Vehicle mechanics shortage explained
- Thread starter movietvet
- Start date
Exactly. This has been echoed on some other sites I frequent. I think the complexity is a big thing coupled with that flat rate.
I had visited with an old retired Toyota master tech some years back. He was telling me about these issues during the frame recalls. They lost a lot of money before they could swap a frame out in the paid time.
I had visited with an old retired Toyota master tech some years back. He was telling me about these issues during the frame recalls. They lost a lot of money before they could swap a frame out in the paid time.
Our son had done an apprenticeship at a GM dealer while he was in HS auto shop. All the techs were telling him to NOT get into this line of work for all the reasons mentioned in the video. He's now a HydroVac operator. Our youngest works on heavy equipment. He started at a couple of "dealer" shops and had to buy like $30k in tools. After getting his red seal certification, he now works for Cat at a mine that he is flown into, housed, fed, and he uses THEIR tools. He is making money hand over fist, however it's at the expense (sort of) of family time where he's gone for two weeks and back home for two weeks.
One thing that wasn't talked a lot in the video is the thousands in tools and equipment that techs have to buy and pay themselves so right from the get go, they're saddled with huge debt. How many professions do you know of where the employer doesn't supply the tools required for the work? Imagine a soldier, cop or firefighter having to buy all their equipment? Or office workers that would have to buy their computers and printers? etc. I don't get that.
The year I worked at a dealership, I never saw such a bunch of unhappy people not caring for the work they did. Sad really.
All workers should be paid a fair hourly wage (including restaurant staff and get rid of this tipping BS!).
One thing that wasn't talked a lot in the video is the thousands in tools and equipment that techs have to buy and pay themselves so right from the get go, they're saddled with huge debt. How many professions do you know of where the employer doesn't supply the tools required for the work? Imagine a soldier, cop or firefighter having to buy all their equipment? Or office workers that would have to buy their computers and printers? etc. I don't get that.
The year I worked at a dealership, I never saw such a bunch of unhappy people not caring for the work they did. Sad really.
All workers should be paid a fair hourly wage (including restaurant staff and get rid of this tipping BS!).
Mechanics/technicians are treated like independent contractors, who would own their own tools. When a shop/dealer treats them that way, as far as the tools cost, then they should be paid accordingly. The mechanic's body takes a beating for what they do. I can attest to that. I have arthritis in numerous areas of my body, I have an inguinal hernia that will be operated on Sept. 28th. I have a curved spine with two damaged discs. I do work in my driveway and control what I do because if will be hard on me physically, I pass on the job/work.
I am done buying tools and owe nothing and can sell for a hefty amount when I choose to.
The only/biggest advantage to being a mechanic/tech is that you can get a job asap and live where you want because the jobs are there. There is also a bidding war, at independent shops for good and qualified mechanics. I never have and never would work at a dealer. The only advantage to a dealer mechanic job is that you see the same vehicles on a regular basis.
Speaking as a X-GM Mechanic, and a Chief Safety Officer for a trucking company that employs 10 mechanics, I would not tell anyone to be a mechanic.
Yes there is a mechanic shortage, brought on by planned obsolescence. Instead of building quality, they are building junk.
Just like I wont tell anyone to be a truck driver, in a world wide truck driver shortage, as a X-Truck Driver, and still employed by a trucking company. No one speaks english, those that do have holier than thou attitudes, or are complete idiots, and they are generally VERY underpaid, and get no respect from their companies in regards to home time with their families.
Yes there is a mechanic shortage, brought on by planned obsolescence. Instead of building quality, they are building junk.
Just like I wont tell anyone to be a truck driver, in a world wide truck driver shortage, as a X-Truck Driver, and still employed by a trucking company. No one speaks english, those that do have holier than thou attitudes, or are complete idiots, and they are generally VERY underpaid, and get no respect from their companies in regards to home time with their families.
THAT is the truth! I remember when a car was done at 100k miles, then late 80's going into the 90's, stuff started lasting a whole lot more, into the 200-300k miles. Now it's going back in the other direction. But, with the price of new vehicles these days, it will be worth it to replace major components like transmissions and engines. $10k vs. $80k? I'm doing everything to make my truck last as long as I can, turning off and removing BS they put in to kill it, like stop/start and the tranny cooler temp valve and changing oil and fluids more often.
Guys like us that work on our own stuff are on the endangered species list. Even me, I'm getting to a point where major work like engine and tranny swapping are now off my list. I'm just getting too old for that shit. And I didn't even work on this stuff every day. I really feel for those guys.
IMO, the last quality GM years were the 2000 thru 2006 GMT800 series. I own my last vehicle, 2005 Tahoe Z71. If it needs an engine or transmission, it will get it. No rust and no wrecks.
The GMT360 Platform is a very close second to me. With just 78k miles on Linda's TB LS, it is rock solid.
I was in the shops for 45+ years and saw the quality vehicles, come and go.
The GMT360 Platform is a very close second to me. With just 78k miles on Linda's TB LS, it is rock solid.
I was in the shops for 45+ years and saw the quality vehicles, come and go.