Before the pandemic, September meant Europe for my company, Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC).
Since 2007, Deb, my wife of 35 years, and I have flown to Europe, sometimes a couple times per year. We have been invited to teach in amazing places. As co-owners of ACDC, we have spent some time together when not working by enjoying what the area we are in has to offer. That has included the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Iceland, England, Poland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and other fun places. I spot all the interesting cars and charging stations. Deb knows where to eat and what museum to visit.
A few years back, we found ourselves in Berlin for almost a week. After day four, it sunk in that East Berlin, where our hotel was, would not have been available to us 40 years ago. A wall did not keep me out. It kept East Berliners in. Open-mindedness is an ACDC value. It applies to our industry, electric cars, climate change and those whom ACDC serves.
In order to keep the walls down in our industry, technicians, tire store owners and managers must also be open-minded. If you just want a class about hybrid or electric car service, watch out as ACDC will challenge what you know. We will ask you to keep an open mind and “be a Berliner.”
Want to change your viewpoint about our educational system, what we drive, how we teach young automotive students, tools and pay plans? If you’re interested in growing an industry that values its people, its contributions and the air, ACDC is your kind of place — no walls, nothing to protect. You can take it all in when you work with us. We have a world view, so you don’t need to live in a bunker.
Let me make my case as to what is not working in our industry. Generally speaking, auto techs feel they do not make enough money. Shops are having a harder time than before attracting and keeping automotive technicians. Cars are more complex than ever and even dealerships have a hard time fixing their own brands. There are three players that need to change. They are the government, OEMs/independent shops and schools.
Here is what local and national elected officials need to change:
- They should require licensed techs and shops;
- Make flat-rate illegal or have a big base pay;
- Make community colleges free for two to four years and require a “master tech” license before graduation.
What OEMs and shops need to do:
- Supply all the tools and tool boxes with a tax credit;
- Have an internship and apprenticeship program.
What schools need to do:
- Have a universal education plan from eighth grade up to a bachelor’s degree.
How will we get these things done? If government acts, it will take a decade or more to see the effects. By then, the licensing will shut down the illegal and incompetent shops and bad technicians will be doing something else. Technicians’ paychecks will be consistent. Money earned will reward great work. The partnership between shops and schools is a key part.
Shops must have licensed techs and so quality work is now front and center — where it should have always been. By supplying all the tools, the remaining technicians will take home more money because they won’t be giving the tool man part of their paycheck every week. A tax credit to the shop owner of $10,000 per-tech, per-year — up to $50,000 per tech total — would give the shop owner an incentive. Those techs who love their jobs can mentor and bring in the new techs that you will be able to hire because you supply the tools. This has another benefit as you can hire a poor kid with a rich brain.
The high schools and community colleges benefit as their funding must go up. If shops partner with the high school and really get involved, they can bring in an intern and when the best match is made, hire her or him and help them along the way. After years of knowing this young star, they will be job-ready after they get their master license.
All three stakeholders — government, shops and schools — must do their part. Over time, the automotive repair industry will mature into a high-skilled job that anyone in America can aspire to and achieve, no matter what their situation. Tire dealers will have the workforce they need in the future.
Can we all move forward and make this industry better? Will customers recognize the hard work that technicians do every day to keep their vehicles safe and running well?
Yes, these are big ideas. But they are doable.
