july2022 - 22

Diesel Training Centers. " On February 10, 2022,
there were more than 55,000 diesel mechanic listings.
This is a record number of postings. "
He also noted that there are 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. " This
is triple the number of openings on Indeed three
to four years ago. "
The issue is likely to get worse before it gets
better. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates
that every year until 2030, the deficit of
diesel and automotive technicians will expand
by 28,100.
Part of this is due to many older techs retiring
or taking their talents out of the shop and into a
better paying, less work-intensive role.
That speaks to the one biggest issue of
commercial vehicle maintenance and repair:
The job is challenging and not for everybody.
Troubleshooting a diesel truck's aftertreatment
system, for example, is not easy work and takes
diagnostic expertise and patience, but doing it
quickly and accurately is one of the top needs
of the trucking industry.
In general, shop life can be demanding, and
there is a lot to learn. Many finish vocational
or technical school and discover the job isn't
right for them. About 41% will leave the industry
within two years, according to a survey by
the National Institute for Automotive Service
Excellence (ASE) of recent graduates in the trade.
Competition within the industry is another
hurdle. Robertson acknowledged that shops
aren't the only ones vying for quality diesel
techs. Diesel Laptops, along with other vendors
and truck manufacturers like Daimler Truck
North America, Paccar or Volvo Trucks North
America, also covet experienced technicians.
" They're now competing, not just with other
shops, but companies like mine and OEM call
centers, " explained Robertson, who said 40 of
Diesel Laptops' 200 employees are former diesel
technicians. " We're hiring experienced diesel technicians,
paying them a really good wage, and let
them work from home. And that's a hard thing to
compete against. "
The pandemic exacerbated the situation, said
Spurlock, noting that " community college enrollments,
especially skilled trades, tanked after
COVID and have not returned. " He counted 6,000
people studying diesel technology receiving Title
IV grants, loans, and aid per year, and that " few
actually graduate. "
Meanwhile, Spurlock said there is a huge interest
in maintaining trucks and other equipment.
" There are hundreds of thousands of people out
there who would love to work in this field, but
they don't have the time or funds for an extended
training program, " Spurlock continued.
American Diesel Training tries to alleviate
some of these issues. Students don't pay tuition
until they are hired, and oftentimes their employer
will pick up the costs. The Columbus, Ohio-based
school has churned out more than 1,700 entry-level
diesel techs since opening in 2017.
The question is how to reach and hire these
potential workers.
22 Fleet Maintenance | July 2022
SHOW 'EM THE MONEY
Entry-level techs
are cashing in on
America's neglect
of the trades.
The technician supply chain
has been stifled by societal
neglect. For many decades,
the trades were stigmatized
as parents and teachers
pushed high school graduates
to universities. The
culture is shifting, though.
It appears high school students
are less confident in a
four-year degree. According
to a study by ECMC Group,
71% of students surveyed in
May 2020, at the beginning
of the COVID-19 pandemic,
said they would likely attend
a four-year university, while
in September 2021, that
figure had dropped to 48%.
" There is definitely a push to
encourage students to consider
the trades more, but it's
difficult to determine exactly
how many of these students
that don't attend college go
to the trades, " noted Gabe
Pinchev, founder and CEO of
Field Service Software Co.,
who advises various trade
industries on labor shortages.
Pinchev said they may settle
for retail or fast-food jobs.
But automotive and diesel
careers have more to offer
to those willing to do the
work. Pay is at the top.
Pinchev pointed out that a
technician with four years
of experience can earn
$50,000, and top performers
get efficiency bonuses.
Lately, it's much more.
" The median income for diesel
techs has been going up
dramatically over the last few
years, " said Gary Beeman,
CEO at NVI, an auto and
diesel school in Pennsylvania.
" It's not uncommon to
start at $65,000/year. "
Tuition for NVI-Blairsville
is $25,000, with an extra
$5,000 room and board
cost for non-locals. The
first waves of students have
received grants to cover
their costs and get the
program off the ground.
Those who pay the full tuition
will still be far ahead of
peers who choose the university
route. " You're about
$300,000 ahead against the
four-year school, " he said,
factoring in the difference
in tuition and working for
an additional 3.5 years.
WyoTech CEO Jim Mathis
concurred. " I've never seen
it like this-the wages are
incredible, " he said. " UPS
out of Denver is offering
our students $39/
hour starting
wages. That's an
$80,000-a-year
job starting
without any
overtime.
It's pretty
amazing
what some
of these
students
are offered. "
" We're hiring experienced diesel
technicians, paying them a really good
wage, and let them work from home. And
that's a hard thing to compete against. "
Tyler Robertson, founder and CEO, Diesel Laptop
Talent search
" If you wait on the current system to produce,
you will be waiting for a long, long time, "
Spurlock said. " The current system is irreparably
broken. "
He may lack faith in America's trade education
pipeline but believes a big share of entry-level
work can be taught in-house.
" Most companies will tell you that their most
important job is a PM (preventive maintenance)-
brakes, electrical, diagnostics, " Spurlock said. " The
only way to get this is to grow your own. "
There's no one way to find technicians to
grow, so you'll likely want to try more than one.
This goes beyond hanging " Help Wanted " signs
and posting to online job sites such as Indeed,
ZipRecruiter or others.
Mega dealers have the capital to fly out
to premier diesel schools and pitch pending
Continued Page 25
july2022

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