april2023 - S3

WELCOME
Support your techs with
the right tools for the job
Technicians are in high demand and putting the right tools
in their hands can ensure they stay productive in your bay.
By John Hitch
W
hat are commercial vehicle
fl eet and indepenedent repair
shops concerned with
in 2023? Each list will vary on the
operation, region, and vehicles serviced,
but fi nding and keeping technicians
will be at the top of them all.
Th e U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates
the overall need for diesel and
automotive technicians will grow by
28,100 until 2030. Th at knowledge has
been out for a while, and the industry
doesn't seem close to solving the problem.
Tim Spurlock, CEO and co-founder
of American Diesel Training Centers,
noted that in February 2022, there were
a record 55,000 diesel mechanic openings
and 30,000 heavy-equipment technician
openings.
" I think the true number is well over
100,000 because not every company
lists all of their openings on Indeed or
job boards, " Spurlock said last June.
" Th is is triple the number of openings
on Indeed three to four years ago. "
As of March 21, 2023, Indeed.com
listed 43,876 diesel mechanic and
29,029 heavy-equipment technician
openings. Th is is by no means scientifi
c proof, but shows the demand for
technicians, and thus the leverage they
have in choosing a workplace.
According to Mark Wilson, co-founder
and CEO of WrenchWay, " it's not an
employer's market right now. And for
technicians, that may never be again,
unfortunately. Hopefully, we get there,
but technicians have the power. "
But shop managers, lament not, as
you still have plenty of agency. A shop
can certainly get good workers in the
door by paying a competitive wage,
off ering clear advancement pathways,
and providing strong mentorship. But
even those won't keep a technician in
your bay if it's not stocked with the right
tools for the job.
You'd want the surgeon operating
on you to have the best medical instruments
or the chef cooking your meal to
have premium utensils, and you should
accept no less for the tools used to maintain
the assets your company either
owns or was entrusted with.
For starters, great tools make your
technicians feel you value and have
confi dence in them. You can't put a dollar
value on that. But if you calculate
how much it takes to onboard new techs
and train them, you'll get a good idea.
Your bottom line will also benefi t
from the minutes cut per job. An innovation
that helps remove bolts twice
as fast, such as the Ingersoll Rand
1121 Max Impact Ratchet twin-hammer
design, adds up to hours over
time. Th is tool is also easier on the
tech's arm, which can succumb to
wear and tear just like a truck's brakes
or suspension.
Don't take our word for it. We had a
longtime master diagnostic tech test it
out for a month (pg. 15) and his only
complaint was that his co-workers kept
swiping it to help improve their productivity-and
billable hours.
Sure, techs typically buy their own
tools, but in this environment, providing
more common-use tools, or giving
techs a tool allowance (tied to parameters
such as staying with the shop X
number of years) might be a sound
investment, and improve morale, effi -
ciency, and productivity.
No investment is 100% guaranteed
to pay off , but you can start small with
a controlled experiment that is scientific:
Measure the KPIs, fi rst with an older
tool, then repeat with the new tool.
Compare the results and fi gure out if
if the move made or cost you money.
Or, even simpler, just talk to your techs
and ask what they need. It's better to
ask current workers what they want
versus interviewing potential hires.
Th at will end up saving you time, too,
which is something you can't put a
price on.
Inside
4 Diagnostic Tools
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Diagnostic tool reviews
12 Power Tools
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Power tool reviews
16 Hand & Specialty Tools
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Hand and specialty tool reviews
22 Shop Equipment
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
* Shop equipment reviews
30 Tool Storage
* Purchasing considerations
* Products
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Cover photo provided by Penske
April 2023 * Tools & Shop Equipment 3
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april2023

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