Measuring the performance of your technicians, as a whole and individually, shouldn't feel like punishment or micro-managing. What is the tread depth, are there recaps, what is the damage? The average number of wrench-turning labor hours each mechanic on staff can produce (i.e., labor supply). endobj . Doing this may involve disassembling and reassembling major equipment or making adjustments through an onboard computer program. Various types of equipment, such as tractors, cranes, and bulldozers, are used to haul materials, till land, lift beams, and dig earth to pave the way for development and construction. Our EV Technician program is intended for students interested in improving their technical knowledge to diagnose, service and repair high voltage EVs and install . The technician to vehicle question is asked many times and there is always someone who will say it should be X vehicles per tech. But there is no real industry formula because there are too many variables, such as: Number of locations; use of outside vendors; PM intervals; detailed PM requirements; miles between PMs; domiciled or non-domiciled vehicles; age of the equipment; warranty work internal or external; tech experience and quality; and size of the shop. %%EOF Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. Buses used to be relatively simple, so a bus-to-mechanic ratio was sufficient to determine if a transit agency had enough staff to maintain its fleet. /Contents 4 0 R>> Tech b C. Both techs D. Neither C A transfer case is extremely noisy and all selections except neutral whenever the vehicle is moving. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. And the number of additional vehicles required for maintenance activities can be minimized by scheduling most maintenance activities during non-peak vehicle periods. He was 53 years old. These service technicians use diagnostic computers and equipment to identify problems and make adjustments or repairs. Assuming recordkeeping practices are sound, the fleet manager can determine the average number of labor hours each type of vehicle and piece of equipment has historically consumed, then multiply the result by the number of assets in each class. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians held about 223,000 jobs in 2021. The origin web server does not have a valid SSL certificate. Women of color made up a fraction of employees in the industry: 16. The average number of labor hours each type of asset in the fleet consumes (i.e., labor demand). 0 Which technician is correct? It is important that the staff listed here directly match the vehicles included in the first sheet. This subject of mechanic-to-fleet ratio and related issues sparks a real interest and concern. Please enable javascript to play this video. This page was last edited 21:23, 15 June 2017 by. Remember that only repairs conducted by employees in the existing staff worksheet are included, so outsourced work should be left out. The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. Generally, more experienced service technicians specialize in field service. The results of this research provides a resource to help maintenance managers evaluate staffing requirements to maintain an aging, high-mileage fleet or to transition into new technology hybrid or battery-powered engines. They often lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy and dirty equipment, and stand or lie in uncomfortable positions. To investigate these discrepancies, the research team conducted two rounds of interviews with transit agencies. Maintenance Technician Staffing Levels for Modern Public Transit Fleets, TCRP Report 184: Maintenance Technician Staffing Levels for Modern Public Transit Fleets, identifies existing tools and practices used to determine optimum maintenance technician staffing levels and provides an analysis of variables that influence maintenance technician staffing needs. The report also documents the research teams development of an MS Excel-based Maintenance Staffing Calculator, a tool for managers of transit agencies of any size to use in estimating the optimal number of bus maintenance staff to meet current maintenance needs. One VEU is equal to 1015 labor hours, with technicians being assigned 100120 VEUs; but these calculations do not include nonroutine work, he said. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. We're Not Just Extrication. I asked that question about a month ago and did not receive a replay. endstream endobj startxref The subsity is limited however, to vehicles 10 . Other programs, which lead to associates degrees, generally take 2 years to complete. Offered by vocational schools and community colleges, these programs cover the basics of diagnostic techniques, electronics, and other related subjects. Comments that include personal For more details about job openings for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, consult local heavy and mobile equipment dealers and distributors, construction contractors, and government agencies. Top Certifications Salary Job openings . However, when I fire back more questions to help me determine the answer, those who ask me the question dont understand why I dont have a set response. PHW, I'd like to hear more about your program and I'm sure others would also. Comparing staffing levels to peer agencies - The tools main value lies in its ability to benchmark agency performance against other agencies of similar size. Mechanical skills. In the winter months, however, they may work less than full time. Entry-level workers with no formal background in heavy vehicle repair often receive a few months of on-the-job training before they begin performing routine service tasks and making minor repairs. Imperial Metric Vehicle speed in MPH Put simply, using VEUs means adding up how many sedans and sedan equivalencies an agency has in order to determine how many mechanics need to be hired. TCRP Report 184: Maintenance Technician Staffing Levels for Modern Public Transit Fleets, identifies existing tools and practices used to determine optimum maintenance technician staffing levels and provides an analysis of variables that influence maintenance technician staffing needs. But there is no real industry formula because there are too many variables, such as: Number of locations; use of outside vendors; PM intervals; detailed PM requirements; miles between PMs; domiciled or non-domiciled vehicles; age of the equipment; warranty work internal or external; tech experience and quality; and size of the shop. Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks. However, high school graduates often need further training to become fully qualified. 1 0 obj The Maintenance Staffing Calculator is an Excel tool consisting of seven worksheets. 0 Technician A says that the gear ratios of both differentials are the same in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Labor supply is 10. This doesn' t include helpers, parts personnel, foremen, or any other garage staff. Rather, fleet managers have reported staffing levels at their shop have been the same for years and none can recall how the staff size was originally determined. The median annual wage for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians was $53,770 in May 2021. Mercury Associates Inc. in Rockville, Md., provides comprehensive fuel and fleet management consulting services to state and local governments, federal governments and private companies. <> Black women: 6.2%. Change is coming to U.S. energy policies Tim joined Babcox Media in 1990 and spent 31. This showed some broad trends in regards to agency size, duty cycle, and spare ratio, but there was significant variation between agencies. Who is correct? endstream endobj 930 0 obj <. This will generally be heavy repairs like body work, brake machining, and small component rebuilds. Technician a says the drive chain may be stretched, causing the noise as it hits the inside of the case. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. Learn about salaries, benefits, salary satisfaction and where you could earn the most. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. Salaries by qualifications. (2016). vehicle, etc.) Technician A says that torque prevailing nuts can be reused unless damaged. make sure you're on a federal government site. They ensure the performance and safety of fuel lines, brakes, and other systems. About 23,900 openings for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. attacks or slurs, hate speech, demonstrably false information, excessive profanity, or that are thinly veiled promotions for a product, will not be approved. Asian women: 1.7%. Last Modified Date: Owen added that outsourcing 1020 percent should be included in calculations of staffing needs. Excludes "Automotive Body and Related Repairers" (49-3021), "Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists" (49-3031), and "Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles" (49-2096). Local offices of the state employment service also may have information on job openings and training programs. Mechanics who work primarily on automobiles are described in the profile on automotive service technicians and mechanics. The average growth rate for all occupations is5 percent. The average Automotive Technician salary in the United States is $53,639 as of January 26, 2023, but the salary range typically falls between $45,872 and $61,344. For example, he noted that all technicians and mechanics are not equal when it comes to their experience and ability to work at a standard pace. Labor supply is 10. In maintaining and managing a municipal fleet operation, fleet managers can take a page from the private sector's use of vehicle equivalency units to calculate the ratio of technician-to-vehicles. Farm equipment mechanics and service techs frequently work with heavy parts and tools. Senior Member. QBU\~Rp4c1QHsKI:C6u+~uT*3d=9KV*LihZ/HyIX\:c5@~`%V/D@0(]'G^f7|BJ^_3M_OW Q^h;y5+jSdPA6)07HHltD3)IA33Z8W. TU3(')C%Yyi0}J o(sC%/$ =-LumbWe B3u+sapEL2)ehZ=Y8m(TJD_f>`u0%&X;ZhMKaHm,(B- lC]:@6,@$n$[`w'XQ%fxavt7IWu-gX0m5Uzbasr `?o='R#Ip; 40G3k\x1)G %]D=Mu8',GL+. Technician B says that the rear differential has a slightly higher ratio (lower number) than the front differential. Comments are moderated and may not appear for 24 hours or more. For example, if historical labor hours for a class of 10 dump trucks were 400 per year, the average labor demand per year for each vehicle in this class is 40. Maintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide 6 . There was evidence that large agencies have proportionally more staff than smaller ones (likely due in part to performing more heavy repairs in house), and that more complex fleets require more maintenance. Perhaps you would be willing to write an article about it. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. Required fields are marked *. >>/Group <> This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. Some manufacturers offer certification in specific repair methods or equipment. Efficiency numbers should hover around 125 percent, which means a technician working on cars for 7.2 hours in a day should produce 9 billable hours of work. Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians with similar occupations. A . Mechanics who work primarily on motorboats, motorcycles, and small all-terrain vehicles are described in the profile on small engine mechanics. 663 0 obj <> endobj To calculate mechanic staffing requirements, the following data and information are needed: When fleet managers talk to their boss, elected officials, budget and finance directors, or city managers about mechanic staffing requirements for their shops, it is much better to be armed with calculations resulting from a coherent quantitative methodology than relying on anecdotes and stories. This process involves calculating the number of annual hours available to mechanics to devote to wrench-turning activities. . This only includes bus mechanics and technicians, not facility maintenance staff, mechanics who deal only with non-revenue vehicles, or supervisors. Service technicians also use many different power and machine tools, including pneumatic wrenches, lathes, and welding equipment. Data from hundreds of fleet organizations has demonstrated a VEU of 1.0 is normally equal to between 10 and 15 annual maintenance labor hours, depending upon a number of factors unique to each organization. Another method of determining labor demand is using a technique known as Vehicle Equivalent Unit (VEU) Analysis. Even with the responses to the surveys, the study yielded limited correlative data. (2016). a. Click to reveal They generally purchase these tools over the course of their careers, often investing thousands of dollars in their inventory. We get by with what we have, but our staff is always busy. 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. The higher costs are probably less related to the number of technicians and more related to new emissions and warranty engagements, or that the labor rate is higher than it use to be. The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. In the private sector a lengthy delay can mean success or failure on the job, which ultimately impacts customer relationships. 2016 Bus Maintenance Survey: Shops Still Dealing with Electrical Learning Curve. Troubleshooting skills. Here an agency can enter information about its full-time and part-time employees. The historical demand for labor can be determined by reviewing the previous few years of maintenance records. To answer the question of vehicles to technicians ratios, I suggest that you look at previous averages, set a goal so at the end of the day you can perform like a leasing company, which is lean, not so mean, and efficient. In this example, the labor demand is 10.3 mechanics (14,950 total annual demand for labor hours divided by 1,456 average labor hours available per mechanic.) This is where the bulk of the calculators work takes place. Hours Invoiced / Hours Worked = X Goal: Greater than 1. Technician B only c. Both Technicians A and B d. Neither Technician A nor B Once the demand and supply of labor is known, mechanic staffing requirements can be calculated. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians repair and maintain engines, hydraulic systems, transmissions, and electrical systems of agricultural, industrial, construction, and rail equipment. The number of mechanics/technicians required to maintain this sample fleet is more than a fleet of 100 sedans, but far less than a fleet of 100 dump trucks. Hourly Rate. So you want to write for Fleet Equipment? What kind of outsource work couldnt be achieved by regular fleet staff ? The following are examples of types of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians: Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians service and repair farm equipment, such as tractors and harvesters. Some service technicians travel to worksites to make repairs. Small engine mechanics inspect, service, and repair motorized power equipment. Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. Fueling: who fuels the trucks, and who puts DEF in the trucks? High school courses in automotive repair, electronics, physics, and welding provide a strong foundation for a service technicians career. By aggregating the vehicles in a fleet in terms of their vehicle equivalent units, uniform standards and benchmarks can be applied regardless of the fleets size, type or configuration. White women: 17.5%. The primary objective of this research was to produce an interactive staffing tool for use in determining optimum maintenance technician staffing levels for small, medium, and large public transit bus and other revenue fleets. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians, Another calculation includes maintenance and repair units, which involves comparing requirements of one vehicle group to another vehicle category. With new labor-intensive engines, various fuel types, highly sophisticated electronics, and an increase in preventive maintenance frequencies, many maintenance managers realize they need to hire additional staff. VEHICLE TO TECHNI C IAN RATIO This is a question asked by every fleet owner, fleet manager and workshop manager who maintain their own fleet of vehicles. Wafler's system, which he uses through BLIG, looks at the bay-to-technician ratio of a shop and how that can be used to find its maximum production and efficiency. The percent change of employment for each occupation from 2021 to 2031. The site is secure. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a formal training program at a postsecondary institution. National estimates for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. This could indicate an expired SSL certificate or a certificate that does not include the requested domain name. Fleet managers need the flexibility to justify their staffing needs as their specific fleet requires, making proper adjustments as needed., Your email address will not be published. 960 0 obj <>stream If this value is less than 1, your shop is losing money because the actual time it takes to repair a vehicle is not being invoiced properly on a regular basis. Dayton, Ohio. Most Likely Range. Our self-paced distance education Electric Vehicle (EV) Technician program is designed for adult learners seeking independent study in the rapidly emerging Electric Vehicle sector. Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. Transit Cooperative Research Program. TRBs Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Report 184: Maintenance Technician Staffing Levels for Modern Public Transit Fleets identifies existing tools and practices used to determine optimum maintenance technician staffing levels. Fleets should outsource work that requires special tools, equipment, training; work that would tie up a mechanic or work bay for long periods of time; and work during periods of peak workload to maintain high rates of vehicle availability, said Owen. A major issue that must be confronted at this point is if historical averages are reasonable, i.e., have mechanics been efficient in the past? Population and business growth should result in greater demand for new houses, office buildings, bridges, and other structures, which in turn may require more mobile heavy equipment mechanics in the construction industry. Astro Optics: Traffic Guard Portable Speed Bump System. _EY4x /hH2, (937) 290-0529 info@crashcoursevillage.org. Today, significant R&D investment is going into the development of electric trucksprobing the possibilities of untested powertrains in hopes of producing a product that meets application needs. hbbd``b`_ H3@ 0 'Q Additionally, organizations that do not actively manage labor reporting tend to lose hours during the year. Thursday, September 8, 2022. The median annual wage for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians was $53,770 in May 2021.