distinguishing DPF regen issues from injector or EGR failures.
Evidence to listen for
Has a method for narrowing a fault rather than swapping parts
Reads schematics, manuals, or error codes and acts on them
Knows when to escalate rather than guess
Can describe a fault that took real work to find
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Parts-swapper; no diagnostic method.
2
Needs Improvement
Fixes symptoms; cannot explain how they found the cause.
3
Satisfactory
Solid on familiar faults; less structured on new ones.
4
Very Good
Clear systematic method with a real hard-fault story.
5
Excellent
Walks through a no-start or derate diagnosis using pressure tests and wiring diagrams rather than parts swapping, and confirms the fix.
04
Evaluation factor
Reliability and conduct
15% weight
Look for turnaround and downtime evidence: comeback rate, jobs closed per shift, work order and warranty claim accuracy, willingness to take roadside calls or night shifts.
Evidence to listen for
Turns up, on time, prepared
Handles shift work, callouts, or travel as the role requires
Documents work so the next person can pick it up
Deals with customers or site staff professionally
Five-point scoring guide
1
Poor
Unreliable attendance; unprofessional on site.
2
Needs Improvement
Inconsistent; documentation is an afterthought.
3
Satisfactory
Dependable; paperwork is adequate.
4
Very Good
Consistently reliable, documents well, professional with customers.
5
Excellent
Low comeback history, clean write-ups in the fleet maintenance system, and dependable attendance when trucks are down and drivers are waiting.
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