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Author: David Hollis

  • Get ready to pay more: Auto parts and tools included in latest Trump Tariffs

    Get ready to pay more: Auto parts and tools included in latest Trump Tariffs

    Expect many of the parts you use to make repairs and even some of tools you use on the job to cost more.

    The U.S. Commerce Department announced more than 400 items — including auto parts — have been added to the list of products included in President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum.

    A total of 407 new items have been added to the list of so called “derivative” steel and aluminum products subject to the tariff. The list of additional products was announced last Friday and took effect Monday.

    That wide-ranging list includes electric vehicle components, washers, dryers, marine engines, wind turbines, furniture components and used trucks.

    In announcing the expansion of products subject to the 50% tariffs, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler sais,:“Today’s action expands the reach of the steel and aluminum tariffs and shuts down avenues for circumvention – supporting the continued revitalization of the American steel and aluminum industries.”

    A statement from the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security explained the expansion:

    “This is the latest in a series of historic steps by the Trump Administration to strengthen America’s steel and aluminum industry.  In February, President Trump issued Proclamations 10895 and 10986, which eliminated numerous carve-outs from the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs and cracked down on tariff misclassification and duty evasion schemes. These proclamations also directed Commerce, within 90 days, to establish a process for adding steel and aluminum derivative products to the Section 232 tariffs – which Commerce did in May. In June, President Trump issued Proclamation 10947, which increased the tariff rate for steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, making the tariffs stronger than ever.”

    Tariffs are a key part of the Trump Administration. Earlier this month, Trump announced tariffs on goods from 90 countries. They range from 15% on goods from Germany to 50% on those from India and Brazil.

    The new tariffs even apply to goods that were in transit at the time of the latest announcement.

  • PA mechanic arrested for allegedly issuing counterfeit inspection stickers

    PA mechanic arrested for allegedly issuing counterfeit inspection stickers

    A Pennsylvania mechanic was arrested and faces numerous charges related to allegedly forging state inspection stickers for vehicles that did not pass inspections.

    Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele earlier this week announced the arrest of Fares Farhat, 50, of Halifax, Pennsylvania., on 81 felony counts of Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Forgery and Corrupt Organizations as well as multiple other charges related to a scheme that involved certifying commercial transport vehicles as safe to travel roadways and forging state inspection stickers for the vehicles.  

    Pennsylvania State Police began investigating Farhat after Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials and troopers observed safety inspection stickers that were missing security features, the serial numbers of authorized inspection stations and other abnormalities. These counterfeit safety inspection stickers were found on commercial vehicles that had severe mechanical deficiencies, including worn or separating brake pads and other conditions that would have made them inoperable under Pennsylvania and federal law and taken them out of service and off the roadways, according to a statement from Steele. Farhat’s signature was found on the back of these stickers.

    Investigators learned Farhat was suspended as a certified state inspection mechanic, which prevented him from legally inspecting any vehicle and certifying their safety by issuing Pennsylvania state inspection stickers to commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) throughout the commonwealth. Despite these suspensions, Steele said Farhat continued to advertise and conduct both federal and state safety inspections and issued counterfeit Pennsylvania safety inspection certificates/stickers and other associated documents inclduing federal safety inspection certificates/stickers and record of annual inspection forms to both individual commercial vehicles as well as entire fleets. 

    Steele said Farhat was doing business as “A+ Auto Inspections” or “A Plus Auto Care LLC,” operating from multiple locations, including Philmont Avenue in Huntingdon Valley in Montgomery County and Torresdale Avenue in Philadelphia. While under suspension and unable to obtain authentic inspection stickers, Farhat obtained counterfeited ones in order to deceive his customers into believing that he was providing legitimate annual state and federal inspection services, Steele’s statement said.

    The investigation found that Farhat would accept payment for these illicit inspections, stickers, and forms via Zelle or in cash with individual amounts between $150 and $250 per vehicle. Many of his customers, most of whom were motor carrier companies or their officers, were unaware that Farhat was not providing them with authentic Pennsylvania inspection stickers, federal annual inspection stickers and a record of annual inspection form.

    A review of Farhat’s Zelle account found hundreds of transactions with notations of “inspection services,” “inspection” or “sticker” that totaled $76,185. In addition, there were hundreds of additional transactions that had no notation but were sent by a trucking company or a trucking company official and were similar in payment amounts between $150 and $250. Those transactions totaled $207,892. More than 150 trucking companies had paid for services from Farhat.

    “The defendant’s actions are a danger to not only Pennsylvanians but every driver where these trucks, tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles are operating,” said Steele. “He deemed them safe to operate and provided forged state and federal papers saying so, when, in fact, they aren’t safe and should be taken out of service. Sadly, we have seen first-hand in Montgomery County the tragedy that can result when a 32,000-pound dump truck is on the road when it shouldn’t be and a crash occurs—lives are lost.” 

    Farhat was arrested on Aug. 4, on charges of Dealing in the Proceeds of Unlawful Activities, Forgery, Corrupt Organization, Deceptive Business Practices—Altered Goods, Theft by Deception, Fabricate Physical Evidence, Unsworn Falsification to Authorities, Altered/Forged/Counterfeit Documents or Plates and related charges.

    He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy, who set bail at $50,000 cash. A bail review hearing was held Aug. 5, in the Court of Common Pleas before Senior Judge William P. Mahon, who increased Farhat’s bail to $99,000 cash. 

    A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m., Aug. 15, before Magisterial District Judge Thomas P. Murt.

  • Study: 65.5% of shops understaffed; techs cite Buying Tools as job barrier

    Study: 65.5% of shops understaffed; techs cite Buying Tools as job barrier

    New research released today shows 65.5% of trucking maintenance shops are understaffed by technicians, and have an average of 19.3% of positions unfilled.

    The American Transportation Research Institute’s new research on causes and solutions for the current gaps in diesel technician training, recruitment, and retention also found:

    • 61.8% enter the career without any formal training, requiring an average of 357 training hours and $8,211 in trainee wages to prepare them  
    • 30% of training program graduates were unqualified in 20 core skill areas, according to diesel shops
    • In 7 of these core skill areas, each additional hour of training improved tech qualification by more than 16 percent
    • In 6 core skill areas, however, each additional hour of training improved tech qualification by less than 8 percent, highlighting the need for critical curricula upgrades
    • 29% said the most common barrier reported by techs at the start of their career was the high cost of acquiring their own tools
    • 28% said a lack of prior tech knowledge was also a barrier
    • 16.1% said insufficient pay was a barrier
    • 10.8% cited poor shop mentorship

    Almost half — 44.4% — of trucking techs were considering other tech jobs, with automotive and agriculture the most common alternative industries, according to ATRI.

    Dissatisfaction with pay, interactions with management, and variety of work were the aspects of employment that had the most statistically significant association with techs choosing to look for a new job versus staying at their current job.  The research also evaluated techs’ perspectives on other industries to identify how trucking’s comparative strengths and weaknesses match up to techs’ varying priorities.

    “With a lack of qualified techs and stiff competition from other industries, tech employment in the trucking industry is not keeping up with demand, especially when it comes to retaining entry-level technicians just entering the workforce,” said Robert Braswell, Executive Director of ATA’s Technology & Maintenance Council.  “ATRI’s report helps trucking shops identify not only where they and their training program partners can improve but also how to better leverage our industry’s existing strengths.”

  • 5 important ‘soft’ skills you need to be a successful technician

    5 important ‘soft’ skills you need to be a successful technician

    OK, so you’ve completed your two years of technician training and graduated (Congratulations!) from a good community college. You’ve had an internship working hands-on at a dealer, and you’ve even gotten a couple of specialized certifications (Good for you!).

    You’ve done:

    • Oil changes? Check!
    • Some engine work? Check!
    • Brakes? Check!
    • Transmissions? Check!
    • Electrical? Check!
    • Steering? Check!
    • Tires? Check!

    So you’re all set to interview for the job you have been eyeing for the last six months.

    Well, not really. There’s more you need not just to be a good technician, but also to be a good employee, the kind every dealership wants to hire; the kind that can successfully climb a career ladder.

    You need what recruiters and human resources professionals call “soft skills.” In short, these are the personal attributes you need, the kind that come from your head and heart and not just your hands.

    Among the soft skills that will help prove your value to a potential employer are:

    • Communicate Effectively: As a technician, you’re going to have to explain to a customer what’s wrong with their vehicle and how you plan to fix it. You also need to effectively communicate with other techs, the service and parts managers, and your boss.
    • Being a Team Player:  Unless you plan to operate a one-person shop, you’re going to have to work with and rely on others. That means being able to collaborate on repair solutions, lend a helping hand when needed, and do your part to make the shop a good and friendly place to work. If you borrow a tool, clean and return it. Volunteer to sweep up at the end of the day.
    • Maintain a Professional Work Style. It’s one thing to get a job done, but it’s another thing entirely to get it done on time and without a lot of fuss and bother. You need to organize not just your work space but also your approach to a repair. Plan what you have to do and then execute.
    • Problem Solving. This is key for a technician because today’s vehicles have a lot of intricate systems and technology, all of which can go wrong. Not every repair is going to be diagnosed with a specialized tablet you can plug into a port. You’ll need to call on your education and your ability to pay close attention as you tackle a repair.  
    • Desire to Keep Learning: Earning your college degree or certificate is just the beginning of your path to becoming a skillful and successful professional technician. Vehicles change. Technology changes. The marketplace changes. To be successful, you need to keep up. There are plenty of online courses and tutorials you can access. And, if your employer offers continuing education opportunities, jump at them.

    Yes, at the end of the day, you need outstanding hands-on skills as a technician to get and keep a job at any reputable dealership or repair shop. But, your tool kit also needs to include a selection of strong interpersonal – soft – skills to achieve your career goals. 

  • Survey: Americans feeling the pinch of steadily increasing car Expenses

    Survey: Americans feeling the pinch of steadily increasing car Expenses

    The costs of buying and maintaining a car are putting pressure on many Americans, forcing some to make difficult financial and lifestyle decisions.

    A recent survey by Big Bear Engine Company found, among other things, that only a quarter of Americans would stop driving a damaged car until they could afford repairs, and over a third have delayed routine maintenance in the past year due to cost concerns.

    In 2012, the average car was $30,000. By March 2025, that figure topped $47,000. Used cars, once a budget-friendly alternative, are no longer a solution to high prices as pre-owned car prices spiked during the pandemic and haven’t dropped much since. Now, looming uncertainty around tariffs on vehicles and parts is also adding to consumers’ concerns. 

    To understand how auto affordability hits home, Big Bear’s survey asked 1,000 drivers how today’s car market is reshaping their budgets, stress levels, and future plans.

    Among the survey’s findings are: 

    • Nearly 1 in 3 Americans have taken on a second job to afford a vehicle, and for Gen Z, that number jumps to 55%
    • Only 25% of Americans would stop driving a damaged car until they could afford repairs, posing widespread safety concerns
    • 86% of Americans don’t believe they’ll be able to afford a new car within the next year
    • Nearly 1 in 4 Gen Z drivers (23%) already use AI tools like ChatGPT for car repairs, with another 11% planning to ditch the mechanic soon
    • 67% of Americans couldn’t afford a vehicle if prices rose by just $500 due to tariffs
    • 38% of drivers have delayed routine maintenance in the past year due to cost, increasing the risk of breakdowns and accidents
    • Inflation is hitting drivers hardest at the pump — 59% say gas prices have increased more than any other expense, followed by insurance (51%) and repairs (36%)
    • 44% of Americans have made difficult financial trade-offs due to car costs, including cutting back on groceries or borrowing money from family or friends
    • 84% of Americans now drive vehicles more than three years old and nearly half want to upgrade but can’t afford to

    The higher cost of vehicle ownership and the necessity of having a car create a difficult financial scenario for many Americans, especially younger generations. Fully 44% of Americans say they’ve had to make a difficult financial decision in the past year due to rising car expenses. These decisions include cutting back on groceries or borrowing money from family and friends.

    The financial strain of car ownership hits younger Americans hardest — and not just in how much they spend. Gen Z and millennials are far more likely to make tough trade-offs just to stay on the road. 

    Nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z drivers (23%) have borrowed money from friends or family to cover auto expenses, and 17% have cut back on groceries or skipped meals. Millennials are close behind, with 16% relying on borrowed money and 13% making similar food-related sacrifices.

    In the face of inflation and economic uncertainty, which vehicle expenses are taking the biggest bite out of drivers’ budgets? The survey found:

    • Gas: 59%
    • Insurance: 51%
    • Repairs: 36%
    • Vehicle maintenance: 35%
    • Registration fees and taxes: 16%

    With vehicle costs piling up, a lot of drivers are having to make tough calls. Big Bear asked people what they’ve postponed in the past year because of how expensive it’s gotten to own a vehicle, and the answers say a lot.

    Gen Z is the most likely to put off essential car expenses, even when those costs are critical to keeping their vehicles on the road.

    • 40% have delayed major repairs
    • 51% have delayed routine maintenance 
    • 38% have delayed car insurance payments

    The survey asked folks what happens when a major repair hits or a paycheck disappears.

     When a repair is out of reach financially, many drivers are left with a tough decision: keep driving or park it until they can afford the fix. Here’s how long most say they’d wait before getting their vehicle repaired:

    • 25% would stop driving until they could afford the repair
    • 24% would keep driving for less than a week
    • 30% would keep driving for 1-4 weeks
    • 9% would keep driving for 1-3 months
    • 4% would keep driving for more than 3 months
    • 10% would keep driving until it completely breaks down

    When it comes to unaffordable repairs, the richest and poorest drivers respond surprisingly similarly. About 1 in 4 drivers in both the lowest (26%) and highest (27%) income brackets say they’d stop driving until they could afford the fix. And when pushed to the edge, 11% of high earners and 12% of low earners admit they’d keep driving until their vehicle completely breaks down.

    With vehicle expenses continuing to rise, many drivers are looking for ways to cut costs wherever they can, especially when it comes to repairs. From YouTube tutorials to DIY diagnostics, here’s how Americans are trying to avoid a trip to the mechanic:

    • Gen Z is 22 times more likely than Baby Boomers to use AI tools like ChatGPT to help with vehicle issues. Nearly 1 in 4 Gen Z drivers (23%) have already used AI and another 11% plan to — compared to just 1% of Boomers.
    • 30% of Gen Z rely on social platforms like TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram for repair guidance — more than double the rate of Gen X (13%).
    • Reddit and online forums are also a go-to for 30% of Gen Z, showing a clear preference for crowd-sourced and peer-driven solutions.

    Millennials follow closely behind, with 20% already using AI tools for vehicle help and 17% planning to, while their use of social platforms and forums is slightly more reserved than their Gen Z counterparts.

  • Most Americans cannot handle all but most basic car repairs themselves

    Most Americans cannot handle all but most basic car repairs themselves

    Professional technicians of America, you can rest easy tonight safe in the knowledge you have plenty of job security.

    A new survey by a company providing personal financial services and advice finds while most Americans car owners are capable of basic — very basic! — maintenance, they are far less confident in their ability to do even slightly more demanding automotive repair tasks.

    Florida-based Finance Buzz found in its recent survey of 1,000 car owners that while 80% of them can put air in their cars tires and 78% can add windshield washer fluid successfully. However, less than half — just 48% — said they can change a tire without help. And, just 38% said they could perform an oil change on their own.

    Even dashboard warning lights can be a bit confusing for some. While 78% recognized a check engine light, only 13% could successfully identify a brake warning light. Many folks even struggled with basic paperwork: 70% knew what their car’s monthly insurance premium costs, but slightly more than half, just 52%, knew their coverage limits.

    The FinanceBuzz report finds many American car owners will depend on pros like you to handle many repairs. The percentage of respondents and the repair tasks they’ll need your help with include:

    • replace spark plugs – 73%
    • perform an oil change – 64%
    • replace an engine air filter – 55%
    • replace their car’s battery – 53%
    • change a tire – 52%
    • replace a wiper blade – 39%
    • jump start a car – 38%

    One’s confidence in their ability to make a repair — specifically, perform an oil change — depends in large part their age. The percentage of car owners who would need you help includes:

    • 53% of Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964)
    • 39% of Gen X ( born between 1965 and 1980)
    • 31% of Millennials (born between 1981 and 1995)
    • 29% of Gen Z (born between 1996 and 2010)

    Things get a little doifferenent when it comes to one especially specific task: driving a stick shift. The survey said while 62% of all drivers claim they know how to drive stick, that number increases to 69% among Boomers, but tumbles to just over half — 51% — of millennials.

    See the full FinanceBuzz report online.

  • Here’s how to make good first impression with a dynamite resume

    Here’s how to make good first impression with a dynamite resume

    Is having a good, solid, great-looking resume when applying for a professional technician job important? 

    No.

    It’s  extremely important!

    Think of your resume as the ideal way to make a good first impression with a potential employer. It’s also your best shot at getting an all-important interview, which moves you up the line of candidates hoping to land the job you seek.

    A rock-solid resume ought to:

    • Be concise but thorough
    • Deliver a total picture of you and your qualifications
    • Outline your skills as a technician but also your attributes as an employee
    • Not oversell
    • Be clean and error free

    A well-constructed resume winds up being more than the sum of its various parts.

    And, those parts include:

    Contact Information

    • Include your full name, of course, where you live; city and state are fine. Include your phone number and email address.

    Summary and Objective

    • This ought to be a brief summary of the skills you have, how long you have worked as a technician and in what kind of settings. Briefly mention what you hope to achieve in the field.

    Education

    • Simply list the school/college you attended and the diploma/certificate/degree you earned.

    Work History

    • This ought to be in reverse chronological order beginning with your current or most recent position. Include the name of the company or dealership, where it’s located and the dates of your employment.
    • Then add a bullet list of what you did there. Include the sorts of repairs you did, the types and brands of equipment you worked on, and any specialized tools you may have used.
    • If you’re a veteran technician with a long work history, there is no need to list every job you have ever held going back to your first. Include the most recent three or four positions.
    • Contrarily, if you are a beginner fresh out of a high school program or are a new college graduate, this may be a much shorter portion of your resume. But, be sure to include any internships, part-time jobs you have held, or even if you have worked as a volunteer.

    Certifications

    • This is an especially important part of the resume of a professional technician. Be sure to include if you’re ASE certified, have OEM certificates, any specialized training you have attended, and the in-house training provided by employers.

    Skills

    • There are two parts to this portion of the resume: hard skills (the actual work you do, i.e. engine rebuilds, electrical systems, using diagnostic tools, etc.) and soft skills (working with customers, mentoring other technicians, being a team player, attention to detail). Both are important, and show you are a good technician and a good employee.
    • If you have been in the business for any amount of time, your resume most likely could be pretty detailed. However, do your best to keep it to just one page; two pages at the most. That may be difficult, but keep in mind the person reading it – your potential future employer – is busy and appreciates brevity. This is a good chance for you to show you can meet their expectations.

    Final Tips

    • Use a professional-looking template; easily found online
    • Print it on good quality, plain, white paper
    • Be sure it is error free. Running spellcheck is not enough; have someone else give it a read to spot anything you might have missed
    • Do your best to tailor it to the specific job and potential employer; look at their website and social media pages to get a sense of their culture and style
    • Lastly, always keep your resume up to date; you never know when you may need it 

  • Truck dealers Tell Congress right to repair bill unnecessary, damaging

    Truck dealers Tell Congress right to repair bill unnecessary, damaging

    A major industry organization is telling Congress recent proposed legislation would unfairly hinder businesses that sell and service medium- and heavy-duty trucks by lumping them in with typical consumer automobiiles.

    Recently, members of the American Truck Dealers (ATD) sent a letter to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) voicing the organization’s opposition to H.R. 1566/S. 1379, the “Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act.

    In a statement issued by the ATD, the organization representing over 3,200 dealers said right to repair bills are “overly broad, ignore serious vehicle privacy, intellectual property, and further inhibit an industry already facing significant challenges.”

    ATD’s letter to Congress said:

    “… federal law has long recognized the difference between light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Medium- and heavy-duty trucks are purpose-built, highly customized vehicles sold almost exclusively to commercial and government entities — not to individual consumers. By contrast, light-duty vehicles are mass-produced for the public and designed primarily for passenger use. H.R. 1566/S. 1379 is overbroad as it would regulate a heavy-duty vocational truck such as a school bus, refuse hauler, or cement mixer the same as a family sedan.

    “Supporters of H.R. 1566 and S. 1379 claim this legislation will enhance consumer repair access, but heavy-duty trucks are not consumer products. No evidence we are aware of has been presented indicating that independent repair shops are being denied the information or tools needed to repair medium- and heavy-duty trucks. In fact, service information is readily available from manufacturers, and the industry has long participated in the National Automotive Service Task Force, which provides a reliable mechanism for resolving disputes over repair data access.

    “This legislation is overbroad, unnecessary, and adds needless red tape at a time when the truck industry is already facing economic challenges from regulations that have increased costs and decreased commercial truck sales. We urge Congress to reject H.R. 1566/S. 1379.”

  • Kenworth Essentials: A successful pipeline of entry-level technicians from education to dealerships

    Kenworth Essentials: A successful pipeline of entry-level technicians from education to dealerships

    In today’s battle to find and keep good, qualified technicians, some dealerships have a distinct advantage: the ones that can say they sell and service the  “The World’s Best” trucks, Kenworth.

    But, it’s not just that these trucks have a reputation for excellence built over the last 102 years. It’s that Kenworth dealers also have available to them a successful corporate program that helps steer young technicians from high school or college programs to their service department doors.

    The Kenworth Essentials program fosters connections between students, high schools and colleges and dealerships. It does so by working with all three constituencies. The Essentials program’s managers:

    • Help high school students identify a college program to attend or a dealership for possible employment
    • Work with educational programs so their curricula deliver the most up-to-date training required of entry-level technicians
    • Assist dealerships make connections with educational programs and ensure they’re offering the sorts of opportunities their graduates seek when they get hired

    Working With Students

    The best way for students to receive the benefits of Kenworth Essentials is, like so many other things today, to get online.

    “Kenworthessentials.com gives an introduction to our program, and gives them a place to reach out to,” said Bill Metzger, a program manager with Kenworth Essentials. “It gives them all of our program managers’ contact information, and what we prefer them to do is get in contact with one of us, because we all do have assigned territories that we work with or schools that we work with, and we can start the conversation with a student. 

    “If it’s a high school student, we can talk to them about where they’re at, where they want to go, what they want to do. We can connect them with a school that’s in our network.” 

    Or, if the student is already in an educational program, a Kenworth Essentials program manager can initiate contact with a dealer to help the student find a job after graduation.

    “They’re at a school trying to be a technician,”  said Adam Stone, a program manager for the West Coast and Southwest. “So we don’t have to convince them that they want to be a technician. We just want to convince them to be a Kenworth technician.”

    Working with students also often means working with parents, especially at the high school level.

    Darren Erickson is one of several program managers who are part of Kenworth Essentials. He said part of his job is explaining what a technician’s job isn’t as much as what it is.

    “Reaching out to the parents of young kids and helping them understand what kind of career opportunities exist in the trucking industry is really what we’re trying to do,” said Erickson, who covers the U.S. West Coast and Canada for Kenworth essentials. “There’s a misconception that a technician is a dirty mechanic caked in grease, and in some cases that’s true. But, there is a lot more working with laptops and computers.” 

    Working With High Schools & Colleges

    The folks working in Kenworth Essentials cast a wide net when it comes to educational institutions. To date they work with 200 schools across the U.S. and Canada. Program Manager Dennis Bullock said about 25% of the educational institutions are high schools with vocational programs. The rest are trade schools and colleges.

    The goal of Kenworth Essentials is to help schools and colleges provide the sort of training an entry-level technician needs to get and be successful in a job at a dealership. Kenworth gives schools and students access to training the company has developed.

    Metzger said, “It starts out at the very base of what a tech needs to know, and we kind of build on it from there. It goes through about 32 to 35 hours of online modules they can do. 

    “Schools have different approaches about how they have the students do the modules. Some of them use them in the curriculum, some of them use them as homework. The students have access to this while they’re going to the school, and they can access it on their own computer from home or at school, however they want to do it.”

    Once students have completed those modules, Metzer said there are two instructor-led classes students complete to help them achieve their certification.

    This, said Metzger, aids both the student and the dealership. If the dealership sees the student has earned their Kenworth Essentials certification, then they know that potential new hire has the basic knowledge needed to perform as an entry-level technician. 

    “This is all tailored around entry-level technicians,” he said. “So it’s the basic knowledge that has been out in the industry. We see the need for knowledge that the entry level techs need to know going in, starting their career with a Kenworth dealer.”

    Then, after graduation and if hired by a dealership that technician would go through more training to become certified by Kenworth.

    Working With Dealerships

    The final part of the equation, and possibly the most important one, is the answer to the question, “Now what?” 

    Karen Apple helps dealership personnel and entry-level technicians find that answer. 

    She’s a curriculum development and retention specialist, and says her role is to ensure that graduates and dealerships see there is a career path, one that is clearly demonstrated on the Kenworth Essentials website. Apple said she wants new technicians “know how to go from level one technician to level two technician and so on.”

    In addition to the career path map, Apple said Kenworth Essentials also has a Technician Toolkit, which explains what a technician needs to advance into different roles.

    The Toolkit, said Apple,“ identifies those core competencies for each of the roles (on the career path). So really, it spells out this is a skillset that this dealership expects you to have within this role. So it allows you to have, not only  a visual to let you see how you can grow in your career, and how this is in fact a career, but also what skills you need to help develop as you grow in your career.” 

    Kenworth Essentials also helps dealerships by urging them to be part of a school’s advisory board so dealers know what is being taught and so educators know the needs of the dealership. Also, the program also offers tips on how to put their best foot forward by inviting students to tour their facilities, and by explaining the training opportunities, compensation, and benefits new hires can expect.

    But, one of the best things dealerships have going for them is their affiliation with Kenworth.

    Dennis Bullock said when he goes to trade shows and hiring fairs, young people know and are attracted to the brand. He said people will come up to him and tell him how their fathers and grandfathers drove Kenworths. And, it’s something they say proudly.

  • W.W. Williams: Technicians required for a variety of industries

    W.W. Williams: Technicians required for a variety of industries

     W.W. Williams is a sprawling, multi-faceted company serving a variety of industries, all of which require the skills of professional technicians. A lot of them.

    The list of the segments of the economy served by the Dublin, Ohio-based firm includes:

    • Construction and mining
    • Government and the military
    • Municipalities
    • Hospitals
    • Recreational vehicles
    • Data centers
    • Marine vessels
    • Locomotive and rail
    • Commercial entities including trucking, power generation and logistics and packaging

    It takes some 1,200 W.W. Williams employees at 50 locations in 23 U.S. states and Mexico to meet the product and service needs of the companies in these industry segments. Jennifer Van Arsdale, talent acquisition supervisor for the company, said more than 75% of that number are professional technicians.

    She said most managers are currently seeking technicians who can be productive quickly with minimal initial training. Those technicians also generally stay longer, with most turnover due to retirement or dissatisfaction with the work environment rather than pay, according to Van Arsdale.

    However, that does not mean newly graduated entry-level technicians shouldn’t consider applying to W.W. Williams. She said hiring depends on the specific needs of the location, with some branches hiring more entry-level trainees for refrigeration and transmission technician roles due to higher demand.

    The Southwest is one area where professional technicians are in high demand because of that region’s strong economy.

    “We’re trying to amp up our business out there just because it is a good market and I think everybody’s doing the same thing,” said Van Arsdale. “So everybody’s trying to hire technicians now to kind of increase their business. And it’s just a tough market because we could come to them and we could offer them $25 and the guy across the street’s going to offer $27 and they’re going to obviously take the $27.”

    Van Arsdale said W.W. Williams has no absolute requirements for the types of certifications they like their technicians to have. However, she said ASE certifications and any certifications from schools are valued and can lead to higher pay. While some positions like Allison transmission repair may prefer specific certifications, they are generally not mandatory. 

    According to Van Arsdale, W.W. Williams does have in-house trainers who provide field and classroom training. The company also utilizes manufacturers’ programs for specific training, like that provided by Detroit Diesel.

    W.W. Williams has a technician career roadmap process with varying levels from apprentice to journeyman, requiring specific skills to advance with increased pay. This is an ongoing process evaluated during yearly reviews to determine training needs. While some technicians start at the apprentice level, others can enter at higher levels based on their skills.

    “We have different levels of technicians that go from apprentice up to journeymen, and we have a roadmap laid out where upon hire they would sit and have a discussion with their manager and our trainers to decide what their roadmap is gonna look like for that specific tech,” said Van Arsdale. “So each level of technician within our organization is required to have certain skills, and once they acquire them via on the job training, classroom chain training, whatever training they get, that’s when they can move up to the next level. And, obviously as they move up throughout those levels, they get an increase in pay.”

    Filling the company’s need for the wide variety of professional technicians for W.W. Williams requires a recruiting team of four people, each one serving a different section of the country.

    The company also maintains close working relationships with major colleges like Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan and Ohio Technical College in Cleveland.

    You can find W.W. Williams career opportunities here.