How high can you go

Well, there's not much you can mess up mounting a tire.... besides that, I personally know how to do it, so if he starts fumbling around, i'll give him $10, take the tools from him, and do it myself.

I carry 2 spare tires, a 40 ton bottle jack, a 4' long - 3/4" breaker bar, 8" - 3/4" extention, 33mm - 3/4" socket, a 4" masonry chisel and 4 lb hammer for breaking beads, and 2 crow bars... i've changed quite a few of my own tires in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night. I'm not paying anyone $400+ for a middle of the night roadcall in the wilderness of wyoming... $30 - $50 to change it, gladly, it is a royal pain to change it with those hand tools, but it can be done.

 

lol....question really started out ..why would a competent,skilled, diesel mechanic work for 20 hr......When going into business for yourself would make you more money....lol...notice it says skilled....not a drive by mechanic. So why would a skilled,competent, highly trustworthy guy waste time making 20/hr at a TA?

 

sorry about that, I assumed that from my statements, it was implied that he wouldnt get much business from OTR guys, and NO business from fleets. skilled or not, OTR O/O are generally wary of who they let touch their truck. TA has a nationwide network of shops, and if a major failure results from something THEY did, they have the finances, and resources to fix THEIR mistake. Meanwhile, a small shop generally doesent have either, and if i'm 1000 miles away, they are not going to take the word of another mechanic that THEY screwed up a repair, and it will take a court battle with them or their insurance company to get compensated. This could take months, during which time, you go out of business. That being said, if I was local to the guy, sure, I would possibly give him a chance, starting off with minor repairs, and as trust is built and he has proven himself to ME to be a competent mechanic, I will give him more business for bigger repairs.

 

Back to the main topic...What is the highest you ever paid per hour for repairs?

 

#1 less headache, doesnt have to worry about who's going to pay for comebacks(although in some dealers if a mechanic has a comeback, they get to fix it for free), light bill, insurance, rent, billing, etc

#2 if they are like me, if they went to work for themselves in their own shop, they would work themselves to death, never see their family or take time to relax, it would be work, work, work

#3 health insurance, benefits, paid time off, etc

these are just the 3 reasons I can think of being a mechanic myself

 

Last week you told me that now every time I step on the gas it backfires and my magnification sparks.

 

The big return on your money these days is having a good skill. Which you know first hand. These people going to college don't see a return on their money near as quick as skilled workers. Diesel mechanics and industrial maintenance technicians I have seen advertised up to $32/hr +benefits. Some guys coming out of a 2 year tech school are starting out at $20/hr.

 

as with everything, you gotta start somewhere. i'm sure the 32/hr is for EXPERIENCED mechanics. and as with any schooling, whether big time university or a hands on tech school, you're still INEXPERIENCED. you've got the basics down, but when a truck rolls in, can you diagnose the issue in a short amount of time? can you fix the problem in the "book" defined time? and can you do more than just BOLT on parts? starting out at 20/hr because you still got a lot to learn. You dont come out of cdl school and jump right into a .50/mile job do you?? no. you're making yourself out to be one of these "we gotta get what we're worth or lets go on strike" people. everyones gotta start somewhere, you want more money, prove yourself invaluable and you'll get it. gripe and complain that you should be making more, and doing the bare minimum to get the job done, and you're proving that you're only worth that 20/hr.

 

My first job, I was 14 years old, cooking in a busy restaurant. I worked hard, learned fast, and got the job done. I didnt complain that it was 6/hr. I worked every weekend, spring break, winter break, summer break, as much as I could. The next summer, I turned 15, and by that time, I was training all the new hires, and making 8.50/hr. The following summer, I turned 16, I was making 10.50/hr, and promoted to kitchen manager. 2 summers later, when I turned 18 and graduated high school, we opened a new restaurant a couple towns away. I was made assistant manager, and was making 14/hr. The people I worked with at the first restaurant, were all STILL making 8.50/hr and complaining that they should have my job, because they had been working there longer than me, blah blah blah. Point is, everyone starts somewhere, its up to you to make things better.