How many members are tool truck drivers?

[bimmer630]

I don't want to turn wrenches all of my life, and always thought since I'm sort of a geek about tools, and I always seem to know more about them than the actual tool dealers do, maybe getting into driving a tool truck would be a good thing to fall back on later in life.
Watching some car shows on tv today, they had a little Matco feature and said to log on to their website to find out about franchising.
So it seems like the tool companies are still looking for guys to drive the trucks, or not?
Are more people theee days just getting tools through the internet? Is the truck buisness going to eventually die?
Personally I still prefer to pay a little more for a quality tool and have the service of a guy that shows up every week and can warranty stuff for me. Some younger techs I know just love getting tools from harbor freight and amazon. I like to lee these guys in buisness and I can tell it's hard for some of them, but still there are some tool guys that seem to lead pretty comfortable lives financially.
Just seemed like an interesting topic to bring up. Discuss!

 

[NitroSun]

There are a couple threads on here. Do a search.

 

[Ign]

It's been brought up several times. There was a guy who started a Matco (IIRC) franchise here. It started out w rainbows and unicorns and ended badly.

If I were on my desktop I'd be your secretary and search for you. On my phone, nah. You can do a little legwork. If the in-house search engine pisses you off use Google "search term site:garagejournal.com"

 

[bimmer630]

Yes I've heard horror stories about the business. That's for sure.

 

[Ign]

Also I'm gonna say if you're not resourceful enough to find these previous discussions, you might want to re-think being a business owner.

Not being rude, just saying part of running any successful business is the ability to tap into information already out there. This is why teachers are supposed to teach kids HOW to find the answers rather than just handing them the answers upon request.

As a guy who's run his own machine shop for 8 years now I can tell you being resourceful and knowing how to search in our Information Age truly is important and beneficial.

 

[jakemac]

It's a cash cow .............. for the Company, not the driver.
There is a reason that the truck brands are always looking for new drivers to buy in (and yes, YOU pay them). They can't keep the old drivers.

 

[canuckian]

A few tooltruck drivers have come and gone on this site. Some stayed. Some got sick of the brand and price bashing and moved on.
I can't speak from experience but from observation of my current snap on on guy and others, it's not an easy gig no matter how glamorous the tool companies make it out to be. Long hours, lots of seat time, chasing down deadbeats for payments, truck maintenance, the list goes on. BUT like any business, if you're disciplined and have a good business sense, there's a good living to be made. Knowing about the tools is only a small part of that business. Being a bit of a tool nerd helps as well because it helps you enjoy the job but if you don't know how to sell them, you'll like them a whole lot less after you're stuck with a 100k truck with 250k of tools inside and no way to make the payments on either!

I've looked closely at this business as something for me to do after I retire but I've come to the conclusion that it's not the gig for me. Sure I like jumping on the Snap On truck or in my tool guy's storage garage and playing with (and often times buying) the latest and greatest they have to offer but I also enjoy using my tools and I'd rather spend time doing that than looking at tools as simply inventory that I have to sell so that I'm not out of business and in debt. I also don't want to spend my golden years chasing down deadbeats that don't feel they have to pay their tool bill.

But yes there are threads on here about failing tool truck endeavours but there are also threads by a few drivers that seem to have done quite well in the business.

 

[JohnDeere1]

Unless you live in a metropolis I wouldn't waste your money my snap on guy doesn't do very well specially with such a small margain to profit and bigger margain for failure with people not paying and disappearing the economy just isn't well enough yet also most guys buy on the internet. It cost way more than you'd think to get into a franchise up words of 200k just for Snap on 150k for others.

 

[kythri]

A few tooltruck drivers have come and gone on this site. Some stayed. Some got sick of the brand and price bashing and moved on.

I can also think of at least 3 or 4 who are still active members, but have given up their franchise...

 

[KnurledNut]

GJ member "softailgarage" went through a fiasco as a dealer with Cornwell.

Here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=217037

 

[Wamsutta]

I think most of the tool truck members here are laying low and hiding; too much tool truck negativity on here.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yes, softtailgarage was a dealer for a while and had problems with his truck and then when he got it going he had a buyer run off with a big ticket tools. Had to send tools back to settle his account.

 

[Bacon Man]

To me, Independant would be the way to go.

Your own truck/van to start, and carry what you wish.

I've read a lot on how independant guys started out selling wrenches and sockets out of the back of the mini-van and grew to have 3 or 4 trucks running and their own warehouses.

Advice from them
Cash on delivery, you can sell somethings on credit with an agreement with the service manager.
Constant contact with service managers and mechanics.
Hassle free warranty (they break it, you swap it then and there and deal with the company on your own time)
Perks, some give away a free screwdriver and business card, others give away free 10mm sockets and a business card.

A niche,

1 guy spends his friday hauling around tool boxes and shop equipment to show off and sell.

1 guy opens his store to the public on friday and half of saturday.

Another guy goes to flea markets, farmers markets, high school football tailgates with the truck.

 

[pl_silverado]

I think most of the tool truck members here are laying low and hiding; too much tool truck negativity on here.

Not necessarily laying low and hiding, but getting into arguments on here with keyboard warriors is like ******* in the wind.

If you're willing to put in the legwork, you can make a lot of money. If you have a family and kids, forget it. You'll never see them. You'll be able to provide for them just fine, but Snap-on will be your life and chasing deadbeats will take up what little free time you have.

 

[WittHay]

Area has a lot to do with it, probably waiting lists for Snap-on routes in commercial areas or high end auto malls. Lots of Mac or Matco routes available in rural areas

Being a independent and selling GearWrench and SK neat idea, but can you sell enough to pay the mortgage and put groceries on the table

 

[EOC_Jason]

Size of the city definitely matters as that will have a direct correlation to the size of your customer base (unless you want to spend a LOT of time driving to adjacent cities and such).

I know the Mac Tools guy in town in going out of business, he keeps posting on CL trying to liquidate his inventory...

There are two SO guys that I know of in this area, one works east side of the interstate, other is the west side. I've never seen any other tool truck brands in the area, but that doesn't mean there aren't any sneaking around.

 

[KinzeMech]

It's an outdated business model. May as well sell 35mm film off that truck. It's a sears catalog in the amazon age. Certainly not a business I would get into.
I can order from the website and have it, for certain, in 2 days. Tomorrow if I need it bad enough to pay for that kind of shipping. My local truck guy has never gotten anything I ordered back to me in less than 3 weeks. I haven't found a "truck brand" tool I couldn't order from a website yet. Granted, my opinion is biased as my local truck guy is lazy, but if you expect to compete in this market, you need to do something that adds value to justify the overhead you've added.

 

[KnurledNut]

I know a guy who has a small independent "tool truck" business. His inventory is primarily HF tools and consumables. He has been very successful with this venture.

 

[Davefr]

I don't want to turn wrenches all of my life, and always thought since I'm sort of a geek about tools, and I always seem to know more about them than the actual tool dealers do, maybe getting into driving a tool truck would be a good thing to fall back on later in life.

Past posts here at GJ would suggest that tool knowledge is way down the list of qualities that would make for a successful dealer.

Business acumen, people skills, willingness to work 12 hours/day 7 days a week, inventory management skills, managing debts/finance (yours and what's owed to you), discipline, time management, etc, etc, etc.

I'm just regurgitating what's been said here every time this topic surfaces.

The few guys that seem successful have prime routes that they're grandfathered into. The newbies get watered down routes where's there's not much meat on the bone.

 

[Wamsutta]

It's an outdated business model.

It may be but it sure is nice when the tool truck comes every week and you get to physically touch the tools before you buy them. Buying online doesn't give you the opportunity to check the product for defects.

 

[mbshop]

It can be made to work but it is sooooo tedious.
and yes, its critical that you be in a shop density area.
I was in a large spread out area. Spent half my time on the road. Many took off without paying. On and on. I finally quit because of those two reasons. Went back to wrenching and started making good money again.

 

[tripplejl]

I looked into and then said, no thanks.

 

[rnscustom]

I had a chat with the so guy that comes to the mechanic next door . We were all talking about business and how much we all made . Seemed being all one man shows we all took about the same paycheck . Sometimes we make pay , sometimes not , and sometimes we have xtra money . Good thing about being on your own is sometimes you can say I think I'll go home or take a long lunch . But most times your customers own you and you have to work way too much .

 

[MaverickDMD]

Better to buy SNA stocks. Doing very well.

 

[mudflap]

It's an outdated business model. May as well sell 35mm film off that truck. It's a sears catalog in the amazon age. Certainly not a business I would get into.
I can order from the website and have it, for certain, in 2 days. Tomorrow if I need it bad enough to pay for that kind of shipping. My local truck guy has never gotten anything I ordered back to me in less than 3 weeks. I haven't found a "truck brand" tool I couldn't order from a website yet. Granted, my opinion is biased as my local truck guy is lazy, but if you expect to compete in this market, you need to do something that adds value to justify the overhead you've added.

Add to this...the young techs i have hired the last couple years couldn't give a rats a** about made in USA...and they prefer to buy tools online..or Carlyle from our NAPA guy.. they rarely step foot on the tool truck.. once us old timers are gone...the tool trucks are gone. I hate to say it..but they are smarter than we were... They don't see the glamor in going into debt for a toolbox, or tools. they start out with what they can afford, and upgrade over time... This is not a theory...i see it every day..have hired 8 kids out of tech schools for the County garage in the last 2yrs.. You might be able to lure them onto a tool truck with free food..? but i'm not even sure about that.

 

[WittHay]

^ I disagree a bit mudflap, way back in the 80's there was a lot of Craftsman in repair shops along with Snap-on. Now that Craftsman is being replaced with GearWrench, Carlyle, Pittsburg Pro, etc

i think what makes money now for the Snap-on dealers is the diagnostic tools. He drives by the heavy duty shop and sells the latest whiz bang tool (Zeus) to the auto guys. I think the dealer gets a cut on every upgrade, download to that tool.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

You may have some of the services below, but I don't see them where I live. Maybe the Ice Cream vendor just doesn't work my area, but haven't seem him lately.
Ice Man GONE
Bread Truck GONE
Milk Truck GONE
Culligan Man GONE
Ice Cream Vendor GONE
Schwann Man GONE
Tool Truck Guy GOING

 

[dreamspeed]

I think some may get caught up with the romance of the whole situation. I love tools so what could be better than selling them?!

Having your hobby be your job sounds like the best idea ever....but sometimes it's not.

 

[zktk01]

I would be afraid of putting my money down into a potential dwindling business model.
The diagnostic thing may keep them afloat for awhile, but with so many tools out there cheap. No way am I cashing in my 401k for a tool route.

 

[zktk01]

I would be afraid of putting my money down into a potential dwindling business model.
The diagnostic thing may keep them afloat for awhile, but with so many tools out there cheap. No way am I cashing in my 401k for a tool route.

 

[mudflap]

^ I disagree a bit mudflap, way back in the 80's there was a lot of Craftsman in repair shops along with Snap-on. Now that Craftsman is being replaced with GearWrench, Carlyle, Pittsburg Pro, etc

i think what makes money now for the Snap-on dealers is the diagnostic tools. He drives by the heavy duty shop and sells the latest whiz bang tool (Zeus) to the auto guys. I think the dealer gets a cut on every upgrade, download to that tool.

When we were starting out...it was common to take on alot of debt for a big SO box.. And you werent really taken seriously unless you had "pro grade" tools..thats not so true now.. Carlyle, and Gearwrench are alot closer to pro grade..than Craftsman ever was.. When the youngsters do buy SO...they tend to buy directly from the SO web site..and just use the truck to warranty them.. But your right about the diagnostic equipment...But even that equipment..we are starting to lease..and updates are included.

 

[Hyster Gareth]

I loved my independent tool man when I lived in the UK back in the 90's. Every Friday regular as clockwork sold Britool, Knipex, some SK, lots of sweets and done a roaring sideline in **** films. I reckon that was his biggest earner!

To me, Independant would be the way to go.

Your own truck/van to start, and carry what you wish.

I've read a lot on how independant guys started out selling wrenches and sockets out of the back of the mini-van and grew to have 3 or 4 trucks running and their own warehouses.

Advice from them
Cash on delivery, you can sell somethings on credit with an agreement with the service manager.
Constant contact with service managers and mechanics.
Hassle free warranty (they break it, you swap it then and there and deal with the company on your own time)
Perks, some give away a free screwdriver and business card, others give away free 10mm sockets and a business card.

A niche,

1 guy spends his friday hauling around tool boxes and shop equipment to show off and sell.

1 guy opens his store to the public on friday and half of saturday.

Another guy goes to flea markets, farmers markets, high school football tailgates with the truck.

 

[pete379]

can't remember the name of cornwell truck guy from mt. vernon, wa. area used to post alot here. anybody remember ?

 

[Tennessee Cattleman]

Someone might have a chance of making it as a independent by selling quality tools such as SK and Proto, if you can compete with the online prices and do cash sells only. Providing excellent, hands on personal service can help some with competing with the online tool companies.

 

[97tbird]

I recently joined a multi route... my now boss was my former Matco guy (26 years), made the switch to MAC about 6 months ago. We have 5 operating trucks and an operation manager. I love it

 

[T45]

I think its a flawed plan to assume that its going to be any easier in retirement than other wised. IE, as if you were trying to put food on the table as a regular joe. Imagine it as a full-time-job, not a lifestyle gig, like any other job.

They guys cruising it at that stage of the game have probably invested many years building up a book of business. Just starting out, looking at lots of capital/working capital needs, lots of hustling and relationship building, etc. And probably starting with a below average route (good opportunities in business never seem to go to the new, random guy starting out...etc).

 

[jd_1138]

Add to this...the young techs i have hired the last couple years couldn't give a rats a** about made in USA...and they prefer to buy tools online..or Carlyle from our NAPA guy.. they rarely step foot on the tool truck.. once us old timers are gone...the tool trucks are gone. I hate to say it..but they are smarter than we were... They don't see the glamor in going into debt for a toolbox, or tools. they start out with what they can afford, and upgrade over time... This is not a theory...i see it every day..have hired 8 kids out of tech schools for the County garage in the last 2yrs.. You might be able to lure them onto a tool truck with free food..? but i'm not even sure about that.

They might care a tad more about where their tools were made if this country keeps losing our manufacturing base. Sure we have other industries, but manufacturing is a biggie. Less tax revenue means government layoffs.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Someone might have a chance of making it as a independent by selling quality tools such as SK and Proto, if you can compete with the online prices and do cash sells only. Providing excellent, hands on personal service can help some with competing with the online tool companies.

95% of techs haven't heard of sk proto wera etc. they won't pay tool truck prices for non tool truck tools. I won't. I need torque wrenches and I don't even wrench any more. Guess where I'm getting them from?

To think tool trucks are going to disappear is naive. Just look at snap on stock. Hey aren't going anywhere

 

[WhiffySpark]

They might care a tad more about where their tools were made if this country keeps losing our manufacturing base. Sure we have other industries, but manufacturing is a biggie. Less tax revenue means government layoffs.

No body gives a damn where anything is made anymore. Except for this site. And that's .0000000001% of consumers in America. That shipped sailed before I was born lol

 

[Davefr]

No body gives a damn where anything is made anymore. Except for this site. And that's .0000000001% of consumers in America. That shipped sailed before I was born lol

Your % might even be a tad optimistic