Solving the Auto Body Tech Shortage

In the lastest episode of BodyShop Business: The Podcast, Jason Stahl and Brandon Eckenrode, managing director of the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), discuss the technician shortage. Topics they discuss include: why is there a technician shortage in the collision repair industry; what is CREF’s role in helping relieve some of the stress on shops that the technician shortage has created; did COVID have an impact on collision repair instruction at schools; what role can collision repairers play in making sure quality students are coming out of their local schools; what opportunities does rapidly advancing vehicle technology give the industry to attract new talent?

[@pugbug288]

I was a body guy for 16 years. Don’t get involved in the industry. Just go for heavy equipment if you have the option. You WILL give 20% of your labor away for free to a billion dollar insurance company on the auto body side.

[@davidolsen4758]

We got paid in the 80s and 90s . tell the truth. We make the same as we did 20yrs ago. My sheets are full of "included" procdures we once got PAID for. All us older tecs are fed up. Why would we encourage anybody to get into this trade.

[@stevemahatcke5046]

Amen brother

[@jasonxsolutions]

insurance agency's winning negotiations is really the issue here. autobody shops need to come together instead of competing and go against the insurance agencys. everyone would be happier and get paid better

[@class5bodyworks]

Ironically, they would sue for collusion and price fixing. Although, all these sme insurance companies can set a regional rate and pay nothing more even if the shop has a higher rate. I'm in the "Great Lakes region". I guess.

[@stevemahatcke5046]

Didn’t hear too much about garbage wages or greedy insurance company’s. Pretty poor podcast fellas

[@class5bodyworks]

I suspect these promos are sponsored by the billion dollar insurance conglomerate.

[@briancote8216]

Working 25 yrs in collision repair. Part prices are over the top of legal eg.1000.00 $ for a piece of plastic 18inx 1.5in . Door rates are from the 1980s 70-80$ per hour and requires much more equipment than a mechanic shop door rates are almost twice as much. Most dealerships closed their body repair facilities 15yrs ago for lack of profit margin. Tool requirements have doubled technical skills have increased by 10× fragility of parts 20×. Labor % should be 45%for the tech as they are now 30% for a ticketed journeyman. Flat rate hours have been reduced by 25% if not more. Auto body repair careers are not sustainable and experience and talents are retiring leaving new tech's in the wind and responsible for delivering safety and quality. Run from the enslavement and oppression of this trade corporate greed has destroyed. Public safety and security of transportation is at fatal risk!!!

[@class5bodyworks]

SAFETY!!! That is pushed all the time yet how do you put a price on a person's safety? The shop rate and tech rate should be more than a mechanics shop. Number one problem? Insurance companies regulated.

[@oscarperez5539]

I finished auto collision school just recently and no one is hiring but the bit that I worked in the shops I sae the same things. But no one wants to teach, they expect the new guy to figure it out. Would you recommend me to just leave and get into sales or learn minor collision repair and just be a C tech?

[@zackburns8361]

Wrong wrong pay sucks drp shops insurance rates . Cars are easier work on issue I can do one car a month in my driveway for what shop pays. 30 and hour flat rate bike techs make more and there not liabilitie for someone's life

[@tankish1529]

I’ve been in the industry as a collision tech for 15 years. The disingenuous conversation that I just listened too was absolutely astounding. You guys have literally know idea on how to fix the lack of qualified or really just quality techs. For one these MSOs need to combine their efforts and do away with these insurance funded writing programs. Every year they reduce the amount of time for replacement panels (weld on) by using the excuse of “included operations.” I know this was done a year ago, but it wouldn’t matter if it was 10 years ago. Training techs isn’t the issue, retention is the issue. With low wages and large wrecks just not being worth touching anymore is the issue. ALL young guys that I’ve seen in this industry, have gotten out quick. I am a rarity. I’m 37 years old and I’ve considered going back to working in a grocery store 😂. Now, with inflation, more and more techs are getting out. As far as the “exceptions” from body shops for young guys. They expect to make 6 figures a year due to the smoke you so called “trainers and PR” people have blown up their asses. Good luck, I’ll be looking forward to writing my own check when body shops start closing due to lack of help 😂😂😂

[@class5bodyworks]

Yet I see far more concern about mechanics leaving their field. And these guys are bitching about pay. Not sure how much the shop owners are sharing with the techs but some of these shop rates are 150 -180 hr. My area collision rate finally just went up to 60(for the insurance companies that want to pay that, of course).

[@tankish1529]

@@class5bodyworks Yep, ours is still hovering around 50 an hour. It’s amazing how much the insurance companies dictate the labor rates of shops. As soon as anyone talked about shops getting to feather to drive up labor rates the insurance companies go crying to congress and sue those shops for trying to create a monopoly.

[@class5bodyworks]

@@tankish1529 This is the only industry I'm aware of that the customer (insurance company) can set their own price. Unbelievable

[@class5bodyworks]

Small engine repair rate is higher than collision rate! Need i say more?

[@SethMulvaney]

F*ck this industry

[@cesarzambrano-cg8sd]

Not recommended.

[@bobc8875]

What would Mike Rowe say?

[@class5bodyworks]

He'd say" fuck the insurance companies ".😂😂

[@mikeng4510]

do u take vietnamese worker

[@class5bodyworks]

If you'll work for 1960s wages to appease the insurance overlords.