Is there really a technician shortage or is the industry losing good people because shops are ignoring the real problem?

In this episode, Marshall, John Baranski, Brent Osmond, and Richard Mueller break down the uncomfortable truth behind technician recruiting, retention, flat rate pay, shop reputation, apprentice turnover, and why automotive technicians are moving into heavy-duty, mining, material handling, and hourly positions.

The conversation gets real about what shops say they need, what technicians actually talk about, and why every dealership’s reputation travels faster than most leaders want to admit.

Because technicians know.

They know what your shop pays.

They know what your benefits cost.

They know how your bonus structure actually works.

They know which shops develop people and which shops chew them up.

This episode is for technicians, shop foremen, service managers, fixed ops directors, dealership leaders, and anyone trying to understand why attracting and keeping good technicians has become one of the biggest challenges in the trade.

Topics include technician shortage myths, apprentice retention, flat rate frustration, heavy-duty recruiting, employee experience, shop culture, technician career paths, and why great technicians don’t automatically become great leaders.

The strongest line from the episode says it all:

“If you think that the technicians around your area don’t know what your techs are getting paid, you’re dead wrong.”

Negative Pushes

Positive Pulls

God Bless

j.

Follow Brent Osmond:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-osmond-7b8302149/

Dynamic Diesel Solutions

https://www.linkedin.com/company/dynamic-diesel-solutions-canada/posts/?feedView=all

Follow Marshall Sheldon

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshall-sheldon-981349176/

Briggs Industrial Solutions

https://www.linkedin.com/company/briggs-industrial-solutions/

Follow Richard Mueller

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-mueller-024155150/

Wolfe Automotive Group

https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfecalgary/

Follow John Baranski

https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-baranski-335021270/

Miami Car Cartel

https://www.instagram.com/miamicarcartel/

⚠️ Disclaimer:

I’m a licensed mechanic. That doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing, whether it’s fixing things or filming things. Do your own due diligence.

Listen to The Wrench Turners Podcast:

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/1ScwRP0DFMtDsp83JxPhPK?si=26aeb4be65da45eb

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshuataylor/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrjtaylor/

00:00 Technicians know what everyone is getting paid

00:52 Is there really a technician shortage?

01:45 Trade schools are still producing apprentices

03:47 Shortage or bad working conditions?

07:00 Shops complain about shortage but ignore retention

10:26 The real cost of training a new technician

12:42 What an empty bay actually costs the business

15:32 Shops have reputations whether leaders admit it or not

22:57 Why apprentices leave in the first year

29:52 Flat rate resentment and why techs are leaving automotive

34:24 Automotive techs moving into heavy duty and material handling

40:48 Different types of high performing technicians

43:58 Why good technicians don’t always become good leaders

48:21 What’s coming next: career paths technicians care about