Should YOU Become An Auto Technician in 2022 (Brutal & Honest Truth) I Don’t Know How To Vlog 003

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[xxmobstrxx]

Simple answer is no. There’s a reason there’s a tech shortage and it’s because dealers and other employers don’t pay enough and don’t appreciate the stress and work we go through.

[Dan-ootm]

I've been doing this for 35 years. When I get this same question from young people I tell them absolutely run away. This industry eats it's young. My son went to HVAC school and in 5 years in the field is making damn close to what I make....and no flat rate. No brainer.

[duanedragon]

I have been a professional auto mechanic since 1997. The more complicated cars get the more I get paid. Lots of people think they can do this job. Very few can. You have no idea the hardships I went through to gain enough knowledge to make myself indispensable. The path is narrow and the road is long. The nuts and bolts part is easy. The knowing and showing part is priceless.

[craigjorgensen]

It’s not a job for older workers. It’s rare to see a tech older than maybe 50. It’s hard on the body and hard to keep up. There is also a HUGE investment in tools that never ends. A plumber or electrician buys tools once. An auto tech can have 100, 000 invested in tools!

[bucklemon]

As a Ford technician for 32 years and fully certified I concur with your statement about being very efficient and extremely healthy for all of your life in order to make it as a auto tech.
Unfortunately I was about a 62% to 69% efficiency tech. I Was the go to guy for sync and electronic repairs And my speed never earned me more than about $37k a year until my health, of my body being broke down when they came to me and let me go at 52 years old. So unless you just really want to be a auto tech I say run away from it and do anything that you’ll be able to do when you get old and are not able to be efficient and super speed at all times.
The sad part is I may have the skill set but don’t want to touch anything mechanically related anymore.

[GarysWorld]

Great advice. I've been a diesel mechanic for 16 years now and coming out of an automotive school and getting a job with caterpillar it was amazing pay. I moved up to a foreman after 5 years and after 9 years I moved and got a job as a fleet mechanic for cemex. I learned how crazy the dealer life can be as a mechanic and realized how much it sucked lol. one thing I wish I would have known from the beginning was to not get in to a dealer and get a fleet position. I now own my own mobile mechanic buisiness because I got tired of the drama and getting paid a dime when my boss makes a dollar

[PHELCAN]

The short answer: no. The long answer: no

[HondacivictypeR]

Just left working for a stealership such a breath of fresh air, crazy how a master tech makes less than a parts manager. 🤣

[bimmerguy]

🇨🇦 I'm a collision technician and make a six figure income also got to work on the Ford gt program. The only way to survive in the trade is to have no emotions at work, don't bring your stress to work instead use work to relieve stress 🇨🇦

[bradmccranie]

I left the field 14 years ago to work on airplanes, it worked out great for me. I worked at dealerships and independent shops with no benefits, warranty work sucked, long hours, and at dealership certain tech got fed the best jobs.

[johnrpizzaguy]

I’ve been a master tech for 39 years, I got my education by working at dealerships (BMW, Chrysler, Toyota and Nissan) but after realizing that dealerships are very good at two things Ripping of the customers and Ripping off the employees, so when I was approached by a commercial bakery with 22 delivery vans I jumped at the chance and now after 7 years I can retire but this is a great job and the pay is great because shops here on the coast of California charge $185 per hour and the owner knows that so he pays me really well. Plus I get to take home baked goods. What you said about becoming a Technician is true, I don’t recommend this career I got lucky but my situation is very rare and for that I’m very thankful.

[supergppl]

This experience is really similar to how I feel in my career as an IT Technician. Was always skilled at it, relatives bringing me their computers to fix since I was a kid. Didn't feel like I had a choice on what to do.

It's ruined my hobby. I started getting into car stuff because it's similar to fidgeting with computers to be similarly satisfying, but different enough from my actual car.

[gerardkavanagh]

An honest; straight from the heart assessment of the vehicle trade. Well done; I believe that this video should be shown at high schools to allow students to decide on a clear career path. Keep going forward.

[snipezz]

I was a tech for an independent shop for 4 years, one thing you forgot to mention is buying your own tools. Also how it effects your body breathing in all those chemicals every day such as the asbestos from brakes especially drum brakes, transmission fluid, brake fluid, ext... I got out due to burnout and a bad back and knees.

[stephanarizona]

I spent 10-years at European Dealerships before leaving the industry. The only way being a Technician is worth it, is to work at places until you have enough experience and money to open your own shop, but then that opens a whole new set of problems because now you are a business owner who is no longer wrenching and now your managing and training Technicians. And then to constant investments in scan tools, online data, and other expenses. The "Golden Era" of mechanics ended when techs no longer made 50% of shop rate. I went back to college and got a Engineering and Management Degree and now work in Military Defense.

[amaturetechnician]

Being almost 3 years into this since I started tech school, I find myself at a crossroads in regards if I should continue. I do happen to take my time and make sure things get done right and properly which is good on my conscience but hurts me time wise. I don't know whether its part of me gaining experience or that I'm genuinely slow with things. I am fairly competent with mechanical things and enthusiastic about electronic systems and tech in general if you give enough time to interact and understand the system I will eventually get it. Fortunately for me I find my self at a small hourly shop with an owner who is patient with me and let's me try my hand out with different repairs but I know I would suffer on flat rate being where am at in this career. I guess my saving grace is that I show up on time, willing to learn, and has no problem making the investment in buying my own tools. With that being said pay for said tools and student loans are like extra taxes out of my entry-level pay. And the work itself is quite stressful especially when you hit a brick wall with difficult repairs or a bolt snaps on you. I don't regret getting into this industry since this was one of the few things
I could make a case for after dropping out of college but I am evaluating my options.
If you any better career options try those first before looking into this.

[francis]

The good and smart technicians get penalized during diagnosis or if you beat the flat rate hours by an excessive amount. God forbid you figure out and fix a problem in 15 min and charge an hour. The service writer will ask how you justify that and how you as the tech are ripping off the customer, also your time will be either taken away or reduced to 0.5 hrs . Don't forget that hour you charge out, you only get $20 while the customer pays over 150+ so who's ripping who off?

[bubba.watercraftj]

Great video. You appear very wise at a young age. Save as much as you can for retirement, it comes sooner than you think.
I have been a medium/heavy truck mechanic for the better part of my 45 years in the trade. I still love what I do except for the severe toll on my body. Still in decent health due to realizing the need for healthy eating and exercise.
I left the dealership flat rate system over 37 years ago.
I would NEVER go back to flat rate especially at an older age. How many old guys do you see working flat rate?
I mostly work on highly specialized
up-fitted truck chassis and equipment as well as the truck itself. So I do get those “nasty” diagnosis jobs etc.
SCR DEF DPF etc. And Up-Fitted systems that are all J1939 CAN buss communication.
So you are correct. Any new tech needs to have an aptitude for electronics diagnostics. Need to have good diagnostic skills. The R&R is usually the easiest part of most repairs.
I am not bashing flat rate. It is just not for everyone.
A good trade for the right individual.
Hopefully the public and business owners will realize the skills and value of today’s mechanic/technicians.

[edwardmackey]

Great video, Mayson. I appreciate your honesty and candor. I have a nephew that is graduating high school in 5 months and is considering becoming a technician/mechanic and I just sent him your video. You have a great head on your shoulders and a great personality as well, which is becoming more and more rare these days. I hope your current employer realizes how fortunate they are to have you. Thank you, and God Bless!

[rickyticky]

I’ve been a technician almost 35 years, work from the beginning till now in the dealership. I love working on cars and love my coworkers but do something else just not an auto technician. Why? Techs are under payed, under appreciated. Management will want more money even though techs don’t get a portion of ANY parts plus only a fraction of how much customers pay. Service writers will over promise customers (time) and blame techs when work gets behind schedule. Customers don’t respect you, I mean, think of it this way, would you go to your doctor without wiping your ass? Would you go to the dentist without brushing your teeth? Yet people bring their dirty ass cars and when you move the junk inside the vehicle, they accused you of stealing. People will complain that they have to wait for a long time to get their car fix yet they wont complain about having to wait for their food due to staff shortage. I should have followed my friends and became a mailman ugh. No I’m not a grease monkey 😂 I’ve been a master technician as long as I’ve been a dealer technician yet it’s not rewarding because since I’m “qualified” to do warranty / recall work, most of my pay comes from those yet the younger techs that have no certification gets the easy work and they don’t want to get certified (I don’t blame them). Go to any shop and you’ll notice that most of the work horse are the older techs yet management don’t want to pay these techs because “they are too heavy” in pays scale yet only a fraction of the drive right goes to the techs and shop gets to keep all the parts profit. This industry had been in trouble and will continue to sink because the younger most younger techs are different (too long to explain what I mean). I was in a major accident and was in the hospital for a week, called my boss to let them know that I won’t be able to work for at least a month while I recover…instead of making sure I’m ok, they asked for a DRs note! I mean, I’m the shop foreman for God sake and I’m at work 10-12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week and this is how technicians are treated. I know so many Master Techs that have left because of all the politics and pay has not kept up with cost of living. I’m almost at the end of my career and there’s no way I could retire if my wife didn’t have a great career that helped us found our 4021 and Roth IRA (yeah, I’m not a dumb ass; like many technicians, most are highly educated and have great critical thinking skills). My advice to ANYONE that wants to be a technician…get into a career that pays good and appreciate you and you can work on your own car as a hobby.