, The Premier Product & Equipment Magazine for America's Municipalities, Predicting repair staffing, maintenance needs with VEUs. National estimates for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. $64 - $400. One VEU is equal to 1015 labor hours, with technicians being assigned 100120 VEUs. 1 tech x 40 att. Labor supply is 10. This process involves calculating the number of annual hours available to mechanics to devote to wrench-turning activities. hb``` Completing a vocational or other postsecondary training program in diesel technology or heavy equipment mechanics is increasingly considered the best preparation for some entry-level positions. 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. 8 "r.qEp92e,JY0gnT6Hdgq=~6E>=|hvOgoYPl QItc[ B`2=^Fa OrBvxvWfPK@ .c@(p m ?Q\ After all, talk is cheap and the trust me days of fleet management ended many years ago. 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. What is the tread depth, are there recaps, what is the damage? 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. %PDF-1.7 One of the best way to do it is to project the costs, divide the total dollars by two, (labor and parts average 50% each) then divide the 50% labor dollars by a fully burdened labor rate average, the calculation determines the hoursthen back into the hours of operational required. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be able to lift and move heavy equipment, tools, and parts without risking injury. Mechanic Ratio - School Bus Fleet Magazine Forums Rack and Pinion Steering: Everything You Need to Know - Car and Driver 2016 Bus Maintenance Survey: Shops Still Dealing with Electrical Learning Curve. An official website of the United States government Mall, K., & Sekera, J. 15. Technician A only b. How to reasonably assess mechanic staffing in a public sector garage is an often-posed question among government agency fleet managers. The number of people employed as Automotive service technicians & mechanics has been growing at a rate of 0.0547%, from 762,427 people in 2019 to 762,844 people in 2020. Transmission Ratio RPM Calculator Determine your engine's RPM based on the transmission gear ratio, tire height, MPH, and the ratio of your ring gear and pinion gear. Women of color made up a fraction of employees in the industry: 16. <> Service technicians who have completed a postsecondary training program in diesel technology or heavy equipment mechanics typically require less on-the-job training. 0 Sick days? 1 0 obj 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. So, if you have . Most Likely Range. This tab can include information on education, training, work experience, licensing and certification, and important qualities that are required or helpful for entering or working in the occupation. Furthermore, 70% of the companies lack awareness of which assets require maintenance. 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. How will todays customer focus translate to tomorrows electric trucks? Farm equipment mechanics work varies by time of the year. Senior Member, thomasvista2012 If an agency had four or five buses per mechanic it was considered to have an excellent bus-to-mechanic ratio. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, the average fleet age for a typical government fleet of mixed vehicle types should range from three to five years. Mechanics who work primarily on motorboats, motorcycles, and small all-terrain vehicles are described in the profile on small engine mechanics. The result of this calculation for all mechanics is the number of productive hours a fleet has available. Technician B says the ratio is 3.86:1. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, also called mechanics, inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries. The average number of labor hours each type of asset in the fleet consumes (i.e., labor demand). An agency employee very familiar with the fleet and maintenance should use the tool, because its accuracy is dependent on getting accurate, detailed information. Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights install, maintain, and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery. Salary: Vehicle Technician (March, 2023) | Glassdoor Although not required, certification can demonstrate a service technicians competence and usually commands higher pay. Published as TCRP Report 184. It also includes average hours spent on follow-up repairs. It contains annual hours needed for core maintenance like preventative inspections and brake relines, as well as unscheduled maintenance. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Days off: Vacation? To investigate these discrepancies, the research team conducted two rounds of interviews with transit agencies. Calculating Car Workshop Labour Efficiency - EzineArticles The sheets are: The first sheet contains information about the agencys fleet. TCRP - Transportation Research Board Click to reveal The projected numeric change in employment from 2021 to 2031. What kind of outsource work couldnt be achieved by regular fleet staff ? Providing Quality Fire Training to First Responders. We are at about 23 buses per mechanic, and even though we have a number of A/C equipped buses we make it work because of our relatively new fleet. Chapter 126 Four wheel drive Flashcards | Quizlet This can be as specific as the agency wants, with vehicles broken down by broad category (35-foot buses, cutaway buses) all the way down to year, manufacturer, or other specifics. Maintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide 6 . 929 0 obj <> endobj (937) 290-0529 info@crashcoursevillage.org. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. The Virtual Vehicle platform, which Platform Science says is designed to provide fleets with a range of benefits including productivity, flexibility, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, will be integrated into Kenworth's trucks to enhance the overall performance and efficiency of the vehicles. Many employers send new service technicians to training sessions conducted by equipment manufacturers. 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. Other programs, which lead to associates degrees, generally take 2 years to complete. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). We get by with what we have, but our staff is always busy. Regression analyses were performed, and results include standard deviations to help judge how closely peer agencies perform on various measures. Maintenance activities not included in the previous sheet are entered here. In the winter months, however, they may work less than full time. 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). The What They Do tab describes the typical duties and responsibilities of workers in the occupation, including what tools and equipment they use and how closely they are supervised. Physical strength. Related Articles Debating the merits of ethanol Why isnt a trucks appearance part of the PM process? 7 0 obj 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. Projected employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians varies by occupation (see table). By Randy Owen The companys top priority is to ensure safety and support the operational teams by sustaining a very high percentage of asset uptime and availability. Then there are the questions involving required operational shop hours, accidents, damages, internal damages and, to some degree, the specifications of the vehicles, the number of DVIRS, type of electronic equipment. can help cut diesel fuel costs, Peterbilt GM Jason Skoog charts todays truck support, tomorrows truck solutions, Diesel engine filtration tips for better fuel efficiency, U.S. Bank: Truck freight volumes continue to decline, Significant increase in TL spot rates observed for early 2023. EDSI Consulting prepared this report under TCRP Project E-10. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. Both a and b which of the following vehicle emissions - Course Hero Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. Less. endobj Centuri Construction Groups fleet of more than 7,000 units tries to be predictive in nature to its maintenance and repair needs. Which technician is correct? This tab may also describe opportunities for part-time work, the amount and type of travel required, any safety equipment that is used, and the risk of injury that workers may face. 90%. . endstream endobj 930 0 obj <. c/`w]H[3JF46ev6)~=k[EZNM{zS8_h_(;B,~##ySPI])q=g$Znj$be~]e*~b$o;_)5F"`x}Qw6&~es mh+RBFl3#UNYA?D>N;UF50!B"elA This could indicate an expired SSL certificate or a certificate that does not include the requested domain name. The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. As the premiere online publication for the heavy-duty truck market, charting the latest in trucking equipment, technology, and service trends, Fleet Equipment has a knack for digging up the stories behind the stories (while having a lot of fun along the way). If we drop the gear ratio to 3:1, however, the driveshaft only has to spin at 6150RPM. 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. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians typically do the following: Heavy vehicles and mobile equipment are critical to many industrial activities, including construction and railroad transportation. Vehicles to mechanic, technician ratio algebra - Fleet Equipment Mag Advanced Member, Brad Barker The report also documents the research team's development of an MS Excel-based Maintenance Staffing . The Job Outlook tab describes the factors that affect employment growth or decline in the occupation, and in some instances, describes the relationship between the number of job seekers and the number of job openings. In these cases it might be a good idea to perform separate analyses for each location. The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. _EY4x /hH2, Technician B says that the rear differential has a slightly higher ratio (lower number) than the front differential. As a consequence, fleet managers have difficulty defending themselves against a newly elected administration who suggest shop staffing is bloated and should be downsized. f cf`apa`vdbT1b`QlhsjAQCNPASF&>ffe90oQ7(8hPtes0ycoN~n7@s??o Z@@j88: ! Overall employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians is projected to grow 8 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations. Planning for necessary staffing levels - Agencies can add potential new vehicles to the inventory worksheet and see what effect this would have on required staffing. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians, Kenworth and Platform Science have announced a strategic partnership that will see the integration of Platform Science's Virtual Vehicle platform into Kenworth trucks using factory-installed telematics hardware. Staffing to the peaks rather than valleys in the workload demand is never a good idea. The Pay tab describes typical earnings and how workers in the occupation are compensatedannual salaries, hourly wages, commissions, tips, or bonuses. Technician A says that the CVT shifts from gear-to-gear, up and down, as needed to maintain optimal speed and torque. Conversely, some city and county fleet organizations perform nearly all services in-house. PDF Maintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide - Transportation Research Board Main shaft Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. A. It is important that the staff listed here directly match the vehicles included in the first sheet. (Illustration: Shutterstock & Richard Aguirre). Creating a chart that allows for a certain number of staff technicians to repair each class of vehicles in the fleet is a tremendous boon for municipal fleet managers. Fleets with large geographic service territories, such as state governments, tend to outsource a large percentage of their repair work 100 percent in some cases. 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? A fleet of one hundred patrol cars, rated at 2.5 VEUs each, constitutes a fleet of 250 VEUs. One VEU is equal to 1015 labor hours, with technicians being assigned 100120 VEUs; but these calculations do not include nonroutine work, he said. The State and Area Data tab provides links to state and area occupational data from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, state projections data from Projections Central, and occupational information from the Department of Labor's CareerOneStop. endobj We respect your data and privacy. Input cells are clearly labeled and color-coded. They often lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy and dirty equipment, and stand or lie in uncomfortable positions. Serving Car & Truck Fleet Management Professionals, Serving EV Intenders & Professionals In Commercial & Public Fleets, Serving Corporate, Executive, & Financial Managers Of Large Commercial Fleets, Serving Leaders In Fleet Mobility & Emerging Technology, Serving Public Sector Fleet Professionals, Serving Medium & Heavy Duty Commercial Truck Professionals, Serving Transit Bus, Private Motorcoach, & Passenger Rail Professionals, Serving School & Pupil Transportation Fleet Professionals, Serving Vocational & Service Fleet Professionals. Here an agency can enter information about its full-time and part-time employees. 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. The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. %%EOF I have experienced both challenges and benefits regarding the utilization of the VEU model to justify maintenance and repair staffing needs, said Fay. Fleet organizations with liberal leave policies and a senior staff clearly will have a lower number of available labor hours. A: There are many variables when calculating the number of technicians required per number of trucks. In the private sector a lengthy delay can mean success or failure on the job, which ultimately impacts customer relationships. The final worksheet provides a summary of data for all peer groups. Hours worked = Time spent actively completing work orders Multiply each number in the ratio by the value of one part: 6 x 8.75 and 2 x 8.75. Each program may last 1 to 2 years and lead to a certificate of completion. . 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+. This doesn' t include helpers, parts personnel, foremen, or any other garage staff. %PDF-1.5 % Perhaps you would be willing to write an article about it. 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.) Asian women: 1.7%. Technician B says to inflate the tires to . For more information, visit www.darrystuart.com or email comments or questions requests to Darry at: [emailprotected]. This factor clearly must be considered when assessing how many mechanics an organization needs. If someone determines that the body count is too high, you may be asked to defend your staff. They also work on smaller consumer-grade lawn and garden tractors. 663 0 obj <> endobj 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. How to Measure the Productivity of Your Automotive Technicians [Quick Tip] Or, if you have a simple standardize fleet, say all day cabs, and an established trade cycle, a ratio can be determined. stream This question can be answered by sampling repair task times against industry labor guides (ALLDATA or Mitchell On-Demand) and/or internally established time standards. Service technicians also use many different power and machine tools, including pneumatic wrenches, lathes, and welding equipment. %%EOF MOT preparation and inspections work on vehicles and trailers. The results of the existing, calculated necessary, and revised staff levels are compared side to side. Even with the responses to the surveys, the study yielded limited correlative data. Technician B says that the CVT does not shift but continuously varies the gear ratio as needed to maintain optimal speed and torque. Who is correct? Learn more about heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. The type of fleet business you are in effects this number greatly. PDF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE OUTLINE - Phoenix, Arizona The historical demand for labor can be determined by reviewing the previous few years of maintenance records. <> 4 0 obj Additionally, organizations that do not actively manage labor reporting tend to lose hours during the year. 0 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. In total, more than 60 agencies of varying size were surveyed. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a training program at a postsecondary institution. There is no textbook formula for maintenance managers to determine the optimum ratio of maintenance technicians for their fleet size, as the number varies tremendously between public transit fleets. 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. How many degrees will the front wheels be rotated? 679 0 obj <>stream Technician A says that the output gear will be going faster than the input gear. 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. Owen added that outsourcing 1020 percent should be included in calculations of staffing needs. Local offices of the state employment service also may have information on job openings and training programs. The number of maintenance technicians at a transit agency is based on financial constraints, fleet age, annual miles, powertrain type, how much work is outsourced, and a multitude of other key factors. We have 24 buses and 78 other pieces of equipment (trucks, vans, etc.). The reason the question is asked often comes from managements assumption that the shop has too many peoplebecause the costs are running high.