Heavy Equipment Mechanic Wanted: How to Attract, Retain, and Motivate Technicians-Slide Deck

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A report released by The AED Foundation states that the U.S. heavy equipment distribution industry loses at least $2.4 billion each year due to the inability to find and retain skilled technicians. The demand for technicians in the industry is expected to continue increasing. To attract and retain technicians, dealerships need to focus on improving service productivity or capacity, adding technicians, or adding physical capacity such as service trucks and shop space.<br /><br />In terms of productivity and gross profit, dealerships should focus on key performance indicators (KPIs) such as service contribution, shop billing efficiency, retail service sales percentage, and shop application rate. Additionally, dealerships should ensure that technicians have the necessary training and skills in areas such as engines, transmissions, hydraulics, and electrical systems.<br /><br />When determining the number of technicians needed, dealerships can use various approaches such as service contribution, the percentage of technicians to total employees, machine population, and future machine and service sales. It is also important to consider the loss of technicians due to retirement or turnover.<br /><br />To attract and retain technicians, dealerships should provide defined career paths, formal training programs, and responsibility for technicians' own development. Coaching and mentorship are essential in helping technicians grow in their roles and contribute to the dealership's success. Additionally, creating a clean, safe, productive, and fun work environment is crucial, especially when it comes to appealing to younger generations such as millennials.<br /><br />Overall, dealerships need to focus on hiring the right people for the right job, providing a strong onboarding process, and being the employer of choice by offering career progression, competitive compensation, and a clear vision for the future.

Keywords

U.S. heavy equipment distribution industry

skilled technicians

retaining technicians

service productivity

capacity improvement

technician training

key performance indicators

technician recruitment

career development

millennial workforce