Professional Distributor - 4

EDITOR'S NOTE
Published by Endeavor Business Media, LLC

Are your customers
feeling the squeeze?

The infamous technician shortage
continues to pose a challenge to shops.

I
BY SARA SCULLIN
EDITOR

920-568-8394
Sara@VehicleServicePros.com

Next Month's
Issue:
Next month we feature
Professional Distributor's
annual Product
Showcase. Check
out hundreds of new
products in a range of
categories in this issue.
We'll be back in August
with our regular issue
of PD.

'm sure you're aware there's
a shortage of technicians in
the aftermarket. And according to recent reports from
the TechForce Foundation
('Technician Demand,' October
2017 and 'Technician Supply,'
June 2018) the situation
appears to be getting worse.
Reports indicate that while the
demand for skilled technicians
continues to rise, the number
of new talent coming out of
Votech and postsecondary
schooling is on the decline.
The problem seems to stem
from a perfect storm of conditions which challenge not only
technicians, but the industry as a
whole. Today's technicians need
to be updated and trained with
an advanced knowledge of vehicle
systems and the tools required for
repair. There's also the challenge
of 'selling' technician careers to
students and painting an accurate picture of what the job entails.
Finally, there's the issue of compensation, which many times is
not in step with employee hiring
and retention.
Joel Simmons, mobile tool
dealer and owner of Bearded Outlaw Tools, touches on this conundrum in this month's cover story.
Simmons drives a route in Louisville, Kentucky. He's got a good
rapport with his customers, and
he often gets a first-hand look
into their victories and struggles.
"I've had some customers do
Uber on the side, and they make
more money doing that than being
technicians," Simmons says. He,

4 Professional Distributor I June 2019 I VehicleServicePros.com

1233 Janesville Ave
Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
920-563-6388 * 800-547-7377

Printed in the U.S. Volume 27, Number 5; June 2019
VICE PRESIDENT/GROUP PUBLISHER - TRANSPORTATION

Larry M. Greenberger
LMG@VehicleServicePros.com
PUBLISHER Kylie Hirko

630-253-4034 Kylie@VehicleServicePros.com
EDITOR Sara Scullin

800-547-7377 x1394 Sara@VehicleServicePros.com

like others in the industry, has a
sense that something's got to give
in the coming years. He believes
those shop owners and technicians
who embrace computer-based
programs for servicing vehicles
and running the shop will lead the
charge into the next era of automotive repair. It's just a matter of
making it to the other side.
Here are some ideas to help
ease the way for shop owners
and technicians:
1) Do the research for them.
Simmons built his reputation
on learning about new product
well enough to 'teach' it to his
customers. "There were mobile
dealers out there who would lie
about what a scan tool could do,
and I would make sure [customers]
knew what it wouldn't do," Simmons says. Describe to customers
how this scan tool or A/C machine
can simplify workflow ... and then
let them get back to work.
2) Do the legwork, too. If a
customer is in need of a specialty
tool but doesn't know what that
tool is or whether it even exists,
he or she is essentially stuck. It
might take a couple of calls on
your part to crack the case and
deliver the solution. Your customer will thank you for it.
It's not an easy time to be
a technician. The industry is
changing very quickly; the next
generation hasn't yet picked up
on the potential of the profession.
Show customers you're in their
corner, so you can keep building that relationship for years
to come.

David Brierley
800-563-1622 x1566 David@VehicleServicePros.com
MANAGING EDITOR

ASSISTANT EDITOR Tyler Fussner

920-234-6232 Tyler@VehicleServicePros.com
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800-547-7377 x1764 Kayla@VehicleServicePros.com
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