Contestants qualify by taking a written exam

The National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, which sets the industry standards for auto-repair curricula used by schools and training programs, has made changes to reflect the changing needs of service departments. Contestants qualify by taking a written exam, then move on to a hands-on competition at the state level, which involves diagnosing and repairing a bugged-for-fault Ford vehicle as quickly as possible. Winning teams advance to the national finals in June in Dearborn, Mich., Ford’s hometown, where they take a written test and do another hands-on challenge.

The winner receives a scholarship to pursue Ford’s Automotive Student Service Educational Training, a two-year associate’s degree program at a sponsoring dealership.Jeff Barber, a Ford field service engineer, says Ford education programs like ASSET and FACT allow students to “continue their automotive education beyond high school and improve their skills for the ever-changing automotive field.

After working over 15 years in the auto repair industry, I have some insightI would like to share with everyone.  The auto repair industry has changed quite a bit over the years as more complex automobiles have driven a new kind of mechanic into existence.  Some of this has fostered smarter, better trained mechanics.  However, it has developed the parts swapping business into enormous proportions.  Part of thereason I changed careers was because I was so frustrated by working in such a crooked environment.  Bad mechanics that lacked morals made the most money and honest ones lagged behind significantly.

Most mechanics are paid 100% commission based on what they flag.  This is not always true but it is the overwhelming majority that are paid this way.  For these mechanics, the motivation is to flag as many hours per day as possible.  It is not impossible, or even that uncommon, for a mechanic to flag over 16 hours in an 8 hour day.  The mechanic will make a given wage per flat rate hour.  If he flags no time in a given day, he makes no money at all.  Few shops guarantee a minimum income.  There is no real maximum either.  It is not unheard of for a fast, crooked mechanic to flag well over 80 hours in 5 day a week while working only a little over 8 hours per day.  Thats not to say all mechanics that flag big hours are crooks though.  The work load can be seasonal too.  It was quite common to have a 50% or more pay fluctuation (flagged hours)  Auto Repair Software from winter to summer.