- This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 7 months ago by
.
-
Topic
-
What do you guys think about this. Read what these auto techs say about the trade.
-
Replies
-
If you dont like it do something else. If you have been a mechanic for 5-7 years, and you are a good mechanic, making less than $20/hr you need to find a new job. But thats just my opinion. I would never work at a dealership because of the warranty pay, plus I was turned off of them when I first applied to one. They called me for an interview and offered me $7/hr plus I had to write my own estimates and if I left something out it would come out of my pay. I told him “we just need to end this right here” and walked out.
One of the many reason i stayed out of the auto trade and started doing what i do now.
We have billable hours like flatrate, but we are paid for every hour we work. Basically it means that the company i work for will bite the bullet and lose some money if it takes longer then the quote, we just have to write our time card as a none recoverable lost time for that work order, or do some fancy paper work to even out the hours across all work orders.
And if it is slow(like it is now) we can do “online” training, or clean and still get paid our normal rate.
The autotrade really needs to change the way it works, or its gonna lose a hell of a lot of good mechanics fast.[quote=”W00DBar0n” post=57408]One of the many reason i stayed out of the auto trade and started doing what i do now.
We have billable hours like flatrate, but we are paid for every hour we work. Basically it means that the company i work for will bite the bullet and lose some money if it takes longer then the quote, we just have to write our time card as a none recoverable lost time for that work order, or do some fancy paper work to even out the hours across all work orders.
And if it is slow(like it is now) we can do “online” training, or clean and still get paid our normal rate.
The autotrade really needs to change the way it works, or its gonna lose a hell of a lot of good mechanics fast.[/quote]it seems that even heavy side has similar sort of thing going on…some i worked with were not so good
looking down on me being from auto side…i left and went back to auto side…in US side things…things are little bit harder to work…much less pay i found
According to Tennessee Tuxedo and his pal Chumley, there appears to be a high demand for auto technicians:
[quote=”kevk62″ post=57417]
it seems that even heavy side has similar sort of thing going on…some i worked with were not so good
looking down on me being from auto side…i left and went back to auto side…in US side things…things are little bit harder to work…much less pay i found[/quote]
Those tend to be more on the commercial transport side of my trade, i also will not have anything to do with that.
On the heavy equipment side of the wall its a different story. I don’t know of a single place that does a flat rate system. Mechanics in this trade would lose too much money. I worked on a pump re and re that should of taken 14 hours to finish the job, and ended up taking over 60+ hours of work on one work order due to unforeseen contamination in the hydraulics, cracked drive plate, and a tricky programming issue. Would you stick around and work for 46 hours for free?[quote=”W00DBar0n” post=57497][quote=”kevk62″ post=57417]
it seems that even heavy side has similar sort of thing going on…some i worked with were not so good
looking down on me being from auto side…i left and went back to auto side…in US side things…things are little bit harder to work…much less pay i found[/quote]
Those tend to be more on the commercial transport side of my trade, i also will not have anything to do with that.
On the heavy equipment side of the wall its a different story. I don’t know of a single place that does a flat rate system. Mechanics in this trade would lose too much money. I worked on a pump re and re that should of taken 14 hours to finish the job, and ended up taking over 60+ hours of work on one work order due to unforeseen contamination in the hydraulics, cracked drive plate, and a tricky programming issue. Would you stick around and work for 46 hours for free?[/quote]i had done that when i was doing tons of warranty repair at mopar i worked around 180 but, only paid around 118 hours. i did not stay but, most of guys who’s been there for a while did.
i remember 2nd year apprentice and me did transmission out of gm heavy dump truck..nasty…book time was 11 hours….lets say it’s not fair to use book time for heavy equipment stuff…even auto side of things…
thing about mechanical trade with mistake is that…it doesn’t matter how long you been trade: things will happen when we rush things tend to happen quite easily.
i guess too me it depends where you work some dealerships pay ok if you can work the flat rate system but i have heard many mechanics say they would rather work dollar per hour pay beacuse the flat rate system can kill you! i am a fresh technician, i was working as a fleet mechanic fixing light trucks and changing oil on them, knew enough too drop a gas tank on a Dodge truck almost buy myself… but some things i needed too learn and lets just say they expected me too know everything off the bat.
i digress i was getting paid 10 bucks an hour too fix there crappy rusted too bits trucks, the workers we called “Mow ons” beacuse, well they mowed lawns and did landscaping did a poor job of taking care of there vehicles, some of them smelt so bad, 10 bucks an hour for that kind of job for me was low pay, but then i got laid off and now getting paid minimum wage too work in a crappy factory, what i would do for a mechanics job again.
This is a bleak subject but maybe i can give you some hope. If you don’t like where you are or you don’t feel like you are being paid what you’re worth, than run. Your tool box has wheels for a reason. As a tech, or anyone else seeking employment for that matter, you have options. Shop around. Choosing an employer is no different than shopping for a car or a new washing machine. Do your research and pick a shop or washing machine that will work for you. Interview your employer when you apply and don’t just sit there and let them buy you for the lowest bid. Your skill set makes you a tool and it sounds impersonal, but that’s all you are to a shop owner. So many techs are complaining about their pay and they did it to themselves. Either because they didn’t keep up with the times, or they took that lowest bid. Be a valuable tool and sell yourself for what you’re worth.
Can’t find a well paying job? Look elsewhere. Maybe you heard that a certain manufacturer pays well only to find out you could make more flipping burgers. Location location location. Don’t expect to find a well paying job at a Mercedes dealer in rural Arkansas. High end does not mean high pay. If you want to make money at a high end dealer than find a dealer in a wealthy area. Drive through the area and see how many vehicles of that brand you can spot. The volume of vehicles in a specific area will directly translate to the amount of work you will see at the shop, and it will also directly reflect on demand for technicians. High volume brands like Toyota and Ford will always be busy in densely populated areas. You may need to step out of your comfort zone and move. There is no sense in complaining about your pay when you are living in a small town and working at a small dealer.
Another point that should be discussed is unions. We all have our opinions of unions, and many times not so positive ones. Times are tough, and employers will work you to the bone for pennies in return. Unions may be a necessary evil. You work with a contract, your job has some protection, you have rights, and you will be paid a fair wage. As far as i see it, unions are a way of keeping employers honest. No, i don’t work at a union shop. It’s not a perfect system, but neither is ’employment at will’. The arrangement you choose should reflect the type of shop and area you will be working in.
Techs can make good money. 100K is still possible for the high value pros. There are still dealers paying $40+ per flat rate hour. There is no reason to be stuck in a dilapidated hole, making $12 an hour.
Lastly, don’t contribute to the problem. You are contributing if you are allowing a shop take advantage of you. Just as a consumer is contributing to a greater issue when they purchase cheap, poorly made products. You are valuable so choose an employer that deserves you.
I left the retail life 13 years ago and went to fleet maint first with united airlines now with a state college fleet,it is a totally different atmosphere good steady pay you get to know all the vehicles very well. I maintain in a 1 guy shop 80 vehicles from trucks,buses ,heavy equipment, and about 80 pieces of small equipment…not a bad gig plus retirement and good benefits.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.