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. This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians. The Maintenance Staffing Calculator is designed to help maintenance managers (1) breakdown staff by location or sub-fleet; (2) adjust raw employee numbers to full time equivalents and available productive hours using information on current technician staffing, other employees contributing to maintenance, breaks, vacations, and shift information;(3) calculate preventive maintenance, core maintenance, and unscheduled maintenance task hours required, by sub-fleet; (4) calculate heavy maintenance and repair hours required; (5) model effects on staffing of changes to fleet composition or usage; (6) model effects on staffing of changes to maintenance times or intervals, accounting for overtime required; and (7) compare results to a group of peer agencies. Roman, A. Benchmarking fleet age is complicated because fleet composition must be considered. After identifying malfunctioning equipment, service technicians repair, replace, and recalibrate components such as hydraulic pumps and spark plugs. Most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. %PDF-1.7 Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be able to lift and move heavy equipment, tools, and parts without risking injury. The detail entered here will be reflected in the detail of the tools outcomes. Comparing staffing levels to peer agencies - The tools main value lies in its ability to benchmark agency performance against other agencies of similar size. In the winter months, however, they may work less than full time. Automotive body and glass repairers restore, refinish, and replace vehicle bodies and frames, windshields, and window glass. Technician A says that the output gear will be going faster than the input gear. /Contents 6 0 R>> Asian women: 1.7%. Even with the responses to the surveys, the study yielded limited correlative data. Projected employment of heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians varies by occupation (see table). hours x 44 weeks x 107.8% overall efficiency x 60 per hour = 113,520. %PDF-1.5 % Additionally, organizations that do not actively manage labor reporting tend to lose hours during the year. - 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. Most service technicians work full time, and many work evenings and weekends. It also includes average hours spent on follow-up repairs. Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation. 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. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, and other industries. 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. What we really need is another supervisor/dispatcher for our department. The type of work performed, seasonal demand on resources and the consistency of labor hours forecasted for assigned tasks versus actual all play a large part in challenging any fleet department.. 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. Some rail car repairers should continue to be needed to service trains used for freight shipping and transportation, as well as for public transportation. 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. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians, also called mechanics, inspect, maintain, and repair vehicles and machinery used in construction, farming, rail transportation, and other industries. But today, with the proliferation of digital technology, new fuel systems, and accelerated maintenance schedules, its more difficult to determine how many employees will be required to take care of a fleet. 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. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other. New Vehicle Tech. %%EOF Who is correct? White women: 17.5%. Click to reveal Which technician is correct? 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. An old fleet obviously requires more labor to keep in service than a brand new one. 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.) Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians held about 223,000 jobs in 2021. 945 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<37BAF6D55ADF124382CB24C4417C0A4B><83C917919D77EB4E91CD4A0E46DD1A25>]/Index[929 32]/Info 928 0 R/Length 79/Prev 122727/Root 930 0 R/Size 961/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream Rail car repairers specialize in servicing railroad locomotives, subway cars, and other rolling stock. 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). Technician A The driving gear has 15 teeth and the driven gear has 29 teeth. Training sessions may focus on particular components and technologies or particular types of equipment. Furthermore, 70% of the companies lack awareness of which assets require maintenance. Maintenance activities not included in the previous sheet are entered here. Additional troubleshooting information here. 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. Doing this may involve disassembling and reassembling major equipment or making adjustments through an onboard computer program. Before sharing sensitive information, Introduced three years ago, the American Petroleum Institute (API)s CK-4 and FA-4 oil categories were billed as the next generation of oil, improving on the engine protection and fuel economy benefits offered by previous engine oil categories. The Work Environment tab includes the number of jobs held in the occupation and describes the workplace, the level of physical activity expected, and typical hours worked. 4 0 obj 50.63.164.4 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. The table below provides an example calculation. Assuming recordkeeping practices are sound, the fleet manager can determine the average number of labor hours each type of vehicle and piece of equipment has historically consumed, then multiply the result by the number of assets in each class. wsauer3481 As a former cop who spent a number of years managing, and is now doing driving / training for the past year and a half in my retirement, I've relished the opportunity to work in and learn about this great service industry. The Director does everything else (even training). 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. Technology Maintenance Council,(new name for. The ratio of height to width. An example of challenges would be the difficulty of assigning a baseline average for the time required to complete specific tasks. The secure and easy all-access connection to your content. >>/Group <> 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. I asked that question about a month ago and did not receive a replay. _EY4x /hH2, Published as TCRP Report 184. My question went to School Transportation News, on line. This doesn' t include helpers, parts personnel, foremen, or any other garage staff. 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. Completion of all specific company and official paperwork. Fleets with large geographic service territories, such as state governments, tend to outsource a large percentage of their repair work 100 percent in some cases. Neither Technician A or B Which part is splined to the clutch disc? Unfortunately, there is no standard formula or thumb rule to get the magic number. make sure you're on a federal government site. 2023 Government Fleet, Bobit. Learn more about heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations. Work experience that is commonly considered necessary by employers, or is a commonly accepted substitute for more formal types of training or education. Mechanics who work primarily on automobiles are described in the profile on automotive service technicians and mechanics. This showed some broad trends in regards to agency size, duty cycle, and spare ratio, but there was significant variation between agencies. shared use or take-home vehicles). Transit agencies replacing buses are faced with significant leaps in technology over the past 6 to 12 years and now can purchase clean diesel and hybrid engines, and choose among various alternative fuels--all of which require highly skilled technicians. Heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians repair and maintain engines, hydraulic systems, transmissions, and electrical systems of agricultural, industrial, construction, and rail equipment. Possible Range. Second the backup vehicle ratio must be adequate to ensure minimal disruption in service. can help cut diesel fuel costs, Peterbilt GM Jason Skoog charts todays truck support, tomorrows truck solutions, Diesel engine filtration tips for better fuel efficiency, U.S. Bank: Truck freight volumes continue to decline, Significant increase in TL spot rates observed for early 2023. Last Modified Date: Performance & security by Cloudflare. How many degrees will the front wheels be rotated? It contains annual hours needed for core maintenance like preventative inspections and brake relines, as well as unscheduled maintenance. After all, talk is cheap and the trust me days of fleet management ended many years ago. 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. Dayton, Ohio. Bonus. All Rights Reserved. Technician B says that the CVT does not shift but continuously varies the gear ratio as needed to maintain optimal speed and torque. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2c503a8d982eeb $200 - $5k. 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. They ensure the performance and safety of fuel lines, brakes, and other systems. More Information, Including Links to O*NET, automotive service technicians and mechanics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Aircraft and Avionics Equipment Mechanics and Technicians, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, Industrial Machinery Mechanics, Machinery Maintenance Workers, and Millwrights, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heavy-vehicle-and-mobile-equipment-service-technicians.htm, Farm and garden machinery and equipment merchant wholesalers, Consult equipment operating manuals, blueprints, and drawings, Perform scheduled maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating parts, Diagnose and identify malfunctions, using computerized tools and equipment, Inspect, repair, and replace defective or worn parts, such as bearings, pistons, and gears, Overhaul and test major components, such as engines, hydraulic systems, and electrical systems, Disassemble and reassemble heavy equipment and components, Travel to worksites to repair large equipment, such as cranes, Maintain logs of equipment condition and work performed. 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. Tire inflation is very important to the safe and economical operation of any vehicle. The report also documents the research team's development of an MS Excel-based Maintenance Staffing . Related: Fleet Management Lessons From the Private Sector. How will todays customer focus translate to tomorrows electric trucks? Women were 21.1% of automobile dealers and 9.0% of automotive repair and maintenance employees. One VEU is equal to 1015 labor hours, with technicians being assigned 100120 VEUs. We have two full-time mechanics (one lead mechanic and one regular mechanic), and one driver who was originally hired as a mechanic but only helps out as needed now on a part-time basis. Speed rating. 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. 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. The projected percent change in employment from 2021 to 2031. 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. This level of detail proved to be difficult to collect, so the second round of interviews involved a streamlined questionnaire. However, there was significant variation across agencies in regards to most variables examined. Technician A says that the gear ratios of both differentials are the same in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The sheets are: The first sheet contains information about the agencys fleet. In Charlie Long's material he recommends a staffing level of about 13 buses for each "wrench turning" mechanic. It depends on various factors, example; Is it a fleet cars or pickups or busses or trucks or a mix? November 9, 2009 (Illustration: Shutterstock & Richard Aguirre). How to reasonably assess mechanic staffing in a public sector garage is an often-posed question among government agency fleet managers. This subject of mechanic-to-fleet ratio and related issues sparks a real interest and concern. 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. Information provided by Randy Owen. Comments are moderated and may not appear for 24 hours or more. The average hourly pay for an Automotive Technician is $19.19. He was 53 years old. This tab also covers different types of occupational specialties. The projected numeric change in employment from 2021 to 2031. Maintenance Staffing Calculator User Guide. In May 2021, the median annual wage for all workers was $45,760. 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. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. 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. 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. endobj Some manufacturers offer certification in specific repair methods or equipment. 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. Please advise on the appropriate number of buses and vehicles per mechanic? By Randy Owen 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. (T/F) True Higher compression ratios tend to speed up combustion. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. However, the average fleet age for a typical government fleet of mixed vehicle types should range from three to five years. 17 Bookmarked content can then be accessed anytime on all of your logged in devices! According to Vanson Bourne, average industrial downtime costs are 250.000 USD per hour, according to field service and IT decision-makers. An agency employee very familiar with the fleet and maintenance should use the tool, because its accuracy is dependent on getting accurate, detailed information.