Lost my favorite Fork Lift Tech

[Jsf721]

In my business we have Crown Lift Trucks. We use the Crown Service Center and an independant repair company depending on the issue and how fast either can come.

We had to replace the drive wheel and the joystick about a month ago, so I called Crown in. George our tech is a great guy. We have gotten to know him over the years.

I called today to discuss the bill I recieved which was not anyting close to what I was quoted. In writing and signed. I got a call from the service advisor and it was corrected. He went on to tell me that George left to go to a bus company. It is so hard to find a competant mechanic and I hate having to break in or learn to trust another guy.-But I have no choice.

What I leared was that he got a small bump in $ and bennies, is now off the road (working in a shop), and the big one..................he no longer has to provide his own tools (or gets an allowance-not exactly how it works for sure). is this a new trend? I never thought (before I found this place) that it would be a big deal. But with all the hoopla on Snap on and tool truck prices it could amount to alot of $ for sure. When and if he leaves-does he keep the tools? Just curious. Great way to induce help to work for you I guess.

Dam, I miss George already. Great Mechanic and I cannot recall and re-work on things he fixed. I trusted that if he said we need it, we need it. Back to square 1 for me.

 

[jd_1138]

When and if he leaves-does he keep the tools? Just curious. Great way to induce help to work for you I guess.

No, if he leaves the new co. he is with, he will have to leave the tools for the next guy.

$20-30k sounds like a lot for tools, but they will last a lifetime. Spread out over a 20-30 year career, that's less than $100 a month. I know people who spend more than that on eating at McDonald's in one month's time. And when they retire they take their box home and work on their own stuff.

If you're a young tech with no tools yet, I can see that it would be attractive to work at a place like this so you don't have to buy tools right away.

 

[Jsf721]

Thanks and I guess your right on the way you think about tools. I don't earn my living with them so I view them differently. I do see the difference between **** and good stuff. I have some of both LOL

No, if he leaves the new co. he is with, he will have to leave the tools for the next guy.

$20-30k sounds like a lot for tools, but they will last a lifetime. Spread out over a 20-30 year career, that's less than $100 a month. I know people who spend more than that on eating at McDonald's in one month's time. And when they retire they take their box home and work on their own stuff.

If you're a young tech with no tools yet, I can see that it would be attractive to work at a place like this so you don't have to buy tools right away.

 

[mech-tech]

I work at a small forklift dealer, and the reason forklift mechanics are hard to come by is because the work is a royal pain and companies just dont want to pay. Not to mention the guys that really know what they are doing go work for themselves and charge way less than the big dealerships.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

It is so hard to find a competant mechanic and I hate having to break in or learn to trust another guy.-But I have no choice.

I remember being shunned by some customers when I started as the new guy. Our stuff is kinda specialized, industry specific and most customer know they can't just let any ole "wrench" go at it when something is wrong. Some customers figured there was no way I could fill "Mikes" shoes after he had been so good for 8 for 9 years there and took a long time to warm up.
One guy was an old contractor who would not even speak to me. Called my boss and asked for parts and struggled through a few repairs himself (the guy was like 75YO back then) until he finally hit a problem too big to handle. I had a year or so under my belt by then and the boss talked him into giving me a chance. A half hour into a repair with him hovering around to keep and eye on me, he finally started to relax and chat and asked me how I got started / how I ended up here. I told him "5 years wrenching on heavy junk for Uncle Sam...most of the concepts / techniques are the same." He told me he had been an Army mechanic in the 40's and started part time civilian work wrenching at night servicing construction equipment on a big expansion project of Ft Belvoir...... and it all changed from there.....I was the only mechanic he trusted his specialty stuff to till he passed on in the early 2000's.....not really any point, just an anecdote in the history of one mechanic.....

 

[Jsf721]

A good mechanic is worth his weight in gold. Not saying there are no other great mechanics. It just the unknown new guy syndrome.

I remember being shunned by some customers when I started as the new guy. Our stuff is kinda specialized, industry specific and most customer know they can't just let any ole "wrench" go at it when something is wrong. Some customers figured there was no way I could fill "Mikes" shoes after he had been so good for 8 for 9 years there and took a long time to warm up.
One guy was an old contractor who would not even speak to me. Called my boss and asked for parts and struggled through a few repairs himself (the guy was like 75YO back then) until he finally hit a problem too big to handle. I had a year or so under my belt by then and the boss talked him into giving me a chance. A half hour into a repair with him hovering around to keep and eye on me, he finally started to relax and chat and asked me how I got started / how I ended up here. I told him "5 years wrenching on heavy junk for Uncle Sam...most of the concepts / techniques are the same." He told me he had been an Army mechanic in the 40's and started part time civilian work wrenching at night servicing construction equipment on a big expansion project of Ft Belvoir...... and it all changed from there.....I was the only mechanic he trusted his specialty stuff to till he passed on in the early 2000's.....not really any point, just an anecdote in the history of one mechanic.....

 

[shephd]

It just the unknown new guy syndrome.

LOL not just mechanics, most everything

 

[Provincial]

At one time an employer could pay a "tool allowance" that was not reported as taxable income on the W-2 form. It was a way to set up the employee with more take-home income. I don't know if it is still OK to do this. I have seen it called "tool rental" but don't know if that has any tax advantage for the employee. Either one was tax deductible to the employer.

 

[t100]

he no longer has to provide his own tools (or gets an allowance-not exactly how it works for sure). is this a new trend? I never thought (before I found this place) that it would be a big deal. But with all the hoopla on Snap on and tool truck prices it could amount to alot of $ for sure. When and if he leaves-does he keep the tools? Just curious. Great way to induce help to work for you I guess.

I changed jobs at the beginning of this year going from mechanic to fabricator. Now I make less, on paper. but there were 3 thing I absolutely like about the new job:
#1. I know exactly how big is every paycheck I got.
#2. I know exactly what time I'll be home.
#3. I don't bring a single piece of my own tool to work.

I've been slowly selling my tools, already my 3-bay Matco box has gone, also Snap On Modis scanner. I actually putting more money in my saving account now.

 

[reptilezs]

i get a tool allowance. i get a check cut from the company. the check is not part of payroll and is not taxed. i keep the tools if i leave

 

[jeeper93436]

im a mechanic and at the shops i have worked i have seen so many types of mechanics. i have work with drunks, drug addict, lazy, stupid, no motivation to learn and the list goes on and on. i think its hard to just find a good worker in general.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

i have worked i have seen so many types of mechanics. i have work with drunks, drug addict, lazy, stupid, no motivation to learn and the list goes on and on. i think its hard to just find a good worker in general.

agree.

 

[devinakbv]

Thanks and I guess your right on the way you think about tools.