Tag: auto technician

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Episode 144: In High Demand

On this week’s episode of Grease the Wheels we are exploring a favorite topic of ours and giving some real world potential fixes for the problem. The problem for this week’s episode is the technician shortage, with new facts and figures indicating that the industry could have up to half a million unfilled job openings in the not-so-distant future of 2024. Again, these suits with business degrees like to point out the lack of shop classes, while failing to account for the working conditions and wage stagnation that have driven people out of the industry and deeply dampened the enthusiasm for the trade. This isn’t even accounting for the absolutely blistering pace of change with the vehicles that we work on, and the rate of technological innovation that aims to make our job more difficult with each passing day.

However, as Machiavelli said, “entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity, and are able to turn both to their advantage.” Meaning: the good technicians out there, with a lot of knowledge and certifications, who are able to work on the hybrid and EV stuff will basically get to name their price. Because we solve problems we would fix the technician shortage with a farm system for people who want to get into the trade to get the fundamentals down and learn the business the way their employer wants them to. This coupled with a clear path of advancement and regular pay increases for regular increases in training and production would keep people in your building and happy for possibly their entire careers. This is a topic we will be exploring more in the future, so let us know how you would fix the technician shortage?

Also Uncle Jimmy goes over what Socrates, Plato, Da Vinci and Michelangelo would drive.

This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you’re a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!

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Episode 134: Sabotage

On this week’s Grease the Wheels we make you think of the Beastie Boy’s with the title while actively testing the limits on the definition of satire. How would you sabotage where you work without ever causing any physical destruction? You choke off the supply of people who are willing to work there. Breaking stuff, swearing at folks, stealing, and being a nuisance will only get you a bad reputation. However, if you actively dissuade people from going into the field you can do a lot more damage long term. The worst part is, you don’t even have to really exaggerate that much to get people to not want to be auto mechanics, especially when you factor in what we get paid. All kidding aside, the industry has a naturally occurring problem that they have caused simply by not making the job lucrative enough to be attractive to enough people to replace us.

Also Uncle Jimmy talks about what would happen if there was no one to fix cars and describes his bike riding abilities.

This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you’re a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!

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Episode 131: Happy

On this week’s Grease the Wheels we are talking about some of the things that make us happy as automotive technicians. We come up with several metrics to figure out if you should stay with your current shop based on how happy it makes you. There are a million things working in any shop that can make you unhappy, so it really is surprising when places get it mostly right! We also talk about hoarder cars that would shame a petri dish, compost in cowls, and other general disgustingness that might come our way. Also we do a deep dive into family run shops versus corporate shops when it comes to the happiness of their technicians. So if you are looking for a job where the boss will probably get to know you personally, you’ll want to go to a family run shop or dealership. When the bottom line is the top of mind, the happiness quotient is going to be grim for technicians. At the end of the day a respect for what we do, getting paid for what we are worth, and having a clear path of advancement are the core elements of keeping a technician happy long term, and we want to know what makes you happy!

Also Uncle Jimmy comes up with a novel solution (mid-rant) for how to get aftermarket warranty telemarketers to stop calling you!

This episode is distributed by The Wrenching Network. Whether you’re a technician, a mechanic, or someone who just loves the car scene, The Wrenching Network is a place that you have to check out. They have all sorts of great content, gear, and snacks to keep you turning wrenches in whatever capacity you do it. Also if you see us over there, make sure you say hi and leave a comment with what you think about the episode!