diesel mechanics

Bender, so you don't pay your guys for their breaks, or writing workorder reports, or cleaning up their tools? Do those savings go back to the customer or managers pockets? How do you guys get flat rate to work in a truck shop when no two trucks are alike? Do you have flat rate for everything or just the common stuff?

 

We don't get breaks, all time is considered "on duty". Work orders are clocked out and then the explanation of work performed is written. Tools and bay cleaning is done off the work order (lost time) so it gets done very quickly. Savings go to the customer and away from the mechanic and since no time is charged, how would anything go into managers pockets? Where would this money come from? It is simply lost time that is kept minimal for sedentary duties that are not considered chargeable to the customer. Most anything done has a time attached. In the case that a time is not available from a schedule, a reasonable time or cap is used or the actual time it took to do the job which ever is less. It's like some forms of trucking, "if you ain't turn'n then you ain't earn'n". When things turn out well for the year, the Co throws you some scraps in appreciation of the abuse and heartache.

 

Heavyd ,I too get a little too mad sometimes,I do believe this is a case of just this shop not all are the same I had my bonnet cap o rings done month ago by a diesel pump shop reasonable labor rate was exactly what they said it cost and took the amount of time they said. Im just not paying a shop to change a drier I was 25 min from home and I went right to town and bought a drier from the parts place I normally do get parts from and fixed it proper the same day. The fitting they used at this.other shop it wasn't a dealer by the way was off my drier there were no new parts I did say somthing about bill but they didn't care and I did pay it,but it will be a cold day in h*** before they will ever touch my equipment ever I'd tow it before that or wait for someone to come fix it in the truck stop parking lot. I meant no ill will towards you or other good mechanics. Having been in the repair business ,also had a heating and cooling business so I know you have some customers you just can't please been there done that. This was not the case here this is just one of those shops who takes advantage of drivers stuck on the road IMHO.

 

Sorry Bender, you gave me the impression that the guys aren't getting paid for breaks or putting tools away. Yes, that would be lost time, but it sounded like your guys weren't getting paid at all for that lost time, so that money saved would go to someone's pocket. I understand where you are coming from and we all need to do what is needed to keep customers happy and returning. Different stokes I guess. The shop I work at has had two different owners over the years and they always felt if the shop and tools got dirty while working on your truck they should be cleaned while working on your truck. Any driver would expect their truck returned to them nice and clean, I would expect the same for my tools. This is another struggle we face with management demanding the shop be a clean as possible, but yet they want the shop time to a minimum. I guess at the end of the day if all just work to the best of our ability and treat each other the way we want to be treated, it will all work out!

 

They don't get any breaks, they only get paid for the flat rate hours of the job they're doing and tool care and cleanup is included in those hours. They don't get paid for lost time, they eat it.

 

I'm flat rate to, the people who work in the shop are hourly, but us who do all the field service work are flat rate. It can be good and it can suck. I do all my own work order creation, quotes, invoicing and warranty srt look up and filing (CAT, Cummins, International, Peterbilt). I rather have myself do it and do it right so I get the maximum payment, then have someone who never worked on the stuff, look up the bare minimum SRT times and me then getting payed squat. I do have minimums on road calls (2hr plus call out fee) minimum goes up to 3 for after hours. I had ppl call for road calls then expect me to drive out there for free. I always do what I can and help the customer, but just like them I have bills to pay to. Dealing with crappy SRT and customers who want things for free brings down moral at the end of the day.

Lol heavy if you want to see an immaculate shop, I do alot of work for Safeway Inc, they put military shops Ive see to shame. That place is spotless (24 bay shop). They spend more time sweeping and wiping stuff down then doing work on trucks.

 

I know what you mean on the "I'd rather do it myself" part. We have a person that does billing that wouldn't know an S-cam from a pinion yoke! Guy gives more sheit away than Santa. But he's a good "yes man" and keeps his nose in the crack! Better him than me!

 

Yeah the oak creek guys have their heads filled with compressed air. One of my dads friend took in his truck to get it checked out because it had low power, they wanted to replace both turbos because they said the actuator wasn't working i told him to bring the truck over and the actuator hose was filled with holes. He went to complain to them and long story short was reimbursed for the diagnostic fee they charged. I usually talk to Tim when i need parts because Nick and Kim have serious attitude issues, Tim goes out of his way to help a customer out

 

IMHO I think the trucking industry is doomed and the bottom is going to fall out real quick. I have been turning wrenches for 20 years and worked for a many companies. Now being layed off for 3 years getting back out there is tough! This is my new favorite quote: "YOUR ARE OVER QUALIFIED". REALLY? When did 20 years of experience become over qualified? Instead hire someone with at least 2 years exp . I just don't get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry for the rant but its frustrating!!!!!!!

 

Tandemaxle: Allow me to translate: "You know what you're doing, and that kind of experience costs money that we don't want to spend. We'd rather underpay a rookie who has no clue, because we don't actually care what our customers think about us."