HIGH TECH THRILLS & SKILLS: INCENTIVES FOR TRUCK SERVICE TECHS

Australia’s road transport industry has come up with some innovative programs to ensure service technicians – the backbone of the sector - stay at the top of their game and feel supported in their profession. According to a 2022 Australia’s National Skills Commission study, 42 per cent of technician and trade occupations are experiencing serious staff shortages. The widespread labour shortage created further incentive for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to come up with a range of programs to attract and retain apprentices and skilled technicians, including competitions and professional development initiatives. Let’s take a look at how competitions can help keep the fire burning for our service technicians.

SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS

If you thought competing in Esports and multiplayer video gaming with your mates was an adrenalin rush, just wait until you are diagnosing problems on huge trucks in a technical diagnostic competition with a timer ticking down and your teammates at your back. OEM technical skills competitions allow service technicians to develop their trade and skills further and have their knowledge reach new heights. These competitions usually involve competitors working with cutting-edge technology, receiving one-on-one personalised coaching and months of in-depth training – and this is only the competition lead up! Some professional comps have a mix of qualified techs and apprentices while others focus specifically on service technicians. Competitions can be made up of a written examination and a vehicle diagnostic exercise. The challenges change regularly to reflect real world problems, and the ever-changing nature of automotive tech, including virtual diagnostics. There really is nothing like a highly competitive environment that sets you up to succeed, where skills are nurtured and coached along the way. The pressure cooker environment of public competition can bring out new strengths that you didn’t know you had, as well as build confidence. These Australian competitions frequently feed into international competitions, which gives contestants the opportunity to compete in front of a crowd overseas, network in larger pools and receive even more specialised training.

APPRENTICE POWER-UPS

One of the most well-known technical competitions in Australia is the National Apprentice Challenge, a biannual event run by the Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) and held during the popular Brisbane Truck Show. Teams of apprentices battle it out to diagnose and repair issues and faults on heavy trucks during a gruelling four-day competition. With generous prize packages for the winning team - enough to kit-out any apprentice with an amazing array of tools and equipment - the HVIA National Apprentice Challenge really gives apprentice service technicians a leg-up in the industry. The National Apprentice of the Year Awards, are also hosted by HVIA. This prestigious award goes to HVIA’s top apprentice based on their aptitude, attitude and technical ability.

EXCITING EXPERIENCES

Incentive comes in a different guise for everyone and the 2022 Walkinshaw Andretti United V8 Supercar Pit Crew Experience was thrilling for those technicians selected to participate. The lucky winners had the chance to work alongside the WAU pit crew as they supported the team throughout the season. The experience gave the technicians insights into the work of pit crew technicians and engineers  in a racing environment, and indeed the precision and teamwork required to chase success on race day. The experience gave participants insight into just how crucial pit crew techs are to the team as well as the level of the teamwork required.

ESCAPE FROM THE CITY

More opportunities are opening in rural and regional locations for apprentice service technicians to receive a top-quality education and ongoing professional development. A great example of this is the collaboration between Mildura Truck Centre and Sunraysia Institute of TAFE in Victoria - known as SuniTAFE - to boost its service technician program. The initiative gave more automotive students the opportunity to work on a real-world truck equipped with up-to-date technology, regardless of whether they live in a metropolitan or regional area. Another example is the work of the Westar and Patterson Cheney dealership groups, who’ve set up their own Apprenticeship Academy. With 12 positions available each year, the 2022 intake was filled much faster than expected. As well as TAFE training, the Apprenticeship Academy also gives the apprentices something very important – money for their labour. The top-notch support offered to the apprentices enrolled at the academy means that they can finish their apprentice journey with qualifications and industry contacts, along with the camaraderie of their peers and mentors. The apprentices are also kitted-out with all the tools required to get the job done, a welcome upgrade considering the cost of equipment.

WHAT’S NEXT?

‘Master’ technician programs, or ‘elite’ technician programs, run by some OEMs are programs designed to take service technicians to the next level through advanced training to boost their knowledge of parts and servicing. This makes the master or elite technician the first port of call in a particular workplace to train other team members in new technologies and changes to procedures. Through rigorous training and assessment, the technicians enrolled in these programs are well-placed to mentor others. These programs differ between OEMs but with the recognition comes rewards with one-time bonuses or sometimes even hourly wage increases. Technician guilds, which many OEMs have set-up, can give members a sense of prestige guaranteeing they have access to the most up-to-date skills training available. Service technicians are in high demand globally too. It’s the type of career that never has a shortage of roles or future opportunities regardless of where you are in the world. There has never been a better time to launch your career as a service technician or take it to the next level. Check out Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) National Service Manager Brett Stewart’s thoughts on the much-needed boost to apprentices from the latest national jobs and skills summit.