Technicians' Attitudes and Actions

The aftermarket is worried about a technician shortage, but it is also worried about the expense of employee wages, insurance and benefits, according to John Rogier and Bill Cannon, of Motor Age magazine.

Motor Age recently sent out a survey to a sample of subscribers, and gleaned some interesting information on industry trends.

Shockingly, 36 percent of the respondents, who were mainly repair shop owners, said they do not have a computing system of any kind. Of those who do, 43 percent use it only for payroll and business management. Another 43 percent answered "never" to the question: How often do you access the Internet? Respondents were also queried as to which services they performed were the most profitable. Ninety percent said that belt and hose replacement is the most profitable underhood service. Ninety-one percent said that brake servicing is the most profitable undercar service performed. Other profitable undercar services included shock absorbers and suspension work.

Program distributors were the parts source for 33 percent of respondents, and traditional WDs accounted for 20 percent. The category "other," which included Web companies, accounted for one percent. Part availability was the most important factor in why they chose the supplier they did. The future of the industry looks good, with 45 percent expecting business to increase, but expenditures are expected to increase as well. The shop owners who responded said that technical job training and recruitment are vital to the success of the industry.

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