You need more service technicians. If not today, you will need them soon. Ideally, you would have a process for “growing your own” that ensures a steady supply of new talent for your shop. But you are already very busy taking care of customers, ordering parts, and maintaining trucks. You may not have much time for, or expertise in, running a training organization for entry-level technicians.
The good news is that high schools and colleges in your community have already identified young people interested in careers in the service industry and are providing them with the fundamental technical training they need to get started. Those schools are your potential partners, but you must cultivate the partnership. And like most things in life, the more you put into the relationship, the more you get out of it.
Which should I target: high schools or colleges?
If your need for technicians is immediate, you might assume that colleges are a better bet than high schools. College students certainly have some advantages: Most will be over 18, have transportation, and be available for part-time work during the school year. But don’t overlook the potential in high school students. The best students may continue their studies in a college program or go right into working full time. In either case, they are likely to already be employed when they graduate from high school, so you shouldn’t wait.
You might also think that your shop insurance prohibits employees under 18, but this may be a bad assumption. Check with your insurance agent to verify whether minors can be employed under your policy and any restrictions that apply. In addition, many states have regulations to specifically allow 16- and 17-year-old students to work in repair shops when participating in a structured work-based learning program. The most common restriction is that minors may not drive business- or customer-owned vehicles on public roads, which is a good rule to follow in any case. That doesn’t prevent them from working on the vehicles.
How do I find schools near me?
Here is the good news: There are over 2,300 ASE-accredited high school and college programs across the U.S., so chances are there are one or more in your area. Visit aseeducationfoundation.org/find-a-program to find one. The list includes a contact name and phone number for each school. If you know of schools close by that are not accredited, we can work with you to help them earn accreditation. That benefits you, the school, and the students.
You are also likely to find that there are more automotive than truck/diesel programs. That is true just about everywhere, but don’t let that hold you back. You can still partner with and contribute to the overall success of an automotive training program and recruit those students to come work for you. Much of the knowledge and skills obtained in an automotive program are transferable to the medium- and heavy-duty truck world.
Why is ASE accreditation important?
You know what skills entry-level techs need to work in your business. It is critical that the schools educating your future employees know what those skills are as well. ASE program accreditation ensures that schools have the complete course of study, tools, equipment, facilities, support services, adequate budget, and qualified instructors to deliver instruction aligned with current technology and repair practices defined by the service industry.
Furthermore, every ASE-accredited school is required to have an advisory committee composed of service business owners from the community. If you aren’t already a member, joining the committee is the first thing you should do. This committee is the opportunity for you and other local stakeholders to hold the school accountable and ensure that students are learning the skills they will need to work for you.
What does an advisory committee do?
Advisory committees typically meet for one to two hours twice a year. Meetings are held at the school or virtually. The members are local business and industry owners, managers, and technicians, along with educators and administrators from the school. Parents and local elected officials may also be part of the committee. Its purpose is to assist the school administration and the program with guidance and recommendations from an industry or employer perspective on ideas such as equipment purchases, skills needed by local industry, and certifications that students can earn while in school that provide value to employers. Members of the advisory committee also assist the school in obtaining and maintaining ASE accreditation for the training program. If you want to see your tax dollars wisely spent and benefit your company at the same time, this is the place to do it.
What is the overall value of school-industry partnerships?
When a fleet service business supports a local school’s training program, it is not only building the future pipeline of talent for its service departments, but it can also grow community awareness for its company, find candidates for a variety of jobs in its company, and build teamwork and morale.
