Moving Words – Mechanics

“In America, the professor talks to the mechanic. They are in the same category.” – Noam Chomsky

Having a breakdown on the road can be one of the most costly and financially frustrating events in a moving company’s or truck owner’s life. Nothing can ruin a perfect day quicker than unexpectedly finding your truck and van operator on the side of the road, hood open and triangles out waiting for the tow truck to drag them back to the shop. So how to avoid these unsavory, undesirable, costly events?

Number one on the list is the careful selection of who does your Preventive Maintenance. While many movers depend on a diesel mechanic shop or OEM dealer to do their maintenance and repairs, there are several van operators who will, for the sake of saving dollars, do their own maintenance. And while this does have some advantages, it also has one very large disadvantage: only one set of eyes looking over a very familiar piece of equipment. This doesn’t infer your van operator should stop doing his/her own maintenance, if done correctly and with a definitive schedule. The value of your van operator knowing that equipment from top to bottom can’t be replaced. However, suggest developing a relationship with a diesel repair shop or OEM who will act as your operator’s second set of eyes. They should do quarterly inspections and at the same time, a complete PM in which the mechanic changes the oil, lubes the truck, inspects and adjusts the brakes, tires and electrical system. Not a bad idea for them to run an ECM Health Report at the same time, too.

How should you, the owner, go about finding and selecting the best mechanic for your truck(s)? With reasonable effort spent selecting the most qualified mechanic for Preventive Maintenance and inspections, you’ll eliminate hours of aggravation resulting from expensive roadside downtime. Quality of service, not price, should be your first concern in selecting the best-qualified people to care for your truck.

Locate a diesel mechanic with Automotive Services Excellence (ASE) certification who is constantly updating his knowledge on your particular trucks and engine models. This is the person who should know every repair that’s ever occurred on your trucks. He should be your trusted advisor in all matters regarding the mechanical operation of your trucks. You should be able to consult him; even have your van operators call in from the road for his advice as to the best course of action in actual and perceived mechanical uncertainties: Can it wait? Can the truck be driven back to his repair shop? Or does it need to be inspected and repaired now?

This mechanic should be located within a few miles of your moving company or the homes of your van operators for their trucks. This makes it convenient for following the Preventive Maintenance schedule along with inspections and repairs. All of this necessary downtime is easily coordinated with home time. But again, the quality of the work performed must take importance over location and price. A few extra dollars spent at a top-notch local repair facility can save thousands of dollars on the road.

As you search for your truck mechanical expert, keep these guidelines in mind:

• Are the mechanics constantly updating their knowledge and skills through OEM Service and Maintenance Updates and Memorandum?
• Is the shop providing continuing education on equipment updates and procedural changes with all the different OEMs represented?
• Do the mechanics have a certification or testing program in place to verify their skill level? Are these certificates posted where customers can view them?
• Do they maintain in stock, or have immediate access to parts for your particular trucks’ makes and models?
• Does the shop have the correct OEM-required tools and technology for repairs?
• Are you able to communicate your wants and needs to the service manager with ease?
• Does the shop work with you and your van operators’ schedules to keep downtime in the shop at a minimum?
• Does the Service Manager look out for your best interests, constantly checking for the lowest possible cost with the best results?
• Do they back up what they service and repair? We’re all human, even the mechanics who work on your truck, so all are capable of making a mistake. Are they willing to own up to it if they do, and are they willing to do what’s necessary to make it right?

Having the right people to go to when there’s a mechanical problem with your truck or trucks is invaluable. So spending the time required to interview, investigate and select the best will pay in multiple dividends throughout the life of your trucks and your moving company.

“Take care of your car (trucks) in the garage, and the car (trucks) will take care of you on the road.” – Amit Kalantri, (author, professional magician and mentalist.)

Timothy Brady
To contact Brady go to www.timothybrady.com