May 26, 2026 · 1 hr 2 min · 12 segments
Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to lose the next generation of technicians is to make the job feel rigged. We sit down with longtime automotive…
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Ron SleeHost
Jim CentorbiGuest
So looking at automo- looking at the construction equipment trades, I see a, a, a number of things.
Um, anybody who comes out of university has an impression that they deserve the corner office almost right away, without really knowing the ins and out of the business.
And the, the last thing that's kind of happened with us, I don't know it's happened as much in automotive, is ownership or leadership has deferred leaving by about 10 years.
I, I think we've spent a long time, uh, planting the seed in, in children from an early age that you have to go to college to be successful, uh, which kind of downplays the, the service industry.
And, uh, it's unfortunate because, uh, we'll always need the service industry people.
Um, so I, I think you're, you're spot on there with the, the younger generation t- under 25 doesn't wanna get their hands dirty because they were taught that that's not the way to be successful.
Um, and you know, I think in the automotive industry what, what hurts the reputation and, and, uh, c- keeps a lot of people out of the automotive industry is, is the pay plans.
Uh, frankly, flat rate in my mind is [laughs] it was great in the '80s, but you know, times change.
Uh, there's, there's too many variables and too many uncontrollables that the, the technicians have no control over.
So you know, uh, flat rate, it can be part of it, but I think, you know, if you're there for 40 hours, you should be paid for 40 hours.
So looking at automo- looking at the construction equipment trades, I see a, a, a number of things.
Um, anybody who comes out of university has an impression that they deserve the corner office almost right away, without really knowing the ins and out of the business.
And the, the last thing that's kind of happened with us, I don't know it's happened as much in automotive, is ownership or leadership has deferred leaving by about 10 years.
I, I think we've spent a long time, uh, planting the seed in, in children from an early age that you have to go to college to be successful, uh, which kind of downplays the, the service industry.
And, uh, it's unfortunate because, uh, we'll always need the service industry people.
Um, so I, I think you're, you're spot on there with the, the younger generation t- under 25 doesn't wanna get their hands dirty because they were taught that that's not the way to be successful.
Um, and you know, I think in the automotive industry what, what hurts the reputation and, and, uh, c- keeps a lot of people out of the automotive industry is, is the pay plans.
Uh, frankly, flat rate in my mind is [laughs] it was great in the '80s, but you know, times change.
Uh, there's, there's too many variables and too many uncontrollables that the, the technicians have no control over.
So you know, uh, flat rate, it can be part of it, but I think, you know, if you're there for 40 hours, you should be paid for 40 hours.
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