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Posts Tagged ‘technician shortage’

Progress in Heavy-Duty & Medium-Duty Collision Repair Continues

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The HD Repair Forum is gearing up for one of its largest events in the program’s history, April 18th-19th, in Fort Worth, Texas. Early registration numbers are higher than normal driven by a session line-up that covers topics such as addressing the technician shortage, improving profitability, and handling new vehicle technology during repair. “We are also very excited to announce two new OEMs, who are participating for the first time this year,” stated Jennie Lepore, HD Repair Forum’s Communications Director.

MCI representative Tim Barnes, will take the stage on Tuesday, April 18th to discuss how to access repair information, find parts, and  share opportunities for engagement with the OEM. Presenting on the main stage Wednesday, April 19th, is Prevost’s Robert Hitt, who will explain the advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) features common to their latest vehicles and underscore proper repair.

OEMs like Navistar will continue their long standing involvement with the forum and deliver information about new vehicle technology. Component suppliers like Bendix, whose ADAS technologies are embedded within a wide range of vehicle makes and models, will supply attendees with need-to-know education that will help prepare the industry for more complex repairs.  And 3M, AkzoNobel, Axalta Coating Systems, Evercoat, I-CAR, PPG, and TEXA will also deliver educational seminars throughout the two day event. Their support of the market and year-around efforts to provide solutions for this industry has been pivotal to improvements in the marketplace. To see the full agenda go to www.hdrepairforum.com/agenda

“We are encouraged by the level of engagement from so many of the industry’s leaders. As the market continues to evolve there is an even greater need for collaboration among stakeholders, and the HD Repair Forum is the perfect conduit.” stated Brian Nessen, co-founder of the HD Repair Forum.

Registration for the event is open and provides attendees with discounted hotel rates at the Hilton Fort Worth. To access registration and gather more information go to hdrepairforum.com/event-registration/

Companies interested in getting more involved in the industry’s only collision-focused event may reach out to Jennie Lepore JennieL@hdrepairforum.com or Brian Nessen BrianN@hdrepairforum.com for more information.

Heavy-Duty & Medium-Duty Collision Repair Conference Topics Confirmed

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The HD Repair Forum conference focuses educational sessions on topics and issues supporting the betterment of the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair industry. Opportunities for industry engagement, networking, and business leadership are supplemental assets of the event. 

The HD Repair Forum’s only planned conference for 2023 takes place at the historic Hilton in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Collision repairers, insurers and appraisers of vehicles ranging from class 4 –8 will join OE and component manufacturers as well as equipment and service providers for this unique opportunity to hear up-to-date information on heavy-duty and medium-duty vehicles and their repair challenges in today’s market.

Session topics for this year include finding and growing technicians, new vehicle technology, motorcoaches, emergency vehicles, alternative fuel vehicles, ADAS systems, marketing your business, adapting to the shifts in the collision industry post-covid, and much more. The complete agenda will be released next month. 

“Direct access to peers, business partners, and industry education is a valuable takeaway for our constituents,” explains Brian Nessen, co-founder of the HD Repair Forum. “Important conversations and solutions to this industry’s challenges are made during the HD Repair Forum, and we are looking forward to providing the industry with this valuable time again in 2023.”

Registration for the event is now open. Early bird discounts and group hotel rates are available for a limited time. To access registration and gather more information go to hdrepairforum.com/event-registration/

For more information on the HD Repair Forum and industry resources
sign-up for our e-communications

Companies and organizations interested in sponsoring the industry’s only collision-focused event may reach out to Brian Nessen,
BrianN@hdrepairforum.com or Jennie Lepore, JennieL@hdrepairforum.com.

About HD Repair Group

HD Repair Group offers a dedicated source of focused-information for those involved in collision repair work of heavy-duty, medium-duty, commercial, and non-commercial vehicles in classes 4 – 8. This community is where industry stakeholders, such as shop owners, company executives, managers, technicians, estimators, and others can network with industry peers and find the latest news, tips, trends, and best practices in the heavy- and medium-duty collision repair marketplace. The HD Repair Group serves this industry in numerous ways including hosting conferences, distributing a monthly e-newsletter, hosting webinars, videos, social channels, and more. 

Learn more or sign up here to get connected today!

HD Repair Forum Opens Registration for 2023 Collision Conference

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On April 18th & 19th, 2023, members of the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair industry will travel from all parts of North America to hear the latest information on collision industry trends and how technology is redefining the industry.

The two day conference returns to the historic Hilton in downtown Fort Worth, Texas and will follow a similar format as in years past, with presentations and panel discussions involving OEMs, repair experts, insurers, and other collision industry leaders. Unique to the event are a diverse set of focused learning tracks, providing more in-depth information on topics that address the industry’s repair demands and business growth opportunities.  

Similar to previous Heavy-Duty Repair Forums, the advisory board plays a critical role in developing the agenda, speakers, and content. Rodney Rowland,  Body shop manager at Lakeside Trucks in Wisconsin, “I’ve been attending the HD Repair Forum since its inception in 2018. It has become the place for the leaders in the industry to gather to share knowledge, identify trends, and drive improvement for the entire  industry.”

The HD Repair Forum is the only collision-focused event for heavy-duty and medium-duty repairers, making it a must-attend event for collision shop owners, managers, lead technicians and estimators. These stakeholders and other industry partners including executives from OEMs, insurance and appraisal companies will also not want to miss this exclusive, once-a-year in-person opportunity to gather information, network with peers and business partners, and better equip their business for the  challenges experienced by everyone in the market. 

Registration for the event is now open. Early registration discounts and group hotel rates are available for a limited time. To access registration and gather more information go to hdrepairforum.com/event-registration/

Companies and organizations interested in sponsoring the industry’s only collision-focused event may reach out to Brian Nessen @ BrianN@hdrepairforum.com or Jennie Lepore, formerly Lenk, @ JennieL@hdrepairforum.com.

HD Repair Forum Fall Conference to Tackle Industry’s Biggest Challenges

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The Fall HD Repair Forum will take place September 26th and 27th and it will address the industry’s biggest challenges including staffing issues, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), electric vehicle repair information, new model vehicle technology advancements, and more. The complete agenda can be found here.

The advancement and adoption of electric vehicles and ADAS continues to evolve. As their presence and complexity in the industry grows, it is the HD Repair Forum’s mission to make sure the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair industry is prepared to handle and repair these vehicles for safe and proper repair.

Taking the stage in September is a well-known list of companies, organizations, and industry experts who will provide education, training, and insight on these key topics. Organizations represented include: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, Big Rig Alignment, Ford, Great Dane, I-CAR, the RV Dealers Association, Penske, Progressive and many others.

The HD Repair Forum will take place alongsideTMC’s 2022 Fall Meeting and National Technician Skills Competitions, which offers attendees a chance to participate in both events. Those involved in heavy-duty & medium-duty collision repair looking to prepare yourself, your team, and your business for growth and success should make plans and head to Cleveland.

For more information on the organization, event educational sessions, and industry resources sign-up for our e-communications
To register for the event, visit the HD Repair Forum website or go here

7 Tips for a Successful Mentoring Program

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June 20, 2022, Overland Park, Kansas – Ninety-five percent of automotive service, heavy-duty/diesel and collision repair businesses agree: the technician shortage is here, and it is severe. 

There are precisely ZERO skilled technicians wandering the streets asking themselves, “Where will I possibly find a job?” You can poach from your competitors – which you’re probably doing already, while your competition is simultaneously poaching from you. This does not add a single new person to the technician workforce.

In the heavy-duty/diesel industry, there is an expected need of at least 32,831 new technicians for 2023 alone. Poaching technicians is nothing more than musical chairs and cannot fill the need. 

Alternatively, you can actively recruit and convince career tech students that you are the right first employer to launch their career. 

But what happens when those students enter the industry? According to research from the ASE Education Foundation, 42% of career tech graduates will leave the industry altogether within their first two years. 

The one sustainable competitive advantage is to implement a systematic and repeatable technical mentoring and apprenticeship program. Want to prove to young techs that your business is the right one for them? Being able to tell an entry-level technician (and their instructors) that you have a written mentoring program and career path sets you apart from everyone else.

“Vehicle technology is growing exponentially. Entry-level technicians need an employer who is ready, willing, and able to train and prepare them for the industry,” says Lirel Holt, CEO of Mentor Mentee. “Creating your own pipeline of technicians will differentiate the good shops from those that are going to be left behind as experienced technicians retire at an ever-increasing pace.” 

Here are 7 tips to give you the best chance of implementing a successful mentoring program:

1. Prove to your local CTE instructors that you are for real. Anyone can tell an instructor they have a mentoring program. Invite them out to your shop and show them how you will continue to enhance a young technician’s understanding, further the instructor’s training efforts, and how you develop a plan specific to each student. The rest of your competition will call up the instructor begging for their ‘best student,’ while you’re showing the instructor how you are committed to launching their students’ careers. Now who’s getting the best students?!

2. Get buy-in and understanding from staff and ownership before implementing a technical mentoring or apprentice program. Seventy percent of workplace initiatives fail due to lack of leadership commitment. If you are going to build an on-the-job training program, communicate with all stakeholders early on, get all staff to understand that there is a plan and why they should be on board. Without buy-in, staff can undermine the goal. Show them how mentoring programs create upward momentum for the business, which benefits all staff.

3. Have two plans for each mentee: long-term (what you can become) and short-term (what you’ll do daily to get there). Sell a career vision to a mentee and set realistic expectations along the way. Show – in writing – to the entry-level technician where they can go and how you will help them get there. Everyone wants to know, “What’s the plan?” Don’t forget: A plan is not a plan unless it is in writing!

4. Use a task list. This is the best way to put your day-to-day plan in writing. Many programs will start without direction or standard duties. The program’s manager and mentors should identify 30 to 50 tasks for a mentee to focus on from the beginning. Be sure to include often-overlooked items like safety, vehicle placement in bays and soft skills. Do you still have to work with what is coming in the door each day? Of course! But with a task list, both the Mentor and Mentee are looking for opportunities to work on the core, foundational tasks in front of them.

5. Track training progress against the task list. Whether you use paper, Excel, or a total software solution, it is essential to track task progress to understand what task areas mentees are winning, losing, and needing more exposure. Mentors and Mentees should work together to track the number of repetitions a Mentee has on each task, as well as their quantitative and qualitative improvement in time and quality of each task performed.

6. Use the mentee’s progress data to celebrate wins and offer incentives. You can’t do #6 if you don’t do #5! When a mentee develops a new skill, publicly point it out and celebrate. Provide incentives for Mentors and Mentees to reach their goals. These can be monetary or non-monetary incentives. Small efforts to recognize their success as a team, and to celebrate those with the whole staff builds positive feedback loops, and keeps your whole staff engaged in the success of your program.

7. Do not allow bullying. Celebrate successes, but when a Mentee makes a mistake, provide constructive feedback in private. The same goes for Mentors. And do not allow anyone in the shop to bully a young tech. The days of hazing a young technician when they make a mistake are gone. As a society, we have made bullying an unacceptable practice in school. Why would you allow it in your shop? Bullying only makes it look like management doesn’t really care about the success of their own trainees or program.

The shortage is real and will continue. But while the rest of the industry faces staff shortages, a successful mentoring program can dramatically increase your odds of success. 

Mentoring and apprenticeships have worked for thousands of years, and there are new ways to implement these programs without having to reinvent the wheel. If you can implement these seven tips, you can give new life to your business’ technician recruiting and retention efforts! 


Mentor Mentee (mentormentee.com) provides a systematic mentoring toolset that shops can tailor to their specific needs. Marc Brune serves as Business Development Manager for Mentor Mentee and helps auto service, collision, and heavy-truck businesses implement mentoring and apprenticeship programs to grow their own technicians.
marc.brune@mentormentee.com