ATV Resume

Anyone who has received more than 15 minutes of career advice has heard the adage, "Do what you love and then find a way to get paid for it." The first guy who said that is still trying to find a way to get paid for coming up with simple sayings that describe complex dilemmas.

Setting sarcasm aside, if you can find a way to apply this principle to your working life you probably will have a more satisfying career than most. We spend more than 40 hours a week for more than 50 years of our lives at work to support our families, ourselves and our hobbies. Finding a labor of love, or at least being able to enjoy your work, seems like a nice way to spend the next 104,000 hours of your working life. It may even be worth exploring a few options for those of us who love ATVs.

The most natural place to start is to consider a career as an ATV mechanic. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the United States will need 28,000 new small engine mechanics in the next ten years. Motorcycle mechanic jobs, the fastest growing segment of that group, are expected to grow more than 15 percent. This is a healthy pace that may grow stronger if the popularity of ATVs and motorcycles continues to blossom.

Being a mechanic is probably not going to get you that new Z06 Corvette or a new quad every season. While the top 10 percent of mechanics make more than $22 an hour, the average is closer to $13-$14 an hour. Like other career paths, those with a good education have the best odds of competing for the better paying jobs. Universal Technical Institute and other schools like it offer training respected by the industry and placement services to help students land that critical first job.

Having a well-maintained ATV is not of much value if there are no places to ride. Increasing liability and environmental concerns are closing many traditional riding areas. To scratch the riding itch, riders are turning to carefully managed trail and riding areas offered on state or federal lands or by partnerships like West Virginia’s Hatfield-McCoy Trails.

As the number of riding destinations grows, so too does the need for professionals to staff and manage these areas. To meet this need, schools are beginning to offer specialized training along with traditional conservation and park management degrees. Marshall University in West Virginia is a pioneer in this regard and even offers a minor in off-highway vehicle recreation. Course content includes planning, designing, and building new trails. Marshall even offers some of its OHV related courses on-line through its distance-learning program.

Even with this specialized training, you may be coming up short on ATV and Corvette payments. Maybe a small business related to the ATV industry is the answer. More than 3.5 million Americans own small businesses with less than 10 employees, and entrepreneurs and small businesses owners are celebrated as the lifeblood of our economy.

Anywhere ATV riders gather in large numbers, related businesses pop-up. Rental machines, tour guides, repair and parts suppliers cater to the needs of ATV tourists who travel hundreds of miles to reach lauded riding destinations. Camping and lodging providers give riders a place to rest after a long day on the trails or dunes.

More and more enterprising individuals are attracting riders to privately owned riding areas and MX tracks to ride for a daily or hourly fee. By creating regional riding destinations, they not only provide precious riding room, but also other services like food concessions and ATV rentals. Getting up for work would certainly be an easier task if it meant heading out to the trails. But, to be successful, any small business venture requires hard work, long hours, and a little bit of good fortune.

Not all of us are so fortunate to become professional quad racers like Tim Farr and Doug Gust. But, there are practical alternatives for those willing to pursue their dreams and seek out ATV related careers they can enjoy. Some find a way to pay the bills; some may even find a true labor of love.