Van Batenburg: Getting Up to Speed on New Technology

I have been helping shops for over 30 years advance their technicians' knowledge by holding hands-on classes, first as a Massachusetts Certified Emissions Repair Training Center called the Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC).

 

The goal was always to fix and maintain cars and trucks so that they made less of an emissions impact. ACDC is not always in sync with tire stores and repair shops. As we try to bridge the gap, here are my observations about the types of techs that come to ACDC: 

 

1. When I ask techs why they come to class on their own, the answer is always “self-advancement.” What they don’t say is they are looking for a new place to work.

 

2. When the boss pays for class, the feeling I get is mixed. Some are appreciative and others feel obligated.   

 

3.  If the tech comes to a day class during the work week, overwhelmingly they learn more and the sense of belonging to a great shop is most often displayed. 

 

4.  If the tech works at a flat rate service facility, it shows up in the hands-on part of the training. Many will rush through the exercise, missing some of the finer points. Slowing them down is hard, so we limit the use of power tools to everyone.    

 

5. The Master ASE-certified techs want to know everything and have a broader knowledge base. They are usually the best students.   

 

ACDC has seen it all, including few interested shops in the beginning, when only two hybrids were sold here, the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius. That was in 2000 through 2004.

 

In 2004, we closed the Honda repair part of my company and traveled extensively until 2014, as hybrids had spread across all major OEMs and EVs had just made some inroads, mostly Tesla.

 

During those 10 years, we were booked months out. Business was booming. The recession of 2008 to 2011 did not affect us. We also weathered the Covid-19 pandemic. But that was not good for business.

 

A few years ago, we won a large contract with my home state. That program pays the cost for many independent Massachusetts-based technicians to attend our two-week “Up Your Voltage” class. It’s 80 hours of advanced technology training using our fleet consisting of xEVs, including Honda, Toyota, Ford, GM, Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, and Tesla vehicles. We also offer a one-day “Introduction to Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicle” class, as well. These programs have brought us more awareness about the concerns shop owners and managers have about sending their techs to class.

 

As the cost of the classes is no longer an issue, what else is in the way? In no particular order, here is what I have learned from shop owners. I think these “reasons” are universal:  

    

“We are too busy and short-handed to lose a tech for that long.” 

 

 “I don’t want to work on hybrids or EVs.” 

 

"My tech doesn’t want to go."

 

“I did the calculations and I don’t see enough profit from our investment.” 

 

“This whole EV thing is not going to last.” 

 

“We are a small shop and I only have one tech.” 

 

“We only do free training on the web.” 

 

“We’re retiring soon.” 

 

 “Let the next generation do it.” 

 

 “If I train them, they will leave.” 

 

I am sure there are more. These viewpoints are very real to these shop owners and many will never change their minds. To offer them something else to consider, here is what ACDC and many other training companies offer as reasons to not let your fears keep your techs from advancing their careers: 

 

Encourage them with a pay raise after class, as they will be able to work on more types of vehicles. 

 

Have them sign an agreement to pay you back for the training if they leave within 12 months after the class is over.   

 

Pay them while they attend classes, including nights and weekends. 

 

For new hires, make your training policy clear in your employee manual. 

 

What has ACDC done over the last few years, to make it easier for shop owners to send their techs? 

 

We offer night and Saturday classes. 

 

We’ve written one new book - printed or eBook - to make home study more accessible, in addition to the other two books that we developed.    

 

We offer live webinars with open mics to have an interactive class. 

 

We’ve set up a recording studio. 

 

We partnered with ProDiags for entry-level web training. 

 

We offer in-person, basic-to-advanced-level two-day electrical labs.   

 

We built a kitchen at the school to offer fresh, hot food and drinks. You can’t teach a hungry tech! 

 

There is a lot of great training out there for your techs. Go get some!