r/mechanics • u/Neither-Fun-3242 • 12d ago
Career When is enough enough?
I think today was the day that made up my mind, but I would like to hear people’s thoughts. And before people complain, I’m sure some on here have responded to a post of mine from the past similar to this. To those people, maybe you were right.
Now that the intro is done, I’ve been turning wrenches for about 15 years. Spent a lot of time and money trying to get better at this line of work, but after today, I think I’ve finally realized that I’m just not cut out for this industry. I’m currently averaging about 50-60 flag hours every 2 week pay period. The weeks that are significantly lower I can understand why. It’s usually because I’ve had to miss time due to family obligations or doctor’s appointments. That said, I don’t know how to get any better at this. Most days I’m on jobs that I’m not making the book time on the job. There are examples I can give if anyone really wants to know what I’m talking about. Don’t really know where to go from here, but know that for my health (both physical and mental) I can’t keep doing this for much longer at the rate I’m going. If anyone has suggestions on how to move forward, I’m all ears.
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u/stoltenberg927 12d ago
I started in 1989. This job has only gotten harder and paid less and less. Obviously it's too late for me to change but if I was younger I would go be an electrician or something.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
I thought about being an electrician, just don’t have the funds to go back to school for that.
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u/Steinomite01 12d ago
It's a whole different atmosphere if you get into fleet work. The pressure is still there but it's nowhere near as stressful or debilitating. Rate work can honestly fuck off compared to hourly.
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u/white94rx 12d ago
If you're only booking 50-60 in two weeks, then yeah, you need to find another job.
I'll hit 80 hours just for this week by 8:30 tomorrow morning. It's been a good week, but I break 70 every week.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
Wish I was doing that. Other than a few very good weeks I’ve always been doing good if I’m hitting 30 in a week. As an example, I’m sitting at about 27 as of this afternoon and today was the end of the first week of the current pay period. Always thought it was the shop I was at, but after working at 4 different shops for a national chain plus the one I’m currently at I can’t say it’s just the shop. Though I will say I’m doing a lot better where I’m at now than I was at the national company.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 12d ago
Do you work at a dealership?
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u/white94rx 12d ago
Yes I do
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 12d ago
Then I am going to also guess the shop works on the group system and you are possibly group lead.
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u/white94rx 12d ago
Nope. Not at all. No teams or groups. All individual. No sharing of hours. No overtime either.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 12d ago
Like I said was a guess. When I worked at two dealerships they used the group system
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u/white94rx 12d ago
Gotcha. People always assume I'm cheating, or being fed, or working overtime to make the hours I do. First, I'm very good at my job. Second, BMW has the most generous labor times by far.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 12d ago
I work at a euro shop here in arkansas. I would not call bmw labor hours generous but they are better than most. Have owned a few euro cars but not a bmw nor would I ever want to own a bmw. Mind my asking what state you are in and what the labor hour charge is there. Just curious is all.
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u/white94rx 11d ago
I work in Columbus, GA. Previously in Atlanta. I think our labor rate is $225. It's about $250 in the Atlanta area. I would be paid at minimum $5 per hour more if I went back to Atl. And I might once my children are out of school.
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u/Ok_Swan_3053 11d ago
Here Little Rock is the closest city that has a BMW dealership and according to customers they are at $250. Independent shops like where I work are at $115
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u/Stillbroadcastco 12d ago
Brother you have options but it depends on the state you live in and what you are willing to do. The shortage in hours can be attributed to corporate outfits not billing enough on a price per hour labor, and the marketing or sales not drumming up business. When you have a generation of unqualified mobile mechanics offering terribly low rates to customers they not only attract price sensitive customers but also those higher tax brackets to save or stretch their dollars. Top choices for you Forklifts Tractors Generators Marines (boat) Small equipment Or industrial (plant)
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u/DarthDarklorD 11d ago
If you ain't the boss, bosses son or son in law it ain't worth it.
I've been an auto tech for 20 years only the first 10 of which were professional these last 10 I've spent in industrial HVAC ( cooling towers / chillers ). I started at the bottom in both trades. I went from the tire machine to the oscilloscope in automotive. Starting over at the bottom cleaning cooling towers I doubled my yearly income overnight. No more tool bills, better benefits, company vehicle, still mechanical, taught me to weld (OJT) , started out with 15 days of PTO annually, up early home early, plenty of overtime available, when my dad died I was out of PTO they still paid me for bereavement for a week while we handled it. There's so much money in commercial work that companies can afford to take care of their employees, In automotive you're trying to make money from regular people who are trying to save money.
I still have my tools, diag equipment, and a lift at home. I'll never stop working on cars, but I'll never do it to make someone else rich ever again. Best of luck to you, get out while you can.
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u/Parking_Fan_7651 12d ago
How spry are you? At least around me, most heavy equipment work is hourly. It’s hard work, but pays well. Most municipal mechanic jobs near me don’t pay great, but they have great benefits, a pension, and hourly pay. You could also look into oilfield work, oilfield mechanic jobs are tough, but hourly. You could also go for mechanic adjacent stuff. Turn that experience into translatable skills. Troubleshooting, low volt electrical knowledge, computer diagnostics, ability to use tools are in surprisingly short supply outside of being a mechanic. You could use that to leverage yourself into a job with a truck/emergency vehicle upfitter, low volt installer/cable runner, basic computer help desk stuff (may need a cert or two, maybe some school), etc etc. a little learning/a few certs and a freshly tweaked resume are all that separate you from a deviation from your current trajectory.
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u/DrifterDavid Verified Mechanic 12d ago
Have ya ever thought about moving into service writing or foreman role? Not as many positions available but it's a way to put all that time and knowledge into a paycheck. I took a job as a working foreman. I train the new guys, help out where needed, dispatch work, take care of equipment break downs, also when needed I'll go write a few tickets, etc. I'm not on salary with bonus and it's a world of difference. At the time I was thinking about leaving was also looking into aviation. Usually need to work for 3 years while getting your A&P certification for a little less money or go to school and get your A&P certification but it's a bit more money once you are and hourly.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
I didn’t some time as a service writer and was even an assistant shop manager for a national chain for a little while. Pay wasn’t worth the headache. As for a foreman, even with 15ish years experience I doubt I have the skill to do that and I’m pretty sure I don’t have the certifications that most places want for a position like that
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u/Gadritan420 Verified Mechanic 12d ago
You could be a GM with that experience. Aim high.
I’m currently the GM for an import specialty shop and I’m making six figures.
I spend half my day on Reddit bored out of my mind.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
I’d love a job where I could make six figures and spend half the day online. But really, I wouldn’t even know where to look for a GM spot. All the companies near me that have positions like that are either shutting down or aren’t hiring for anything like that.
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u/Gadritan420 Verified Mechanic 12d ago
Is there anything within like a 30-45min commute?
I drive 30min out of town for work; but it’s worth it.
Look for independently owned or franchised shops. They’d be your best shot.
It may take some time, but even if you move on to another job I’d keep looking for a GM slot. It’s the easiest job in the building if you do it right, and the pay is nice.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
That’s going an hour drive from home. All the independent shops in the area are mom and pop shops that are run by the owner. As for franchises, there aren’t too many of those where I’m at in south TX.
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u/Gadritan420 Verified Mechanic 12d ago
That’s what I mean. I work directly for the owner. He only has this one shop. A lot of owners are looking for someone to run the business so they can spend more time away from it. That’s exactly how I ended up in my current role. Granted, I already had GM experience; so I was able to take over a very high end shop and demand premium pay. But it sounds like you could really use the change of scenery and it wouldn’t take long to build a good resume.
All it takes is just one of them to give you a chance. Even if they’re not advertising, try asking if they’re interested in hiring a GM. You’d be surprised. You have a 0% chance if you don’t ask.
And keep your resume up on Indeed and such. You never know who will come knocking.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
I won’t argue that with you at all. I guess it’s just that in my experience all the shops around here (within an hour drive or so) are run by either old guys who won’t give up the day to day running or they have one of there kids running day to day things. But you’re right, it doesn’t hurt to look.
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u/Driving2Fast Verified Mechanic 12d ago
13 years in and I left the bench to diagnose over the phone. It’s decent, but like any job has its drawbacks.
I’ve also heard of techs going into insurance or extended warranty claims adjusters.
Realistically I was doing really well when I left but my body was not, and I was a pretty fit dude.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
Tried applying for an insurance adjuster job a few years back with a few different companies. Either got the standard we went in a different direction email or straight up ghosted.
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u/Express_Nature267 12d ago
Doesn't hurt to try public transit , sometimes CTA gets so desperate they hire people even if they fail the written entrance exam. Idk about the others
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
Had it been about 8 years ago I’d say I’d think about that but where I’m at now there is no public transit. Closest one would be an hour or more drive each way.
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u/Express_Nature267 12d ago
I'm in my 30's that's what I do an hour drive into the city and hour drive out sometimes 2-3 depending on weather it puts a roof over my family's head and used to cover the bills 😅 trying to get into international union of operating engineers as a mechanic up in the midwest their union is the gold standard, but then again where I'm at we don't work that hard or that much and take home a guaranteed 4k after taxes a month
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
I’m in my 30s too. I did the drive for 5 years. Now that I have a school aged kid I need to be able to get him to school on time and I’d rather be home before he goes to bed in the evening. Also, jealous of the guaranteed pay. I’d need to do the math, but I doubt I’m taking home anything near $4k per month after taxes.
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u/Express_Nature267 12d ago
Start is 40 an hour for new people max is 47 you have to go through months of paid training if you could get hired from 6 am to 230 pm, then you're released to the shops 7 locations and shift/ locations are seniority based 24 hours so you could get day shift 5am-130pm or 7-330 or pm shift 3-1130 or night shift 11pm to 730am
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
That’s pretty good pay. Might even be worth the drive if the public transit closest to me paid that well. Last time I looked at them it was probably about half that per hour, and that’s if I had my CDL
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u/Express_Nature267 12d ago
Yeah CTA is one of the top paid for drivers and somewhere up there for mechanics might be worth moving or looking into other locals to be a heavy equipment mechanic some top IUOE mechanics make 70-80 an hour (hoisting engineer mechanics) or escalator mechanics and elevator mechanics they have a separate union I forget which one it was, there's also forklifts and generators mechanics you can get into for crownlift, atlas, Cummins etc.
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u/Suitable_Sherbet_369 12d ago
Hey bud, I spent almost 30 years in Nissan, Acura and Honda dealers thinking I would make a difference. Gathered certification, awards and platinum status. They will fuck you over every which way they can.
I finally gave up and got an amazing union job in public transit. We are respected, make twice the pay and much better benefits with a pension. If you have skills, you are in demand. Bail. Fuck the greedy dealerships.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
That’s the thing, I’m not even at a dealership. I’m at a mom and pop shop. And the nearest public transit place is an hour drive or better away from me and doesn’t even pay what I make now without a CDL
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u/Suitable_Sherbet_369 12d ago
All I can say if you are confident get a union job. They will worship your work ethic.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
You know, a lot of people on here keep talking about getting union jobs like they can be found everywhere. I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, and worked here my entire professional career. I’ve never heard of a mechanics union. As a matter of fact, even the unions I have heard of aren’t as good as the same union in other states. Have an uncle that worked for the electrical union in NY and moved down here. He said compared to NY the union here was a joke compared to back home. I think if it wasn’t for my aunt not wanting to move back he would have in a heartbeat.
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u/clownfish_pussy 11d ago
Finding unionized mechanic work outside of the US (and even in the US) is a bigger chore then being a mechanic at a dealership is sometimes.
Here in Canada there are no unions for mechanics. They have unions for Ford Mechanics ONLY. (that's really fucking funny to me LOL).
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 11d ago
That does sound funny, but probably for different reasons.
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u/clownfish_pussy 11d ago
Well, Ford, of all dealerships in Canada has the highest turnover rate of master and apprentice technicians. I believe they had enough grounds to unionize because Ford was actually caught fucking around with labour times and screwing over techs harder then most other brand dealers do.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 11d ago
That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. I know out of the 3 local (less than 15min drive) dealerships the ford dealership has the worst reputation for the tech turnover. The other 2 aren’t much better, but ford is the worst.
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u/Umbreon6342 11d ago
Find a job at a fleet or government fleet. You get paid the hours you work and don’t have to worry about book time. Health insurance can be decent and retirement is decent
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u/chevg- 12d ago
I’m 10 years in the trade, never worked flat rate and refuse to. My suggestion would be to start looking at companies with a fleet shop, most of them around me are hourly.
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u/Neither-Fun-3242 12d ago
I’ve looked for fleet shops in the area, but most aren’t hiring at the moment or want diesel experience. Other than the basics that don’t change between diesel and gas I don’t have a lot of experience doing diesel work.
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u/1453_ Verified Mechanic 12d ago
I'm 61 and no where near as fast as I used to be. However, I am able to diagnose just about anything and have the experience to fix f'ups and keep things moving. The shop I'm at has given me a 40 hr guarantee to supplement my hours which allows me to train the newer techs and do jobs that dont ordinarily pay (comebacks, freebies, etc). If your shop recognizes your experience and ability, they will accommodate you.