I Am a Recently Retired Master Mechanic of 40 Years, and One Thing That Nobody Mentions Is How Much of a Toll It Takes on Our Bodies. My Body Is Done. My Brain Is 17, but My Body Is 80. And I'm Only 64

I have been a mechanic for over 40 years 30 flat rate i was forced into retirement after being told I was too old and too slow I'm 68 now I agree with every thing said in this article I too have a mind of 30 and the body of 80 it is nice to hear techs speaking up the trade is no good

I'm now 66,and still working
I've been on flat rate for most of my life. I'm both Michigan and ASE master certified. You can't ever really set up a monthly budget, because you never know how much you'll end up making. Some weeks thousands, some weeks hundreds. Hopefully I'll be retiring later this year.

I worked flat rate for a few years and experienced all of the evils stated in the article. What I was able to do was move to RV service. Warranty work still paid nothing, (and cause a lot of arguments with the service manger). However, non warranty work paid well and I was lucky enough to have the skillset that allowed me to repair everything from brakes to turbochargers as well as A/C, (both dash and roof air) Hydraulics, (leveling systems) 120/240 VAC Electrical problems, L/P Gas systems (furnace, cooking -, etc.) so I did well for a number of years. I would recommend anyone with these skills or the ability to learn them to check into this field.

kenny i have followed you for years and always respected your views and once again!!!! you did a GREAT JOB revealing the reality of the situation!!!! i did 50 years in the business and am retired.perfect explanation of how the good guys get punished in a flat rate system!! needed to mention 2 sets of flat rate times. customer pay flat rate and manufacturer flat rate which is generally 30%! less!! same car same repair one 100 k miles one with 99k under powertrain warranty which pays 25-30% less labor!! was going to write a book after i retired to expose the theivery i saw in my career but out of FEAR for my loved one declined a publishers offer!!! was always ironical to me that the union business agents got brand new cars right at contract time!!! it is a horrible industry full of liars and thieves!! you have hit the nail on the head!! greedy manufacturers and owners have created this situation and they deserve to struggle now!! you have once again told it like it is !!! unlike scotty who has NO clue!! keep up the good work!!! i very much hope this gets published!!?? thank you Tom

I can totally relate to this article. I've been wrenching flat rate for 30 years. I've been there done that. Many skipped lunches, coming in early working late, constantly stressing about turning hours. Us master techs take the brunt of the undesirable jobs. I've always like working on cars and it came naturally, but I hate the pay structure. B 0Kecause of flat rate and the way work is dispatched, the more you know the less you basically are paid. If I'd be younger I'd run. I tell the younger kids to get out. Once they become factory trained master techs, you'll be stuck doing all the warranty crap, and will take a pay cut.

Yep, I recently retired after turning wrenches for 35 yrs and have the same issues. People don't realize the physical stress and chemicals we're exposed to. Then dealers wonder why no one wants to be a tech anymore. I can't recommend the career to anyone.

I worked flat rate for 15 years before hiring into a major auto company at an hourly rate. Had i sayayed flat rate I'd be in a wheel chair now. Many disc issues in my back, and neck and of course hands. I also have had a finger removed because of skin cancer ( hydro carbon exposure). Don't forget we have the same retirement age as a desk worker.

GM pays .3 for diagnosis. Replacing a part is the only way to get paid. Lots of shotgunning parts to get paid. Retired GM and Ford master tech.

I am a retired mechanic, after 50+ years working on cars. I have worked flat rate, I have worked as hourly paid also. My preference was to be paid an hourly wage that actually reflects my skills, ability, and knowledge. The hourly pay at least means that each pay period you receive a set amount in your check, depending on hours worked. This makes for a little more simplicity and less stress each month as you pay your bills.
I have trained quite a few mechanics over the years and I always share with them that if you get a shot at a dealership mechanic position, take it if you can. The level of specific brand instruction, and training you receive is incredible, and usually all it requires of you is some extra time. The pay it seems in this industry is based on how many certifications you can put on your bosses wall, the more certifications you hold will determine how high your salary goes. As a flat rate mechanic you reach a high point in pay that is usually 40% of labor charged. Increases after that point usually come in the form of a percentage of the parts side of each invoice. I have seen abuses of this on both sides, from the mechanic, and from the shop.
The truly bad side of all of this is the cost to each mechanic for the tools they need to do their respective jobs. That cost is theirs alone to shoulder. I inventoried my complete tool collection when I bought the shop I had been working at, to my surprise I had amassed almost $250,000 in tools during my career. The IRS does allow deductions for the tools each person needs to accomplish the work they perform, but it’s a far cry from monies actually spent acquiring these tools. And it becomes even more expensive when, as a mechanic, you need diagnostic equipment. Just one of my scan tools cost just over $12,000, and that scan tool only worked on ONE manufacturer. The cheaper scan tools can be had for a few thousand dollars, and are sold as being able to function properly on ALL makes and models yet very, very few actually live up to their hype of allowing complete bi-lateral communication with the vehicle. This is another expense that most mechanics have not had to shoulder. Most shops, and all dealers have decent scan tools for the vehicles they work on but to truly start to make money in this field a mechanic will find that purchasing their own scan tool does increase their bottom line, but how long it takes before they finally see a profit from their purchase is widely variable.

I also worked at a car dealership for 28 years, at a union shop. I worked at the dealership body shop on hourly pay and union benefits. Car Insurance set the hours you were expected to get the job done. It was a good shop, but when the dealer moved later they closed my department. That was my last union job! Independent shops, flat rate, pressure to work faster and no benefits. After 7 years of that I quit and became a union bus driver!!

At the turn of the century (the 19th to the 20th…), when an attempt to force “flat rate”on the industry was attempted , auto mechanics went on strike nationwide. In the early 20th century however, society wasn’t nearly as dependent on the automobile as we are in the 21st, and the level of mechanical complexity, training, specialized training, tools and skills, paled in comparison to those needed by a 21st century auto mechanic - so unfortunately for all of us, the strike was ultimately broken. There are good reasons we call these craftsmen “technicians” today, as what they do, requires far more training, tools, specialized skills (and patience) than virtually EVERY other trade. These folks contribute far more than their common title suggests and in reality are some of our societies most important, skilled and resourceful craftsmen.

I have been in dealers for a little over 10 years now. One thing I can say is that it's hard to find a good fit but if you put in some years with one place you will become valuable to your boss and he will do anything to keep you because good techs are hard to find. At the same time though I'm only 32 and my body is wrecked already so I know I can't do this forever. New guys should be warned to stay away from dealers owned by a huge parent company like Hendricks for example because these massive dealer groups often have policies against paying techs more than like $35 /hr.

Great article! I sold new Mopar for 30 years. Another problem with new car stealerships is the service advisors worked on commission and made more money than the technicians doing they real work.

I have worked as a heavy duty diesel mechanic since 1986. I worked oilfield as a motorman for 7 yrs with a good set pay but ended up getting a job on shore at a Freightliner dealership working flat rate and loved it. I started the job in 1993 and learned how to beat the system of flat rate and warranty work and after a few years was earning over 80,000 thousand a year on ward to over 100,000 plus commissions . I worked as technician bidding my own jobs and performing them. I too had to take off from work several times to have surgery for rotator cuff two separate times being off work for months at a time on worker’s compensation. Yes it’s brutal on the body like any other skilled job in life but was more money I ever made. I worked hard several more years until I was off for another chronic disability of an ankle deformity ending in surgery and being off work for a year. The dealership I work for started paying technicians hourly in 2022. I took the service managers job in 2023. The technicians now are paid hourly working 45 hrs a week with 5 hrs overtime.If they flag over 45 hrs they get 10 dollars more an hour an increases the same every more 10 hours. They love it. Some technicians have 2 helpers adding what the helpers flag added to their flag hours. The helpers just get paid hourly 40 hrs a week. They are paid to take on line training an then advance. The difference when I was flat rate is I would make 18 hrs in 9 hrs daily is why I loved flat rate where they mostly fail but they get paid hourly at over 35 an hour. All dealerships here pay technicians hourly. No more flat rate. Some liked it and some hated it. The time has changed here in Louisiana from flat rate to hourly pay every dealer here car, truck or heavy truck dealers. We have sick leave, paid holidays, paid training online and (ILT). It’s a change for the better.

I've worked for dealerships and independent garages that based my pay on the flat rate system. And I agree, I will NEVER work for a dealership again. Back in 1997, I worked in a GM dealer that was charging $90/hr and I was getting paid $12/hr (flat rate). However, I've also worked for independent garages where my pay was 50% of the labor rate. Early 2000's I was getting paid $32.50/hr (flat rate). That was really good pay at the time. I would consider working at an independent again but I've been self employed in my home based shop for 10 years now. Hopefully I won't have to go to work for someone else ever again.

I have been in the auto industry for over 45 years. I started at an independent auto parts store and then a tech for 20+ years, eventually becoming a master tech. Flat rate is one of the worst ways to get paid and can be unfair if work is not distributed equally. However if the shop is busy with enough customer pay jobs you can make a very good living. I too got some of the more difficult diagnosis but had a couple of decent service managers that would take care of your time.
I had the fortunate opportunity to replace my auto shop teacher at my old high school. I was able to make that career change at 40 years old. It was the one of the best career choices I could have made. I recently retired after 20+ years of teaching and I tell my wife every day that change saved my body. I taught the fundamentals and the entry level needs. I always told my students that I was just a foundation that they need to complete the building. Some (very few) took advantage of what I taught and were appreciative later on after high school. It was hard at times trying to convince some of them that this is a good career choice for them. But the ones that gave me full effort and I thought they may have what it takes, I would try and convince to pursue it by either finding them a job and help them get into a trade school. I have had several students work at various repair facilities, after about 5 years they tapped out.
Also, try unloading your tool box and tools after you retire, no body wants to buy used tools or tool boxes.
I did save a hell of a lot of money keeping cars going for myself and my kids by being a tech.

The problem as a consumer that I see is that if we get away from flat rate the exorbitant prices of vehicle repair will grow even more which the normal middle class family cannot do! Don't you guys see?? The dealerships want to get rid of most of you and keep only a skeleton crew. Soon they are going to say ok, you win we're doing away with flat rates, but you KNOW they aren't going to take the hit! They will pass that right on toothed consumer. Now it truly becomes easier financially for people who have to have that car to eat to buy a brand new vehicle! That may sound far fetched but I have seen folks have to go this route. If n it becomes more common to ditch the car and get something new, the pressing need for shop mechanics drops, so all of us little guys loses.

I'm a retired CMAT+L1 & P2 who worked flat-rate early in my career. I was blessed with an understanding of mechanical devices (I knew why the front sprocket on my bicycle was larger than the one in the back before junior high) and worked at Dodd's Flying "A" in San Pedro, CA for free while in high school. I learned a lot from Larry and Cecil Dodd, which they provided at no charge.

After almost six years in the Army as a wheeled vehicle mechanic (infantry units also have tracked personnel carriers) I worked in a VW dealership under the flat-rate system. When I understood how it worked, I liked if very well. I had a wife and baby to support and the opportunities flat-rate provides kept food on our table and a roof over our heads. And better than most hourly programs would have. During a 46-hour workweek, I would typically turn 50+ billable hours. Sometimes less, sometimes more, but always better than hourly would have paid.

After three years with VW, I worked in a Uniroyal Tire store, a K-Mart garage, and a Chrysler dealership. I then worked in a Pontiac-Cadillac dealership as a Service Advisor. After a couple of years, I was offered a position as Service Manager for a Ford dealership but after a year I returned to the GM store.

A few years later I accepted a position with ACDelco in Field Sales, then after five years taught at the GMTC in Fairfax, VA for three years. I was then promoted to Lead Instructor where I assisted in technical course design and mentored new instructors.

The last few years before I retired, I served as a Fixed Operations Analyst for GM Parts, and dealer Service and Parts representative for Chevrolet.

I've worked both sides of the wall between independent shops and dealerships (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) and been paid under the flat-rate system, hourly, and salary. The flat-rate program allows the employee to earn more $$$ if he or she is good and is interested in making more money. The hourly and salaried programs are for folks who are satisfied with their current pay but appreciate annual or merit raises.

IMHO, the major difference between independent and dealership technicians is their opportunity for product training. My students at the Fairfax GMTC were exclusively independent techs who used ACDelco products to repair vehicles. We had five instructors for the dealer techs and one for independents.

Not all independents choose to attend formal training, and employers don't always require it. Dealers are required to employ trained technicians and manufacturers set training requirements for them. My experience has been that the quality of technicians is about the same regardless of which side of the wall one is employed by, but dealer techs have more knowledge of their brand's diagnostic procedures, tools and equipment, and how the vehicle's systems really work, both independently and as a complete system.

In closing, it was found years ago that the average independent auto shop will close within five to seven years of opening. Not because they cannot fix cars, but because the owner doesn't know how to run a business. To be successful in our chosen profession technicians and management will both need to know what they are doing and thoroughly understand how the system they are inspecting really works. Whether it's accounting or recruiting, or fuel injection and electronics.

I wish you success, Dave Casey