Auto Techs May Fit the Bill

By Mindy Long

As car dealerships across the country close, automotive technicians who become casualties of consolidation may provide a solution for light- and medium-duty fleets and repair shops facing a shortage of commercial techs.

“There is always a commercial truck technician shortage,” said Mark Oliver, senior vice president of maintenance for Penske Truck Leasing, Reading, Pa., “but the degree of it varies and it varies by geography.”

Bob Brauer, vice president of sales and operations for Kelley Fleet Services, Mission Viejo, Calif., said he has had an easier time hiring technicians during the past six months, unlike the past eight years. “We hear that they are getting laid off or leaving dealerships because they were concerned about their jobs. Also, people who left the field for other jobs have lost those jobs and are coming back into the

Neither Chrysler nor General Motors could provide figures on the number of auto techs who have been laid off as a result of closures. Kathy Graham, spokeswoman for Chrysler, estimated that at least half of the almost 800 dealerships that were losing their Chrysler franchise would stay open. “Forty-four percent of our dealerships were dualed with another manufacturer and 88% sold used cars,” she said.

Frank Larkin, communications director for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said layoffs are inevitable when consolidations occur. “It is the equivalent of a merger in a large corporation.

There are going to be redundancies and they are going to look to reduce head count,” he said.

Fortunately for technicians, their services are in demand.

“We’ve been able to keep most of the folks who have lost their jobs employed by moving them to where the work moves after the dealership closes,” Larkin said.

That movement also provides a labor pool for fleets and medium- and heavy-duty repair facilities. 

Tony Molla, vice president of communications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, said a lot of auto technicians are going to have to find different career paths. “We’ve suggested to these technicians that they consider working in the light- and heavy-duty segments,” he said.

He also recommends that truck fleets recruit heavily among the auto technicians.

“If I were the truck guys, I would absolutely be advertising to these folks and advertising in areas where franchises are closing. Good, quality certified auto technicians could easily be retrained if a business is looking for someone,” Molla said.

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