So, why should we use Flat or Standard Labor Rates (SLR)?  It’s good for both you and your customer.  From the customers perspective, it gives them the ability to know what the charge for the work is going to be regardless of the technician’s skill level.  If they have an “B” or “C” tech working on their machine, the billable hours could be much higher than what a flat rate would be doing an average [...]

In the compensation programs we recommend, the tech is paid an hourly rate based on their level of experience and the dealership location. For example, in the Midwest, a C-level tech might make $8-$10 dollars an hour. A tech in the Boston area, however, might need to be paid $14-$16 per hour. You know your area and what you have to pay to get a technician at the various levels, so adjust accordingly. In the [...]

When visiting dealerships, owners & managers often ask me, “What can we provide the techs to help make them more efficient?” While there are plenty of things that we can provide techs, there are three key items that can prove very beneficial to the overall efficiency of your technicians. The first one is a wash bay. A wash bay can be a costly investment, however, if done correctly, will help your techs be more efficient [...]

Almost every dealership, regardless of the products you sell or services you offer, historically have a slow time of year. As we travel the country working with dealers, we have seen all sorts of great ideas come alive as they work to keep their businesses afloat during the slow season and start the year in the black. One great way to keep a dealership busy (and profitable) during the slow season is the effective use [...]

Triaging is vital to keeping our shops moving and our techs efficient. The triaging process happens after the equipment has been checked into the dealership, the work order has been filled out and hopefully signed by the customer, and a red ribbon has been attached to show the equipment has just been checked in. At 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., the service coordinator will go to the service manager or service writer, take the clipboards [...]

For the month of December, we will be covering Service Basics. One of the most important processes in the service department is the use of ribbons on equipment. This is primarily the Service Coordinators’ job, but all members of the service team need to understand how using ribbons can help to increase efficiency and eliminate chaos. A red ribbon means the equipment has been at the dealership less than 24 hours and has not been [...]

This week, we are highlighting two key positions in the service department: The Service Coordinator & Shop Foreman. Let’s get started. Service Coordinator: Supporting Service Techs The service coordinator is one of the positions we find that few service departments have but need! Once we’ve explained the role, almost every shop ends up hiring a service coordinator. In most dealerships, service techs are required to do things like sweep the floor, empty oil and drain [...]

Week two of our Service Department position highlight brings us to the Service Writer. The service writer is one step away from the service manager’s role. They take over the customer contact role of the service manager and in smaller service departments, also handle warranty claims. There is nothing more important in a service department than good communication between the shop and its customers, internal or external. Much like the service manager, the service writer [...]