Fontana: How fleets can show truck technicians appreciation and boost retention

This week is National Technician Appreciation Week, a time to celebrate the hard work of professional technicians who keep trucks running in a safe and efficient manner.

However, I believe it’s important to spend more than one week a year letting our technicians know the vital role they play in the success of our operations. Technician recognitions should be an ongoing effort.

Treat technicians as strategic partners: Leverage their expertise

There are a number of ways we can show technicians that they are a valuable part of your team. They are in a unique position to provide insights into the health of your trucks: how one brand of a component is performing over another, or how easy it is to service one brand over another. You can leverage this type of vehicle intelligence in your spec’ing decisions, so don’t forget to seek technician input when you are purchasing new vehicles.

Your technicians can also tell you which drivers may need additional coaching based on wear patterns that are impacted by driver behavior. And they know just how thorough drivers are in completing their pre- and post-trip inspections by identifying problems that should have been discovered during a driver inspection.

Invest in tools, training, and career growth to retain top talent

Technicians cannot do their jobs effectively without the right tools and equipment. Investing in diagnostic tools and technology streamlines the repair process for them. By providing these resources, you treat them like professionals and give them everything they need to efficiently complete their jobs.

A commitment to technician training should also be made on an ongoing basis. Trucks are constantly being upgraded and improved. Your technician training needs to be constantly upgraded as well. Invest in technician certification programs, and compensate technicians who reach certain certification levels, such as an ASE Master Certification.

Outline training schedules and discuss career paths with each of your technicians so they can get an idea of how they can progress inside your organization. Have your service manager set up regular reviews with your technicians to not only let them know about their performance but to gauge their satisfaction with the job so you can take appropriate steps to retain them.

Recent data from the American Transportation Research Institute shows there is a lack of qualified technicians, so anything you can do to make your technicians feel appreciated will likely aid in your retention efforts.

Technician Appreciation Week is a good way to let your technicians know how important they are, but don’t let it be the only time they hear that message.