An example would be to compare a base vehicle, such as a passenger sedan, to a fire engine, which is larger and heavier and requires more maintenance and repair than the smaller sedan does. While mechanics are typically paid for 2,080 hours per year, exclusive of overtime (52 weeks x 40 hours per week), they are clearly not available to work on vehicles this number of hours. Maintenance Technician Staffing Levels for Modern Public Transit Fleets. Which technician is correct? IT IS NOT ALL THAT BAD IF YOU HAVE GOOD KEY PERSONEL IN THE RIGHT PLACES. The calculator was created by first analyzing fleet and staffing information from the 2010 National Transit Database (NTD). Comments are moderated and may not appear for 24 hours or more. f cf`apa`vdbT1b`QlhsjAQCNPASF&>ffe90oQ7(8hPtes0ycoN~n7@s??o Z@@j88: ! 679 0 obj <>stream Perhaps you would be willing to write an article about it. 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. To create a link to this page, use this URL: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA), Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS), TRID (A Transportation Research Database), http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3327. The average growth rate for all occupations is5 percent. Less. Benchmarks The final worksheet provides a summary of data for all peer groups. In addition, techs may be asked to deliver loads during peak periods or driver shortage times. A . $29.57. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $36,900, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,280. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. (Illustration: Shutterstock & Richard Aguirre). Bookmark +. Main shaft Or, if you have a simple standardize fleet, say all day cabs, and an established trade cycle, a ratio can be determined. - A: There are many variables when calculating the number of technicians required per number of trucks. Comparing staffing levels to peer agencies - The tools main value lies in its ability to benchmark agency performance against other agencies of similar size. Physical strength. <> 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. endstream endobj 930 0 obj <. This factor clearly must be considered when assessing how many mechanics an organization needs. By Randy Owen Hours Invoiced / Hours Worked = X Goal: Greater than 1. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics repair and maintain construction and surface mining equipment, such as bulldozers, cranes, graders, and excavators. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. Population and business growth should result in greater demand for new houses, office buildings, bridges, and other structures, which in turn may require more mobile heavy equipment mechanics in the construction industry. The estimated total pay for a Vehicle Technician is $55,631 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $51,429 per year. Remember that only repairs conducted by employees in the existing staff worksheet are included, so outsourced work should be left out. Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks. (T/F) True (937) 290-0529 [email protected]. The difference clearly would be best met through additional outsourcing or overtime rather than hiring another mechanic. Contact Steve Hirano at [email protected]. %PDF-1.7 Technician B says the ratio is 3.86:1. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Fueling: who fuels the trucks, and who puts DEF in the trucks? Rope Rescue. Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights install, maintain, and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery. Small engine mechanics inspect, service, and repair motorized power equipment. I have experienced both challenges and benefits regarding the utilization of the VEU model to justify maintenance and repair staffing needs, said Fay. Technician A only b. Responsibilities for vehicle technician. At one time, a simple measurement was used to determine if a transit agency had adequate maintenance technician staff using a basic bus-to-mechanic ratio. Job Outlook 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. Maintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide. (180 degrees) on a vehicle equipped with a steering gear with a 20:1 gear ratio. 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. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be familiar with diagnostic equipment to find the source of malfunctions. . PTO days? The ratio of height to width. Senior Member. Your email address will not be published. Astro Optics: Traffic Guard Portable Speed Bump System. /Contents 4 0 R>> Centuri Construction Groups fleet of more than 7,000 units tries to be predictive in nature to its maintenance and repair needs. How to reasonably assess mechanic staffing in a public sector garage is an often-posed question among government agency fleet managers. information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The secure and easy all-access connection to your content. 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 an agency does all its maintenance in one location then using the tool once is sufficient. Which technician is correct? In Charlie Long's material he recommends a staffing level of about 13 buses for each "wrench turning" mechanic. We respect your data and privacy. Although the whole idea of VEUs was first created by the U.S. Air Force in the 1970s, the idea is becoming more utilized by both the private and public sectors. make sure you're on a federal government site. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians. 50.63.164.4 1 tech x 40 att. Service technicians also use many different power and machine tools, including pneumatic wrenches, lathes, and welding equipment. Days off: Vacation? We're Not Just Extrication. 1 tech x 40 att. When leasing companies quote numbers, which are normally are very attractive, it does not include all the little extras technicians may be asked to do. Updates include the replacement of diesel fleet assets with zero-emissions alternatives. Related Articles Debating the merits of ethanol Why isnt a trucks appearance part of the PM process? The projected numeric change in employment from 2021 to 2031. This will generally be heavy repairs like body work, brake machining, and small component rebuilds. hbbd``b`6 +3`c$A NqgXf dU@ #F> DSH's^Hk5 C w~^wkYje RnS9p& In May 2021, the median annual wage for all workers was $45,760. Troubleshooting skills. Most work for governments, equipment rental and leasing shops, and large construction and mining companies. The How to Become One tab describes how to prepare for a job in the occupation. One VEU is equal to 1015 labor hours, with technicians being assigned 100120 VEUs. To investigate these discrepancies, the research team conducted two rounds of interviews with transit agencies. Other elements that impact labor demand include usage levels, operating environment, and fleet assignment practices (i.e. Mechanics who work primarily on large trucks and buses are described in the profile on diesel service technicians and mechanics. Once the labor demand is quantified, the number of productive hours available to service the fleet must be determined. Now you can be a part of it! Take a look at how Geotabs data-centeric conference makes the OEM connection. They must often disassemble major parts for repairs and be able to reassemble them. What we really need is another supervisor/dispatcher for our department. Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. and current staffing ratios (i.e., vehicles maintained per technician, vehicle miles per technician, etc.). 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. This sheet compares an agencys existing staffing levels to that of peer agencies. 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. 960 0 obj <>stream %%EOF Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems. Today, significant R&D investment is going into the development of electric trucksprobing the possibilities of untested powertrains in hopes of producing a product that meets application needs. Overtime is common. $200 - $5k. Previewing 48 of 59 pages. Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. $13 - $30. For example, he noted that all technicians and mechanics are not equal when it comes to their experience and ability to work at a standard pace. 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. EDSI Consulting prepared this report under TCRP Project E-10. /Contents 6 0 R>> Measuring the performance of your technicians, as a whole and individually, shouldn't feel like punishment or micro-managing. Over the past three years, OEMs have invested heavily in driver-focused equipment benefitsfrom cozy creature comforts to uptime- and productivity-boosting technology. MOT preparation and inspections work on vehicles and trailers. Learn about salaries, benefits, salary satisfaction and where you could earn the most. %PDF-1.5 % Other programs, which lead to associates degrees, generally take 2 years to complete. Geotab announces Data Connector for business insights, Three autonomous truck aspects to start seriously considering, EVs roll into the data-centric Geotab Connect 2023, Frito-Lay transforms California facility into showcase for sustainability. The effect on labour profits is then: Labour sales. Holidays, vacation, sick days as well as other leave time must be deducted to arrive at the number of hours a mechanic is actually at work and available for productive work. Our EV Technician program is intended for students interested in improving their technical knowledge to diagnose, service and repair high voltage EVs and install . 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. >>/Group <> Many government organizations do not have a methodology to determine how many mechanics are required to maintain their fleet. Transit Cooperative Research Program. What kind of outsource work couldnt be achieved by regular fleet staff ? 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.) Staffing to the peaks rather than valleys in the workload demand is never a good idea. The first round of interviews was extremely detailed and covered agency profiles and service data, profiles of maintenance facilities, fleet inventories, maintenance times and requirements, maintenance workforce roles, and training practices. On the supply side in addition to the available productive hours factors already discussed factors to consider include mechanic training and skill levels, maintenance management practices, work rules (dictated, for example, by collective bargaining agreements), parts provisioning practices, and shop considerations (e.g., facility location, size, layout, condition, equipment, and tooling). Mechanics inspect, repair, and replace defective or worn parts. Furthermore, 70% of the companies lack awareness of which assets require maintenance. 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. The Maintenance Staffing Calculator, a user guide and a Power Point presentation summarizing TCRP Project E-10 are available on TRB.org by searching for TCRP Report 184., _________________________________________________________. 160 is locally owned, in a state where a substantial subsidy is provided by the state for the upkeep, maintenance, and fueling of local school bus fleets. Within every occupation, earnings vary by experience, responsibility, performance, tenure, and geographic area. For example, a boat trailer might be given a ratio of 0.25 VEU, meaning that it would require one-quarter the effort to maintain as a standard automobile. Owen has 20 years of experience as a fleet manager and fleet management consultant under his belt. Mechanics who work primarily on motorboats, motorcycles, and small all-terrain vehicles are described in the profile on small engine mechanics. This leads to unexpected failures and expensive downtime. Efficiency numbers should hover around 125 percent, which means a technician working on cars for 7.2 hours in a day should produce 9 billable hours of work. CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. But many agencies conduct maintenance across locations or use a mix of in-house and contracted work. Mall, K., & Sekera, J. vehicles to technician ratiodo doctors get pay for refills on prescriptions vehicles to technician ratio vehicles to technician ratio Navigation. Please advise on the appropriate number of buses and vehicles per mechanic? 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. VEHICLE TO TECHNI C IAN RATIO This is a question asked by every fleet owner, fleet manager and workshop manager who maintain their own fleet of vehicles. 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. Technician B says to inflate the tires to . The list goes on to include: Tires: Who does tires, internal, external? Mechanics who work primarily on automobiles are described in the profile on automotive service technicians and mechanics. <> (our oldest route buses are 1995 with the spares being 1994's after our newest arrivals are put in service), I GUESS IN A PERFECT WORLD 15 TO 20 BUSES PER MECHANIC WOULD BE GREAT, HOWEVER 30 TO 35 IS CLOSER TO REALITY IN OUR DISTRICT. What we used to accept as reasonable ratios no longer applies. At the end of the day, the ideal is the fewest techs, a simplified program with no complicated proceduresand no delays related to busy work. In addition, equipment should not be over-maintained, such technicians being taken off maintenance to do: Yard checks; snow plowing; cutting the grass; polishing my boat; washing someones car; or other non-essential tasks that take away from the maintenance jobs at hand. Fleet organizations with liberal leave policies and a senior staff clearly will have a lower number of available labor hours. Tire inflation is very important to the safe and economical operation of any vehicle. hb```I,, A team working for Transit Cooperative Research Program developed the Excel-based Maintenance Staffing Calculator to help agencies calculate optimum staffing levels. The More Information tab provides the Internet addresses of associations, government agencies, unions, and other organizations that can provide additional information on the occupation. Recalls, in the fleet world today, are at an all-time high; cost containment is always a concern as vehicles and equipment possess far more technology than ever before. Leasing companies or maintenance providers only do the basic maintenance, basing their numbers on the formula of maintenance and not the hours such as those your own shop may schedule, although they will, when asked. Organizational skills. An example of challenges would be the difficulty of assigning a baseline average for the time required to complete specific tasks. stream 663 0 obj <> endobj Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, and other industries. This showed some broad trends in regards to agency size, duty cycle, and spare ratio, but there was significant variation between agencies. Most service technicians work full time, and many work evenings and weekends. Once the demand and supply of labor is known, mechanic staffing requirements can be calculated. Service technicians also use many different hand tools, such as screwdrivers, pliers, and wrenches, to work on small parts and in hard-to-reach areas. For example, if historical labor hours for a class of 10 dump trucks were 400 per year, the average labor demand per year for each vehicle in this class is 40. The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. Generally, more experienced service technicians specialize in field service. Technician B says that the rear differential has a slightly higher ratio (lower number) than the front differential. Put simply, using VEUs means adding up how many sedans and sedan equivalencies an agency has in order to determine how many mechanics need to be hired. Sick days? GM Vehicles +25.86% salary. However, there was significant variation across agencies in regards to most variables examined. 6 0 obj Each program may last 1 to 2 years and lead to a certificate of completion. Truck industry content for fleet owners and managers, - Detroit introduces Detroit Connect Video Capture service, - Synop, Geotab announce EV charging integration solution, - Michelin Connected Fleet delivers new suite of fleet-management solutions, Explaining the truck operating system thats spanning makes, models, The importance of flexibility in truck maintenance, ADAS in truck winterization plans, Geotab, Cummins partner to enhance OTA connectivity, Maintenance to keep your heavy-duty truck wheels going round and round, Inside the intelligence that powers truck powertrain efficiency, Setting heavy-duty truck service benchmarks, Freightliner M2, SD Plus Series launch updates its medium-duty truck offering, Truck cruise control technology that looks at the road ahead, Four ways A.I. Technician A says that the CVT shifts from gear-to-gear, up and down, as needed to maintain optimal speed and torque. According to Randy Owen, senior vice president and co-founder, using VEUs allows fleet managers to justify staffing requirements through a quantitative process, rather than experience alone. For more details about job openings for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, consult local heavy and mobile equipment dealers and distributors, construction contractors, and government agencies. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). For most profiles, this tab has a table with wages in the major industries employing the occupation. In these cases it might be a good idea to perform separate analyses for each location. While this approach may introduce some additional variables, flexibility is key when making decisions on what gets outsourced. The number of mechanics/technicians required to maintain this sample fleet is more than a fleet of 100 sedans, but far less than a fleet of 100 dump trucks. Service, repair and fault diagnostics work on all vehicles. This is where the bulk of the calculators work takes place. So, if you have . Some rail car repairers should continue to be needed to service trains used for freight shipping and transportation, as well as for public transportation. 7 0 obj 929 0 obj <> endobj An agency employee very familiar with the fleet and maintenance should use the tool, because its accuracy is dependent on getting accurate, detailed information. An official website of the United States government 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. Input cells are clearly labeled and color-coded. Details about the fleet and fleet maintenance practices that can fundamentally impact the data analysis and calculations. 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. In defense of those who are asking the question, the justification of their job may come from getting maintenance managers to look closerdo a deep diveand figure out what is going on. hbbd``b`_ H3@ 0 'Q 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. Training sessions may focus on particular components and technologies or particular types of equipment. 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. agency must have the appropriate number and class of vehicles to handle trip demand. Put simply, using VEUs means adding up how many sedans and sedan equivalencies an agency has in order to determine how many mechanics need to be hired. The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. As a consequence, fleet managers have difficulty defending themselves against a newly elected administration who suggest shop staffing is bloated and should be downsized. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians frequently lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy and dirty equipment, and stand or lie in awkward positions. Geotab says this tool enhances data analysis and automated reporting capabilities. The data is broken down into statistics like vehicles maintained per technician, FTE technicians per vehicle, and annual maintenance hours per 10,000 vehicle miles. Last Modified Date: It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. I asked that question about a month ago and did not receive a replay. By clicking the submit button below, you are agreeing with Bobit Business Medias Privacy Policy and this outlined level of consent. VEUS EXAMPLES Each sedan represents 1 VEU. Additionally, organizations that do not actively manage labor reporting tend to lose hours during the year. Comments that include personal Technician A says that torque prevailing nuts can be reused unless damaged. %PDF-1.5 % TRBs Transit Cooperative Research Program (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. Change is coming to U.S. energy policies Tim joined Babcox Media in 1990 and spent 31. #)1Qt ehY,SpRm @@@:{7fc`g~ T!u _q 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. A pneumatic tool, such as an impact wrench, is a tool powered by compressed air. Possible Range. How will todays customer focus translate to tomorrows electric trucks? 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. 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. Completion of all specific company and official paperwork. In addition to these data gathering efforts, the research team developed the Maintenance Staffing Calculator and MS-Excel-based tool to help transit systems of various sizes determine the optimum number of maintenance technicians required to maintain a modern public transit fleet. By taking an approach that is less focused on the VEU model and more concentrated on our people, their known abilities and anticipated workload, we have found more value in not utilizing the VEU model to justify staffing requirements but rather empower managers to justify staffing in relationship to the enterprises needs. Latinas: 3.1%. Labor supply is 10. hours x 44 weeks x 107.8% overall efficiency x 60 per hour = 113,520. Technician A says that the power steering pump . Tech a B. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must maintain accurate service records and parts inventories. %%EOF Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices! It does not include pay for self-employed workers, agriculture workers, or workers in private households because these data are not collected by the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, the source of BLS wage data in the OOH. This lack of reporting has consequences for both the accuracy of historical repair records and for cost recovery when a charge-back system is in place. The average salary for a Automotive Technician is $24.11 per hour in United States. These service technicians use diagnostic computers and equipment to identify problems and make adjustments or repairs. Dayton, Ohio. The median annual wage for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians was $53,770 in May 2021. The type of fleet business you are in effects this number greatly. Black women: 6.2%. Non-routine work includes repair of accident damage, uplifting work before a vehicle is placed in service, decommissioning old vehicles, modifications to vehicles while they are in services, repair of vandalism damage, repair of damage caused by acts of nature and repair of damage caused by misuse of vehicles. This page was last edited 21:23, 15 June 2017 by. This could indicate an expired SSL certificate or a certificate that does not include the requested domain name. Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. Prior to co-founding Mercury, he held positions as the chief of fleet management for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and as equipment management director for the city of Charlotte, N.C. Conversely, he said, a complex and maintenance-intensive piece of equipment, such as a refuse collection truck, might require the same effort to maintain as 10 standard sedans. Several factors impact the calculations of labor demand and supply. This only includes bus mechanics and technicians, not facility maintenance staff, mechanics who deal only with non-revenue vehicles, or supervisors.