. 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. 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. That formula is clearly from a time when engines were less complex, most fleets were using diesel fuel, and computers were not an essential mechanic tool. This level of detail proved to be difficult to collect, so the second round of interviews involved a streamlined questionnaire. Service technicians also use many different power and machine tools, including pneumatic wrenches, lathes, and welding equipment. Mall, K., & Sekera, J. If an agency does all its maintenance in one location then using the tool once is sufficient. 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). in our city owned fleet we have 400+ buses. It may also discuss the major industries that employed the occupation. (T/F) True Higher compression ratios tend to speed up combustion. White women: 17.5%. Maintenance activities not included in the previous sheet are entered here. The detail entered here will be reflected in the detail of the tools outcomes. 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. stream The .gov means it's official. The companys top priority is to ensure safety and support the operational teams by sustaining a very high percentage of asset uptime and availability. The results of this research provides a resource to help maintenance managers evaluate staffing requirements to maintain an aging, high-mileage fleet or to transition into new technology hybrid or battery-powered engines. Labor supply is 10. If past efficiency performance is close to industry standards, a fleet manager can be confident the fleets historical labor data accurately reflects labor demand. (2016). 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. 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+. An agency employee very familiar with the fleet and maintenance should use the tool, because its accuracy is dependent on getting accurate, detailed information. Transit Cooperative Research Program. endobj The Director does everything else (even training). Automotive service technicians and mechanics inspect, maintain, and repair cars and light trucks. Please contact your hosting provider to ensure that an up-to-date and valid SSL certificate issued by a Certificate Authority is configured for this domain name on the origin server. Your IP: For example, they may use an oscilloscope to observe the signals produced by electronic components. 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. Which technician is correct? 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. This will generally be heavy repairs like body work, brake machining, and small component rebuilds. These next two worksheets present the results of the tools calculations. While a 70-percent of payroll hours (i.e., 1,456 hours per year) measure is a commonly used benchmark, each organization should calculate its actual performance based on detailed time-keeping records. They usually work for railroads, public and private transit companies, and railcar manufacturers. 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. For more information about careers and training programs, visit, National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation, National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians, Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. During busy planting and harvesting seasons, for example, mechanics often work six or seven 12-hour days per week. Other elements that impact labor demand include usage levels, operating environment, and fleet assignment practices (i.e. Hours Invoiced / Hours Worked = X Goal: Greater than 1. Technician A says that the power steering pump . Advanced Member, Brad Barker There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code. Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses, trucks, or any vehicle with a diesel engine. 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. <> The difference clearly would be best met through additional outsourcing or overtime rather than hiring another mechanic. Once the demand and supply of labor is known, mechanic staffing requirements can be calculated. A. Modeling the effects on staffing levels of possible changes in maintenance policy - By changing the data on routine maintenance practices, agencies can what effect these policies have on staffing. endobj Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must perform many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools, with a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination. This means that it relies heavily on telematics to identify diagnostic codes that provide fleet personnel with the information they need to address smaller issues before they become larger ones. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians. shared use or take-home vehicles). In extreme cases, these values can be significantly lower (such as with a brand new fleet) or materially higher (due to fleet age, high use, or challenging operating conditions). 0 MOT preparation and inspections work on vehicles and trailers. This tab also includes links to relevant occupational information from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Fleets should outsource work that requires special tools, equipment, training; work that would tie up a mechanic or work bay for long periods of time; and work during periods of peak workload to maintain high rates of vehicle availability, said Owen. TCRP Report 184 resources available online include the following:* TheMaintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide* TheMaintenance Staffing Calculator* An completedexample case showing how the Calculator works* A PowerPoint presentation providing asummary of the work done under TCRP Project E-10, Strategic Highway Research Program 2 (SHRP 2). 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. endstream endobj 664 0 obj <. SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians and mechanics, Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians, Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines. In total, more than 60 agencies of varying size were surveyed. Of course you do. It is true that costs are going through the roof, and that there are dealership backlogs. 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.) 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. Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. (Illustration: Shutterstock & Richard Aguirre). Aircraft and avionics equipment mechanics and technicians repair and perform scheduled maintenance on aircraft. 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. Service technicians usually work indoors in noisy repair shops. vehicle, etc.) hb```I,, 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. $200 - $5k. Tech b C. Both techs D. Neither C A transfer case is extremely noisy and all selections except neutral whenever the vehicle is moving. endobj (180 degrees) on a vehicle equipped with a steering gear with a 20:1 gear ratio. 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. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics repair and maintain construction and surface mining equipment, such as bulldozers, cranes, graders, and excavators. This leads to unexpected failures and expensive downtime. The Most work for dealer repair shops, where farmers increasingly send their equipment for maintenance. Another method of determining labor demand is using a technique known as Vehicle Equivalent Unit (VEU) Analysis. Fleet managers need the flexibility to justify their staffing needs as their specific fleet requires, making proper adjustments as needed., Your email address will not be published. They also work on smaller consumer-grade lawn and garden tractors. $29.57. 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. 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. The origin web server does not have a valid SSL certificate. The site is secure. The average number of labor hours each type of asset in the fleet consumes (i.e., labor demand). In addition, techs may be asked to deliver loads during peak periods or driver shortage times. Women held 26.1% of jobs in the motor vehicles and motor vehicles equipment manufacturing industry. Second the backup vehicle ratio must be adequate to ensure minimal disruption in service. Perhaps you would be willing to write an article about it. About 23,900 openings for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. The reason the question is asked often comes from managements assumption that the shop has too many peoplebecause the costs are running high. Many employers send new service technicians to training sessions conducted by equipment manufacturers. I work in a system where the fleet of approx. Median annual wages for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians in May 2021 were as follows: In May 2021, the median annual wages for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows: Percent change in employment, projected 2021-31, Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program. 929 0 obj <> endobj CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. Mercury Associates Inc. in Rockville, Md., provides comprehensive fuel and fleet management consulting services to state and local governments, federal governments and private companies. Save Your Own. Additional troubleshooting information here. They must often disassemble major parts for repairs and be able to reassemble them. 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. Maintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide 6 . Hourly Rate. Top Certifications Salary Job openings . Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. 6 0 obj Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. 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. Video transcript available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PcpkHT8xaU. Less. Most Likely Range. A: There are many variables when calculating the number of technicians required per number of trucks. The ratio of height to width. $64 - $400. November 9, 2009 Please enable javascript to play this video. <>/ExtGState <>/ProcSet [/PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] Babcox Media mourns the passing of Tim Fritz, longtime editor and friend. %%EOF In maintaining and managing a municipal fleet operation, fleet managers can take a page from the private sectors use of vehicle equivalency units to calculate the ratio of technician-to-vehicles. Even with the responses to the surveys, the study yielded limited correlative data. The average number of wrench-turning labor hours each mechanic on staff can produce (i.e., labor supply). hb``` Updates include the replacement of diesel fleet assets with zero-emissions alternatives. Published as TCRP Report 184. 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. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. However, when I fire back more questions to help me determine the answer, those who ask me the question dont understand why I dont have a set response. 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. A team working for Transit Cooperative Research Program developed the Excel-based Maintenance Staffing Calculator to help agencies calculate optimum staffing levels. Sick days? 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 median annual wage for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians was $53,770 in May 2021. %PDF-1.5 % The projected numeric change in employment from 2021 to 2031. Buses used to be relatively simple, so a bus-to-mechanic ratio was sufficient to determine if a transit agency had enough staff to maintain its fleet. 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. Over 100 electric Blue Bird school buses have Five time-saving apps for tech-savvy fleets. Maintenance Technician Staffing Levels for Modern Public Transit Fleets, 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. The report also documents the research teams development of an MS Excel-based Maintenance Staffing Calculator, a tool for managers of transit agencies of any size to use in estimating the optimal number of bus maintenance staff to meet current maintenance needs. OBD-II regulations require all vehicles manufacturers to use the same names and acronyms for all electric and electronic systems related to the engine and emission control systems. 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. 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. Our EV Technician program is intended for students interested in improving their technical knowledge to diagnose, service and repair high voltage EVs and install . Possible Range. One VEU is equal to 1015 labor hours, with technicians being assigned 100120 VEUs. 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. and current staffing ratios (i.e., vehicles maintained per technician, vehicle miles per technician, etc.). 960 0 obj <>stream Farm equipment mechanics work varies by time of the year. They generally purchase these tools over the course of their careers, often investing thousands of dollars in their inventory. With new labor-intensive engines, various fuel types, highly sophisticated electronics, and an increase in preventive maintenance frequencies, many maintenance managers realize they need to hire additional staff. 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. Industrial machinery mechanics, machinery maintenance workers, and millwrights install, maintain, and repair factory equipment and other industrial machinery. Technician B only c. Both Technicians A and B d. Neither Technician A nor B Performs a variety of assignments such as replacement of failed parts or equipment, test, operation and maintenance of . Fleet organizations with liberal leave policies and a senior staff clearly will have a lower number of available labor hours. Then, additional hours must be deducted to account for time a mechanic is at work, but occupied with activities other than turning wrenches such as meetings, training, shop cleanup, etc. Tire inflation is very important to the safe and economical operation of any vehicle. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must maintain accurate service records and parts inventories. 669 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<7022F297AD5B9C4C894041F0D3F5BDDD><2D3A11ECA97748468C7B3A740F6C16B2>]/Index[663 17]/Info 662 0 R/Length 53/Prev 664975/Root 664 0 R/Size 680/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream wsauer3481 Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. National estimates for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics. Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. VEUS EXAMPLES Each sedan represents 1 VEU. Dayton, Ohio. a. Regression analyses were performed, and results include standard deviations to help judge how closely peer agencies perform on various measures. 3 0 obj This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. Most work for governments, equipment rental and leasing shops, and large construction and mining companies. This sheet compares an agencys existing staffing levels to that of peer agencies. https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any 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. This one calculates the required number of hours and full time equivalent (FTE) employees and compares this data to the actual existing staffing levels. This is where the bulk of the calculators work takes place. Physical strength. Main shaft The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. Metro Magazine, Required Hours - Heavy Repair and Overhaul, http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/173927.aspx, https://www.transitwiki.org/TransitWiki/index.php?title=Bus_Maintenance_Staffing_Calculator&oldid=4266, Caltrans Division of Rail and Mass Transportation. endstream endobj 930 0 obj <. So, if you have . The report also provides an analysis of variables that influence maintenance technician staffing needs.STATUS: Completed. Public Works fleets with a concentration of trucks and construction equipment clearly would be higher in age, while law enforcement fleets typically would be lower. stream Troubleshooting skills. Utilizing vehicle equivalency units means adding up how many sedans and sedan equivalencies an agency has, in order to determine how many mechanics need to be hired. Related Articles Debating the merits of ethanol Why isnt a trucks appearance part of the PM process? An old fleet obviously requires more labor to keep in service than a brand new one. 17 Do not over-maintain and have all the costs related to the hours your techs spend on changing light bulbs in the office at your finger tips. Neither Technician A or B Which part is splined to the clutch disc? 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. Join Our List. 49-3023 Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles. This process involves calculating the number of annual hours available to mechanics to devote to wrench-turning activities. Performance & security by Cloudflare. This factor clearly must be considered when assessing how many mechanics an organization needs. Some high-performance vehicles have firmer steering than other similar vehicles. 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. To calculate mechanic staffing requirements, the following data and information are needed: When fleet managers talk to their boss, elected officials, budget and finance directors, or city managers about mechanic staffing requirements for their shops, it is much better to be armed with calculations resulting from a coherent quantitative methodology than relying on anecdotes and stories. Related: Fleet Management Lessons From the Private Sector. This can lead to frustration when a fleet manager attempts to justify their staffing requirements, as it is rare in my experience that municipalities and private companies meet the national averages published by industry studies. All Rights Reserved. About 23,900 openings for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Technician B says to inflate the tires to . What is the tread depth, are there recaps, what is the damage? PHW, I'd like to hear more about your program and I'm sure others would also. What kind of outsource work couldnt be achieved by regular fleet staff ? Tech a B. Entry-level workers with no formal background in heavy vehicle repair often receive a few months of on-the-job training before they begin performing routine service tasks and making minor repairs. 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. 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). Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2c503a8d982eeb Last Modified Date: Senior Member. Today, a computer is as essential as a socket wrench and the number of maintenance technicians needed to maintain a modern fleet can be difficult to measure. 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. (2016). (937) 290-0529 info@crashcoursevillage.org. Once the demand and supply of labor is known, mechanic staffing requirements can be calculated. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. The subsity is limited however, to vehicles 10 . The result of this calculation for all mechanics is the number of productive hours a fleet has available. Days off: Vacation? <> In the private sector a lengthy delay can mean success or failure on the job, which ultimately impacts customer relationships. A . The secure and easy all-access connection to your content. EDSI Consulting prepared this report under TCRP Project E-10. Rail car repairers specialize in servicing railroad locomotives, subway cars, and other rolling stock. It may also be used as a predictive tool, to determine staffing needs during the vehicle procurement process. Speed rating. vehicles to technician ratiodo doctors get pay for refills on prescriptions vehicles to technician ratio vehicles to technician ratio Navigation. 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. What Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians Do, How to Become a Heavy Vehicle or Mobile Equipment Service Technician, Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers, Employment projections data for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, 2021-31, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, Top Picks, One Screen, Multi-Screen, and Maps, Industry Finder from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Note if productive hours were 1,300 hours rather than 1,456, the number of mechanics required for this fleet jumps from 10.3 to 11.5. endobj /Contents 4 0 R>> They often lift heavy parts and tools, handle greasy and dirty equipment, and stand or lie in uncomfortable positions. Information provided by Randy Owen. Or, if you have a simple standardize fleet, say all day cabs, and an established trade cycle, a ratio can be determined. endstream DSH's^Hk5 C w~^wkYje RnS9p& The type of fleet business you are in effects this number greatly. 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. hbbd``b`6 +3`c$A NqgXf dU@ #F> Vehicle Technicians can work with different vehicles, such as cars, lorries, vans, buses and motorcycles. 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. It is important that the staff listed here directly match the vehicles included in the first sheet. Repeating this process for each class and type of vehicle yields the total average annual labor demand for the fleet. However, there was significant variation across agencies in regards to most variables examined. What we really need is another supervisor/dispatcher for our department. Entering basic operations information into the calculator will provide a quick snapshot of the agency's staffing needs, but it is also possible to go into much more detail. Other programs, which lead to associates degrees, generally take 2 years to complete. 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. Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians work full time, and many work evenings or weekends. 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. And the number of additional vehicles required for maintenance activities can be minimized by scheduling most maintenance activities during non-peak vehicle periods.
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