tool allowances for techs starting their careers = great idea

[jd_1138]

A couple of years ago a friend's son had just graduated from tech school with an auto mechanics certificate. He was on the fence about what job to take. I pointed him to a local dealer group that offers a tool allowance of $750/year for HF, Snap On, or Matco (your choice). $750 is given up front and annually for a total of $2250 after 2 years. And they have a nicely fleshed out info. webpage for new techs outlining their program where they get to be mentored under a 30 year ASE certified master technician.

I thought that is an awesome idea to attract new technicians into the field. My dad was a mechanic all his life and was trained in Army in 1960s and was a mechanic the rest of his life until 2015 when he was still working part time. Anyway he had some horror stories about how new techs are treated at dealerships. My dad had his own shop 90% of the time but sometimes worked for other businesses. A Chevy and a Ford dealer at 2 different times.

There was a young man in stall next to him at the Chevy dealer who was having trouble with an engine rebuild. My dad would go over once every couple of hours if he was having problems. He did this after his first rebuild was not right. He was on his 2nd rebuild of the same engine. And since it is flat rate, the kid's check would be abysmal. The service manager got angry and told my dad to get back to work. My dad quit. It was a toxic environment.

A tool program for new techs just seems like a great idea -- shows you care, you are helping insure your new techs have some crucial tools they may not have otherwise, it's a tax write off for the business, etc.. The mentoring of new techs is even better than the tool allowance program.

And with the Icon line of tools at HF now, that $750 can buy quite a lot of quality tools. Or if the new tech is really short on tools, perhaps go for the Quinn sets. Then later replace with better stuff.

 

[shoggoth80]

A tool allowance in an industry where there's a lot of pressure to provide your own certainly takes some of that off. If you aren't picky about brand, that $750 annual could get some of the specialty stuff to help increase your capabilities. Ball joint kits, slide hammers, pullers, basic budget scan tool... And put the tech ahead of the curve... Which would benefit both parties. My suggestion to newbies would always be variety of tools that are decent, vs fewer really high quality pieces. Personal exception being ratchets.

The mentorship IS incredibly valuable. So much is learned by doing. It's an investment in your people. However I believe there needs to be reciprocity there. Make the environment worth staying in, and people generally will. You can learn everything from a book, but when you put hands to metal...

 

[CGarage]

They need to teach the kids how to buy and what to buy rather than to just give them money to burn.

 

[Bagherra]

Our tool allowance at my job is only $250 a year....

 

[CGarage]

The problem I see most with technicians in the U.S. is as follows:

1) Inability to communicate professionally- verbally and in writing
2) Financial illiteracy (how many have rude bucks in tool truck debt)?
3) Too much drinking on and off the job
4) Very, very few have knowledge of tool brands and companies beyond what is available from tool trucks, this leads to poor application of limited capital
5) Failure to apply and implement Military-style checklists during workflow to make sure all steps are observed, and then cross-checking work product

The money would be better spent on educating these young men and women in my opinion. But, it is also my point of view that a European type apprenticeship program should be required where beginners in the field must work under a seasoned and experienced hand for a few years before being able to go off and work professionally.

Throwing money at the problem via a tool allowance does not address core issues that can be solved with better training and education.

ETA) #5 to list

 

[Callelle]

Our tool allowance at my job is only $250 a year....

$250? My job only gives $200 to go towards tools or boots.

 

[txvwnut]

No tool allowance here but we provide safety shoes, uniforms and prescription safety glasses.

 

[Wubicon]

Pick a different trade. Any trade.

Auto mechanic is thankless, expensive, dirty career. It's a much better hobby. Go be an aircraft mechanic, or a welder or a millwright or an industrial electrician or....

 

[Sumboodie]

I've never understood why it's acceptable/standard practice for mechanic and some trades jobs to require the workers provide their own tools.

I can't think of many other jobs that's the same.
Do dentists have to buy all their tools? Doctors?

My Dad was a millwright for about 37 years. Lot of walking, stairs, ladders, -25* to 120*, nasty chemicals, nearly everything is big and heavy and will severely hurt or kill you if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He retired at 63 and the last few years were not easy.

 

[dcg9381]

They need to teach the kids how to buy and what to buy rather than to just give them money to burn.

This. Doesn't matter if you're a mechanic or a doctor, if people throw money at you - there's a reason. And that reason is not in your best interest.

 

[Wubicon]

I've never understood why it's acceptable/standard practice for mechanic and some trades jobs to require the workers provide their own tools.

I can't think of many other jobs that's the same.
Do dentists have to buy all their tools? Doctors?

Yes, they just start an entire business though. Or, they work for someone else for a bit and then start their own, or take over someone else's business.

It's a little different when the career already starts with them off with many multiple times more than an auto mechanic.

 

[Sumboodie]

I chuckle a bit when teachers complain about having to buy supplies from their paycheck to teach. (Not that I don't think teaching is an important job... I definitely wouldn't have the patience dealing with kids)

It's usually a choice. Where a trades job is often given a list of mandatory tools. I've seen those lists be a couple grand, so those first several paychecks are effectively zero.
And if that work doesn't pan out, what then? At best sell those tools for maybe 50% of new cost.

I work for a multibillion $$ company. Mostly involved in fuel & oil and marine/land/air cargo.

Just my warehouse alone, which there are 2 workers total, does 6-7 million $$ a year in sales.
Asking for anything more than basic office supplies is "we'll look into it"

Took 3 YEARS of constantly asking to get a sign for the building. And they sent a $100 vinyl banner. And were irritated I bought $7 of screws and washers in the company account to put it up.

I ended up buying a $125 push floor sweeper out of pocket, broom sweeping a whole warehouse was killing my back and shoulders, plus made huge clouds of dust.
I may as well have been asking for a $250,000 street sweeper the way my requests were looked at.

Stuff like that is a moral killer. Has a person on edge expecting to get a pink slip any day.
They've fired well paid employees and hired fresh less paid people more than a few times.
Somehow flushing down years, maybe even decades of knowledge and experience. But on paper, the new guy costs less.

 

[dcg9381]

Do dentists have to buy all their tools? Doctors?

I don't know about dentists, but I do know about MDs. They will throw 1+ million at you, absolutely no problem at very favorable rates. Because you are good for it. But with the "consolidation" of MD and dental practices, maybe I'm behind the curve. When I graduated (not an MD) they'd throw 1-2M of credit at anyone graduating from medical school without even a blink or proof of anything.

I chuckle a bit when teachers complain about having to buy supplies from their paycheck to teach. (Not that I don't think teaching is an important job... I definitely wouldn't have the patience dealing with kids)

I don't chuckle at that. We're neighbors to a state that ranks 50th in public school education. Teachers don't have the basics of what students need.... Talk about doing it wrong.

 

[Sumboodie]

I don't chuckle at that. We're neighbors to a state that ranks 50th in public school education. Teachers don't have the basics of what students need.... Talk about doing it wrong.

AK has to be near the bottom of that list too.

I've met more than a few recently graduated kids that could barely handle 3rd grade level reading, writing and math.
No idea how they managed to be pushed through school and graduate vs being held back.
"Homeschooling" is fairly common and is generally a HUGE disservice to the kids.

Great they made it through school, but now what?

 

[gizardlizard]

I've never understood why it's acceptable/standard practice for mechanic and some trades jobs to require the workers provide their own tools.

I can't think of many other jobs that's the same.
Do dentists have to buy all their tools? Doctors?

My Dad was a millwright for about 37 years. Lot of walking, stairs, ladders, -25* to 120*, nasty chemicals, nearly everything is big and heavy and will severely hurt or kill you if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He retired at 63 and the last few years were not easy.

I’m a journeyman millwright of 35 years. I work in the plastic injection molding field. I love my job. Everyday it can be something different. Thru my years of knowledge, proud to say I’ve never had to take one of my vehicles in to get worked on ever. If I have an AC problem at home, I can fix it. Pneumatics, hydraulics, electrical up to 480 volt three phase, electronics, robotics, compressors, carpentry. Point is, I never need help working on anything. All my years working as a millwright gained me knowledge and more importantly confidence. Auto mechanics are paid peanuts and put up with too much ****. That’s why soooo many are quitting.

 

[CGarage]

@BlakeTheCarGuy


Blake, you are a nice young man, I have said this before on here that you will get ahead in life because you are interested in learning. You have been working as a technician / mechanic in the U.S. for the past few years. How many of your co-workers use GJ as a resource to learn about new tools and what to buy?

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

@BlakeTheCarGuy


Blake, you are a nice young man, I have said this before on here that you will get ahead because you are interested in learning. You have been working as a technician / mechanic in the U.S. for the past few years. How many of your co-workers use GJ as a resource to learn about new tools and what to buy?

None of them. They all say they don’t want to think about cars or tools outside of work so they don’t do any forums or anything and just buy brands they know.

 

[unslow1]

A few of us had a discussion about this topic a couple of years ago.
One of the shop owners asked some of us at gathering about helping a young guy get started. What we came up with was him giving $1000 to one of his mid-level techs. He was asked to buy a Harbor Freight toolbox and fill it with the tools a new guy would need. Then they were going to have the new guy work out of that box. Then if the new guy stayed one year the box and tools were his. If he didn't stay the box went to the next new guy with the same deal. It was important who did the shopping. I don't know how that turned out.

 

[CGarage]

None of them. They all say they don’t want to think about cars or tools outside of work so they don’t do any forums or anything and just buy brands they know.

Thank you for proving my point.
Blake, I predict, within a decade, your career will continue to progress and greatly exceed that of those who are, currently, your “peers”. Keep up your learning and good work.

 

[neophyte]

The problem I see most with technicians in the U.S. is as follows:

1) Inability to communicate professionally- verbally and in writing
2) Financial illiteracy (how many have rude bucks in tool truck debt)?
3) Too much drinking on and off the job
4) Very, very few have knowledge of tool brands and companies beyond what is available from tool trucks, this leads to poor application of limited capital

The money would be better spent on educating these young men and women in my opinion. But, it is also my point of view that a European type apprenticeship program should be required where beginners in the field must work under a seasoned and experienced hand for a few years before being able to go off and work professionally.

Throwing money at the problem via a tool allowance does not address core issues that can be solved with better training and education.

Drinking alcohol is fairly standard in jobs that involve muscle stress, and mental stress, and has been for thousands of years.
The alcohol acts as a mild anesthetic for muscle pain, and can help with muscle cramping.
This is true whether the drinker is a mechanic, a general ditch digger, or a Ballerina.
Going out to bars is admittedly also expensive, but can also help with social networking, which has also routinely been pointed out as being crucial in some cases to find work, or better work.

 

[neophyte]

I've never understood why it's acceptable/standard practice for mechanic and some trades jobs to require the workers provide their own tools.

I can't think of many other jobs that's the same.
Do dentists have to buy all their tools? Doctors?

My Dad was a millwright for about 37 years. Lot of walking, stairs, ladders, -25* to 120*, nasty chemicals, nearly everything is big and heavy and will severely hurt or kill you if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.

He retired at 63 and the last few years were not easy.

Most of the dentists I’ve had in the past run their own offices, and pay for their own supplies and tools.
This is likely one of the reasons so many dentists have “old timey” equipment.
A 50-100 year old dental chair probably works almost as well as a currently made one, and is likely far more sturdily built, so having the chair refurbished is probably money well spent.
A lot of specialist doctors at hospitals nay actually just be renting space in the hospital, with perks that come with being part of the hospital, but likely also furnishing their own offices, and supplying their own equipment.
I had to help my sister at some hospital appointment, and the office was very large, and looked like it had been furnished out of a Design Within Reach catalog, and reminded me of a day spa.
The doctor charged for and required a **** load of tests at every appointment, and many of those tests were out of pocket.

Dentists and these types of clinics are usually way more upfront with costs compared to hospitals though.

 

[Wamsutta]

These days they have a minimum wage safety net. If you fall below a certain number of flat rate hours, they pay you in minimum wage hours.

 

[liliysdad]

I don't know about dentists, but I do know about MDs. They will throw 1+ million at you, absolutely no problem at very favorable rates. Because you are good for it. But with the "consolidation" of MD and dental practices, maybe I'm behind the curve. When I graduated (not an MD) they'd throw 1-2M of credit at anyone graduating from medical school without even a blink or proof of anything.



I don't chuckle at that. We're neighbors to a state that ranks 50th in public school education. Teachers don't have the basics of what students need.... Talk about doing it wrong.

I work in that education system and the only reason we are 50th is because there aren’t 60 states.

The funding allocations are laughable and the pay scales embarrassing. We are on the cutting edge of 25 years ago.

 

[NFT5]

When I had my shop I paid tool allowances to any staff that were required to use tools. Typically the allowance was around $20/week.

For trade qualified staff (panel beaters & spray painters) they were expected to supply their own tools (although there were some specialist "shop" tools). For apprentices and non trade qualified staff I would buy a set of tools comprising pretty much everything that they'd need in day to day operations. Tool brands varied a bit but quality was mid-range trade quality. A basic rolling tool cabinet was included.

They were expected to look after these tools and replace any that were lost or broken. I paid them the same tool allowance as the tradesmen but they had to buy the tools back from me over the first two years, interest free, after which they owned them. If they left before paying off the tools they had the option of paying out the balance and taking the tools with them.

The system reduced the incidence of "lost" tools and damaged tools. It also meant less "borrowing" of my tools (although this was allowed for instances where they needed something not in their kit). For most of the employees on this system these tool sets were their first and they really did value them. All, except one, paid out the balance and took the tools with them if they left within the two years.

 

[shoggoth80]

The problem I see most with technicians in the U.S. is as follows:

1) Inability to communicate professionally- verbally and in writing
2) Financial illiteracy (how many have rude bucks in tool truck debt)?
3) Too much drinking on and off the job
4) Very, very few have knowledge of tool brands and companies beyond what is available from tool trucks, this leads to poor application of limited capital

The money would be better spent on educating these young men and women in my opinion. But, it is also my point of view that a European type apprenticeship program should be required where beginners in the field must work under a seasoned and experienced hand for a few years before being able to go off and work professionally.

Throwing money at the problem via a tool allowance does not address core issues that can be solved with better training and education.

The more traditional apprenticeship/ later educational work-learn is what came to mind regarding this as well. I can't remember the wording for it in German. It's something I think the American education system could benefit from greatly.

 

[Yarpo]

The problem I see most with technicians in the U.S. is as follows:

1) Inability to communicate professionally- verbally and in writing
2) Financial illiteracy (how many have rude bucks in tool truck debt)?
3) Too much drinking on and off the job
4) Very, very few have knowledge of tool brands and companies beyond what is available from tool trucks, this leads to poor application of limited capital

The money would be better spent on educating these young men and women in my opinion. But, it is also my point of view that a European type apprenticeship program should be required where beginners in the field must work under a seasoned and experienced hand for a few years before being able to go off and work professionally.

Throwing money at the problem via a tool allowance does not address core issues that can be solved with better training and education.

Are you studying or interviewing technicians or how are you seeing these problems? I'd say zero of this is relevant to the technicians I worked with, you'd be out of the shops I was in in short order, and you'd be literally getting paid less because warranty work requires rather lengthy and descriptive stories to get paid. I could see this happening in shops with low standards and high turnover and poor reviews, but then you shouldn't generalize because its absolutely not the case in the shops I've worked (European/Luxury)
Imagine you have to write in full detail how you connected the battery charger and tester to verify the codes, you have to write that you then disconnected said charger, then disconnected the battery. You removed the four bolts holding the cup holders in and accessed the two bolts recessed beneath to free the back of the center console. Using a trim tool, you popped out the back of the center console and released it from the tabs, then removed the needed front trim pieces and accessed the two screws needed to remove the upper portion of the console. Upon removing all 4 screws holding the center console in place, you disconnected the electrical connector for the ambient lighting and pulled the console from the vehicle. This is...step one, removal of the console. Now you can imagine the detail you'd write to replace the center console command touch pad, verify it works, reinstall, reconnect the battery, perform a quick test.... blah blah.

Never mind all the communication required with the service advisor, parts counter, customers and so fourth...?
Yeah, we're just caveman writing with finger painted pictures usually. Most are dumb as can be!

1.) See above.
2.) Young kids with too much money in any profession buy dumb things....welcome to earth and tools are hardly a bad thing to own.
3.) The old guy across from me used to go out to lunch and have a pitcher of beer....then come back to work. That hasn't been acceptable In the industry here for like 15 years he said. No clue how you see technicians drinking on the job, which areas/shops?
4.)Techs use their tools everyday. If anything I would say they have much more knowledge of whats available, what works, and what they want to buy. I'd say almost nobody uses exclusively tool truck stuff these days, 10 years ago? Absolutely.

The thing about anecdotes is they don't prove much. You said blake proved your point, does my counter example prove mine?

 

[sparky 1971]

It's funny that this thread appeared today. My biggest and best customer is trucking company with 2500ish trucks on the road. Today I was there in one of the buildings and needed a bunch of stuff moved with a forklift; as all of it was getting moved out I noticed a couple of US General 56" cabinets. I asked what those were for and they told me the apprenticeship. The old guard is starting to retire faster than the replacements are coming in so in order to attract new blood in they will start the kids off with about $10,000 worth of tools, after a year, the tools belong to the kid and the guy pointed to the corner where everything else is kept. Boxes and boxes of stuff, but almost everything was packaged up so I couldn't tell what anything was other than a couple of Milwaukee drill kits. I know it's not going to be the best of the best tools, but I'm sure what is there will be more than good enough to get by at first, Snap On is there every Tuesday and Friday morning as well as two evenings a week for the night shift so the wait for the upgrade will be no more than a couple of days. They also pay for the schooling with the stipulation that if they quit before a certain time has passed by, the schooling has to be paid back.

 

[CGarage]

Are you studying or interviewing technicians or how are you seeing these problems? I'd say zero of this is relevant to the technicians I worked with, you'd be out of the shops I was in in short order, and you'd be literally getting paid less because warranty work requires rather lengthy and descriptive stories to get paid. I could see this happening in shops with low standards and high turnover and poor reviews, but then you shouldn't generalize because its absolutely not the case in the shops I've worked (European/Luxury)
Imagine you have to write in full detail how you connected the battery charger and tester to verify the codes, you have to write that you then disconnected said charger, then disconnected the battery. You removed the four bolts holding the cup holders in and accessed the two bolts recessed beneath to free the back of the center console. Using a trim tool, you popped out the back of the center console and released it from the tabs, then removed the needed front trim pieces and accessed the two screws needed to remove the upper portion of the console. Upon removing all 4 screws holding the center console in place, you disconnected the electrical connector for the ambient lighting and pulled the console from the vehicle. This is...step one, removal of the console. Now you can imagine the detail you'd write to replace the center console command touch pad, verify it works, reinstall, reconnect the battery, perform a quick test.... blah blah.

Never mind all the communication required with the service advisor, parts counter, customers and so fourth...?
Yeah, we're just caveman writing with finger painted pictures usually. Most are dumb as can be!

1.) See above.
2.) Young kids with too much money in any profession buy dumb things....welcome to earth and tools are hardly a bad thing to own.
3.) The old guy across from me used to go out to lunch and have a pitcher of beer....then come back to work. That hasn't been acceptable In the industry here for like 15 years he said. No clue how you see technicians drinking on the job, which areas/shops?
4.)Techs use their tools everyday. If anything I would say they have much more knowledge of whats available, what works, and what they want to buy. I'd say almost nobody uses exclusively tool truck stuff these days, 10 years ago? Absolutely.

The thing about anecdotes is they don't prove much. You said blake proved your point, does my counter example prove mine?

Any technician that works for me on my personal vehicles I interview ahead of time. I get a lot of insight from them into what is going on in industry, automotive, maritime, and aviation.
I have had to go out and buy tools and build personal capability because of poor service experiences I have had over the past ~ 20 years, primarily centered around high line/Euro cars. I have some fantastic technicians who are great friends, but the industry is facing a downward trend, largely due to poor human capital in my opinion. Technical / trades occupations need a boost in the U.S., and a re-imagining along the apprenticeship lines.

 

[finn]

Yes, they just start an entire business though. Or, they work for someone else for a bit and then start their own, or take over someone else's business.

It's a little different when the career already starts with them off with many multiple times more than an auto mechanic.

I would wager that most Doctors or Dentists these days work for a Medical Group or Dental Group.

Not many out there that have the resources to hang their own shingle, especially right out of school.

Having a private practice means having to hire nurses, medical assistants, medical coders, insurance people and more. I would bet they would need a million or two to start.

Plus there’s the education debt.

The problem I see with providing tools to auto mechanics is that, for many, or at least some, there’s no sense of ownership. Who restocks when Bubba loses a 10 mm every other day?, Or when the contents of his box disappears because he neglected to lock his box, and Homer in the next stall has sticky fingers?

Medical equipment is often either disposable, too large to walk, has no secondary market, etc. In general the clinic takes care of cleaning and sanitation of the “tools”, seeing that they are up to date, etc. I think my last couple of doctors would consider their laptop one of their most critical tools, and that’s owned, maintained, and serviced by the clinic and their IT group.

Plus, mechanics to some extent, are notorious for rolling their boxes out the front door with little provocation. There goes $20k worth of tools on their way to the Pawn Shop.

I personally see a tool allowance as a good thing, plus maybe an up front signing bonus. Requiring the money be spend on an employer provided list of brands is beyond stupid, though.

 

[Banjorear]

I work in that education system and the only reason we are 50th is because there aren’t 60 states.

The funding allocations are laughable and the pay scales embarrassing. We are on the cutting edge of 25 years ago.

I'm in education in NJ and will be retiring as of 1/01/26 after 26.5 years. With my pension and what I can make on the side, I'll come out ahead of what I was making in education.

 

[CGarage]

If I was a dealership owner, my requirement would be:

- All technicians need to own and provide standard toolbox w assortment of general automotive / marine / aviation tools

- I, as owner, will provide all OEM specialty tools that my dealership owns and keeps under lock and key and signs out to repair jobs as required

I think what is described above is a fair and reasonable system.

 

[Yarpo]

but the industry is facing a downward trend, largely due to poor human capital in my opinion. Technical / trades occupations need a boost in the U.S., and a re-imagining along the apprenticeship lines.

Aren't most industries suffering? Nobody pays enough to have the employee care, its not unique to being a mechanic imo.

But on the technician side it doesn't pay well enough,people assume you're a scumbag who cant speak English with worse morals than a lawyer, and the knowledge and tools you need keeps ever increasing while the pay/benefits dont.
I always tell this story but just before covid one of our guys had just hit 20 years with the dealership, earning his 3rd week of PTO. People clap, laugh, meeting goes on and afterwards walking back to our bays a dozen people joked with him that ****, college grads start with that fresh out of school. We're a union shop with relatively good benefits and pay....

If I was a dealership owner, my requirement would be:

- All technicians need to own and provide standard toolbox w assortment of general automotive / marine / aviation tools

- I, as owner, will provide all OEM specialty tools that my dealership owns and keeps under lock and key and signs out to repair jobs as required

I think what is described above is a fair and reasonable system.

This is standard at the three shops I've worked, two dealerships and 1 independent.
Even better, we didn't need a toolbox at two of them, dealership provided.
As for a tool allowance and the thread, don't think it would change anything. Doubt anyone would balk at having another 750 dollars, but its not going to matter or sway people into anything one way or another.
They could just add 50 cents or a dollar onto your hourly pay but yeah, anything but having to pay people more

 

[liliysdad]

I'm in education in NJ and will be retiring as of 1/01/26 after 26.5 years. With my pension and what I can make on the side, I'll come out ahead of what I was making in education.

This is my “retirement” gig….

 

[Fixr]

I chuckle a bit when teachers complain about having to buy supplies from their paycheck to teach. (Not that I don't think teaching is an important job... I definitely wouldn't have the patience dealing with kids)

It's usually a choice. Where a trades job is often given a list of mandatory tools. I've seen those lists be a couple grand, so those first several paychecks are effectively zero.
And if that work doesn't pan out, what then? At best sell those tools for maybe 50% of new cost.

I work for a multibillion $$ company. Mostly involved in fuel & oil and marine/land/air cargo.

Just my warehouse alone, which there are 2 workers total, does 6-7 million $$ a year in sales.
Asking for anything more than basic office supplies is "we'll look into it"

Took 3 YEARS of constantly asking to get a sign for the building. And they sent a $100 vinyl banner. And were irritated I bought $7 of screws and washers in the company account to put it up.

I ended up buying a $125 push floor sweeper out of pocket, broom sweeping a whole warehouse was killing my back and shoulders, plus made huge clouds of dust.
I may as well have been asking for a $250,000 street sweeper the way my requests were looked at.

Stuff like that is a moral killer. Has a person on edge expecting to get a pink slip any day.
They've fired well paid employees and hired fresh less paid people more than a few times.
Somehow flushing down years, maybe even decades of knowledge and experience. But on paper, the new guy costs less.

So why are you still working there?

 

[Banjorear]

This is my “retirement” gig….

What is? Garage Journal? Haha

 

[dnschmidt]

The problem I see most with technicians in the U.S. is as follows:

1) Inability to communicate professionally- verbally and in writing
2) Financial illiteracy (how many have rude bucks in tool truck debt)?
3) Too much drinking on and off the job
4) Very, very few have knowledge of tool brands and companies beyond what is available from tool trucks, this leads to poor application of limited capital

The money would be better spent on educating these young men and women in my opinion. But, it is also my point of view that a European type apprenticeship program should be required where beginners in the field must work under a seasoned and experienced hand for a few years before being able to go off and work professionally.

Throwing money at the problem via a tool allowance does not address core issues that can be solved with better training and education.

90% right. I was a scientist at Westinghouse R&D Center in my native Pittsburgh. All of our machinists were Journeymen that had gone through the Westinghouse apprenticeship program and any of them could make an engine from a block of steel. No current companies have such programs as they are all too cheap to fund such programs and expect expertise to just fall out of the sky. Another reason America is falling behind China, Taiwan and Europe. If you hire a carpenter in Europe he's an expert, in America he's somebody off of the street that just might be able to pound a nail although with nail guns that's no longer a given.

 

[CGarage]

90% right. I was a scientist at Westinghouse R&D Center in my native Pittsburgh. All of our machinists were Journeymen that had gone through the Westinghouse apprenticeship program and any of them could make an engine from a block of steel. No current companies have such programs as they are all too cheap to fund such programs and expect expertise to just all out of the sky. Another reason America is falling behind China, Taiwan and Europe. If you hire a carpenter in Europe he's an expert, in America he's somebody off of the street that just might be able to pound a nail although with nail guns that's no longer a given.

I completely agree with you.

 

[liliysdad]

What is? Garage Journal? Haha

If it paid better, I’d be all about it.

 

[Banjorear]

If it paid better, I’d be all about it.

LOL!

 

[Fedwrench]

These days they have a minimum wage safety net. If you fall below a certain number of flat rate hours, they pay you in minimum wage hours.

That's not universal and depends on your state's labor laws.