Spring Conference Long Beach, CA April, 2012 Hiring, Training, & Retaining Good Technicians Presentation Grant Hendrick First Transit Dir. of Maintenance
Technicians Hiring Smart hiring begins with an honest skill-set needs assessment - to target the right technicians and set the hours needed. Be sure to consider your specific fleet make up and of course the appropriate number of technicians that may be required. What kind of PM program you are operating? What level of maintenance complexity is anticipated with your fleet?
Technicians Hiring Don t forget any ancillary equipment such as Fare Boxes, CCTV, PA s, GPS, Radios, etc. (Some of these may have been installed post vehicle delivery). Will you require technicians to service these components or are you going to sub-let this work out? Very Specific skills may be needed for these particular components and may require specialized training.
Technicians Hiring Recruiting Once your hiring needs are established, making the right hire begins with good recruiting. A few things to consider when starting recruitment efforts for techs. Where can I recruit the best technicians? What will I have to pay for the skill sets we may need? How many techs are really needed? These are all important items to consider!
Technicians Hiring Methods for recruitment differ considerably Consider ALL methods that yield a good volume of applicants - from a broad range of skill sets Electronic media such as Career Builder are very popular and can be far reaching Print media can be expensive and less broad but may yield more local talent available Never overlook technician referrals from your existing techs and staff
Technicians Hiring Direct contact with Technical Schools is also a good source for fresh talent. These schools offer comprehensive, industry recognized training programs of all forms LATTC (Los Angeles Trades Technical College) http://college.lattc.edu/ UTI (Universal Technical Institute) http://www.uti.edu/employers WyoTECH http://www.wyotech.edu/
Technicians Hiring These schools offer training in automotive and diesel so will fit nicely for the Paratransit industry A broad range of skills are always a good fit with smaller shops vs. specialized techs that may not be able to do everything you need Many of these technical colleges offer training nearby - Los Angeles CA, Rancho Cucamonga CA, Sacramento CA, Freemont CA, Long Beach CA, and Phoenix AZ all have good programs
Technicians Hiring Directly contacting various military services for returning veterans is also a good source. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines often come with outstanding technical training behind them. Many will have training in complex military equipment we will never see, but these skills are transferrable and prove they can learn new skills These folks are usually skilled at operating in a busy, stressful, environment too... just like Paratransit
Technicians Hiring Typically hiring from technical schools brings applicants with knowledge of the latest technologies used in newer vehicles They will need seasoning, but often can quickly ascend to ASE and Master ASE certification Of course hiring ASE qualified techs is the ultimate goal for hiring qualified technicians. However it goes without saying that a blend of experience and formal training is the best of both worlds
Technicians Hiring Be aware of the many different ASE certifications that are available... Choose the skills that best suite your needs now They can build or add levels of certification... You may have to pay more for ASE certified techs but usually saves you time and money on repairs Better diagnosis and quicker repairs along with less trial and error for repairs saves money. Fix it right the first time
Technicians Training Ongoing training of existing staff is critical to success in the shop Most manufacturers offer free training when using their products make use of this training ASE offers training manuals and practice testing on-line at a minimal fee. http://www.ase.com/test-prep-training.aspx These will build confidence leading to success Some training is also available in Spanish
Technicians Training Autom otive Technician Certification Levels A1 Engine Repair A2 Automatic Transmission/Transaxles A3 Manual Drive Train and Axles A4 Suspension and Steering A5 Brakes A6 Electrical - Electronic Systems A7 Heating Ventilation and A/C A8 Engine Performance A9 Light Vehicle Diesel Engines ASE Autom otive Master Certified = (A1 through A8)
Technicians Training School Bus Technician Certification Levels S1 Body Systems and Special Equipment S2 Diesel Engines S3 Drive Train S4 Brakes S5 Suspension and Steering S6 Electrical - Electronic Systems S7 A/C Systems and Controls ASE Master School Bus Certified = (S1 through S6)
Technicians Training Medium/Heavy Truck Technician Certification Levels T1 Gasoline Engines T2 Diesel Engines T3 Drive Train T4 Brakes T5 Suspension and Steering T6 Electrical - Electronic Systems T7 Heating Ventilation and A/C T8 Preventive Maintenance and Inspection ASE Master Medium/Heavy Truck Certified = (T2 through T7)
Technicians Training Transit Bus Technician Certification Levels H1 Compressed Natural Gas Engines H2 Diesel Engines H3 Drive Train H4 Brakes H5 Suspension and Steering H6 Electrical - Electronic Systems H7 Heating Ventilation and A/C H8 Preventive Maintenance and Inspection ASE Master Transit Bus Certified = (H2 through H7)
Technicians Training New Master Medium/Heavy Vehicle Technician Status T2,S2, H2 Diesel Engines T3, S3, H3 Drive Train T4, S4, H4 Brakes T5, S5, H5 Suspension and Steering T6, S6, H6 Electrical - Electronic Systems T7, S7, H7 Heating Ventilation and A/C ASE Master Medium/Heavy Vehicle Technician
Technicians Retaining Good Techs If you ve done a good job of recruiting and training, the next job is to keep your good techs. While this may be the last piece of today s presentation, it s the really the most important after all if you can t keep them... you have to begin it all again! There are really no secrets to this piece of the puzzle.
Technicians Retaining Good Techs Retention starts with good working conditions! Clean, organized, and well light shops are a must The correct salary range for the skill sets and your specific location need to be considered Compare local rates for comparable skills Consider shift differential and benefit packages too Any opportunity for further training is also great hook that shouldn t be forgotten Consider both formal and informal training options
Technicians Retaining Good Techs Annual tooling allowances, boot allowance, and tool insurance coverage are also good add-ons to consider. Generally allowances are payable with receipts, so you re getting the value you are paying for. Tool insurance policy riders require accurate tool lists and are generally not expensive as a rider policy Keep tool inventories updated every year and keep them on file in the event of a claim Of course provide all required safety equipment!
Technicians Retaining Good Techs Hopefully by following these steps you ve researched, hired, trained, and are now retaining your best ever technicians After all, next to driver wages, your maintenance costs are the next largest expense Good technicians are the root of a great maintenance program Look after them and they will save you money, protect your fleet investment, and make you look good!
Thank you for your attention. Questions on anything you ve seen today?