TA and PETRO mechanics salary.

Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by Professional-Trucker, Mar 5, 2013.

  1. Professional-Trucker

    Professional-Trucker Heavy Load Member

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    Oct 31, 2011
    California
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    No actually. They get payed by the hour plus commission / percentage. The reason they're fast is because the commission pay might be higher than the $10 hour salary.

    If its a quick job (less than one hour) they charge $160 flat rate. The tech will get a percentage on that.

    But if its a big job like a turbo or transmission and takes the tech let's say 5 hours. He gets. A percentage off of that.

    The trainee told me that some guys only do one truck in a day if its a big enough job. Then they go home after they made their pay for the day.

    If its all small jobs, then they WILL be there all day. 10-12 hours.

    They do not get paid if they are not under a truck.

    The reason for the hourly deal is if they change a belt in let's say 20 min. The shop will charge a one hour minimum flat rate.

    The shop charges labor at a $75 per hour rate. This is if a mechanic is under a truck and let's say waiting on a part to arrive.

    I know its hourly plus commission.

    When they get a work order, they'll be asked if they want it. When they take the job, they have to clock in. When they finish, its back to the computer and clock out.
     
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  3. Kalian

    Kalian Bobtail Member

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    Apr 21, 2014
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    He's got it right for the most part. I am, or about to be "was", a TA tech. The majority of our jobs have flat rates to be charged. The exceptions are almost every electrical job, coolant job, or anything that would otherwise have us searching for the issue since it is unknown as to what the cause is. Most part swaps are flat rate. Now there are certain scenario's where flat rates are given hourly adds. For instance, say I do a wheel seal and this seal has been blown for a while and the entire drum is just caked full of gear oil. Cleaning this can take a variable amount of time despite any knowledge or ability you may have so therefore they charge it by the hour to clean this since its extremely difficult to say how long it would take to clean it. As far as what we get paid its a percent of the labor charge as the man above me has stated. There are multiple "levels" of tech and each one earns you more or less of a percentage of the labor rate, lowest being 38 percent and highest 44. In my shop, jobs go in order. this man got wrote up before this man so therefore he shall get worked on before him. our computer system keeps track of who is next in line to pull a ticket (tech wise). We do not however get hourly + commission as the company would like us all to believe. You see, we have an hourly salary up until we break 320 dollars commission on a bi weekly pay period. After reaching this condition ALL the hourly salary we have been paid is counted as the commission we earned (not added to the commission) and any hourly pay we were to receive hence forth for that pay period is null and void, effectively taking back all the money they paid us to begin with. That being said that hourly salary really isnt hardly anything at all, cant make a living off that, but its the principle of the thing is kind of disturbing. Turn over rates are bad because of policies mostly. Our hands are tied 90 percent of the time and the pay isnt all that great unless you just really live in shop to be honest. Hope that helps clear things up some. If anyone is curious and wants more details feel free to ask. I know you guys are out there trying to make a living as much as we are and I try my best to help owner ops out especially during the days we live in now. The last thing I want to see is people getting the rug pulled out from under them by corporations and the like during such times when they are working hard just to make ends meet.
     
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  4. fred1234

    fred1234 Light Load Member

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    Feb 12, 2014
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    I was at the TA in hudson, wi and the kid working there was babbling about how fast he is and makes over $2,000 a week. I was like, yeeeeaaaaah riiiiiight. 3 hours later he finished my PM and my flat tire. pretty sure it should have taken maybe an hour. lol
     
  5. Raiderfanatic

    Raiderfanatic Heavy Load Member

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    Jul 18, 2010
    Hutchinson, KS
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    I used to use TA/Petro all the time. But the last three times I've had a PM done, they've over filled my oil by one gallon and never greased my PTO driveshaft. The last one the kid over filled my PTO, wrote down absolute lies about my oil pressure and tire pressure ratings. Also there was not one grease zerk that had been touched. Took him 90 minutes to basically do nothing. I got my card refunded and will never use another TA/Petro shop again. The TA in Morris, IL just was the final straw. I was so pisssed off. They were so "oh well" attitude over it.
     
  6. Bladerunner2000

    Bladerunner2000 Bobtail Member

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    Sep 1, 2014
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    Greetings everyone - Certain jobs are flat rated like brake chambers, oil changes, tire replacement, clutch job. Example: a brake chamber replacement will cost say 75 in labor cost - the tech will get whatever labor percentage he is set at. beginners are set at an hourly minimum to start then move onto 35% of the labor rate as they feel comfortable. An oil change will net the tech about 15 bucks in the paycheck, tire replacement is at say 8 to 10 bucks a tire if the flat rate is at 27 bucks. A clutch job for a Volvo is at around 1100 flat rate labor wise. The tech who is say at 40%, his cut of the labor pay is 440 bucks of the 1100 bucks. Other jobs are hourly say like electrical. The tech, who is at 40%, would earn 40% of the hourly shop rate of 100 bucks per hour. Technicians do not earn anything off of parts or sales - this is usually the counter help or managers monies, which is pretty small.
     
  7. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Jan 13, 2013
    SW Arkansas
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    A mechanic at a Freightliner dealer told me that he gets paid by the job. For example, he get a set amount of $$ to put brakes on a axle. He gets paid a set amount to do the job whether he works fast or takes his time. If he run into an unexpected/ abnormal problem, then he'll get more as approved by his boss. I think the TA/Petro shops are about the same on this. Many auto body shops are paying like this now too.
     
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