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5 Tips for Managing a Successful Auto Shop

Published

3 years ago

September 24, 2021

Noha Mark

There are over 277,000 auto shops in operation throughout the United States. Are you currently managing one of them?

When it comes to running an auto shop, there’s a lot on your plate each day. Not only do you have to make sure the cars and trucks your customers bring in are being cared for, but you also have to support your staff and ensure they’re being treated in a fair and respectful way.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the ins and outs of managing an auto shop, read on. Listed below are 5 tips that can help you feel more confident and in control.

1. Understand the Company’s Mission and Culture

This tip applies whether your repair shop is part of a franchise or is independently owned and operated. In either case, a clear understanding of the company’s mission and culture will help to guide your management decisions and ensure you’re embodying the right kinds of values.

If your shop is part of a franchise, read through the company’s onboarding or orientation materials for a refresher on the mission and culture guidelines.

Think about the kind of service that the business owners want each customer to receive. Consider, too, what kind of a workplace they want the shop to be for all employees.

With this information in mind, it’s easier to evaluate your current performance and identify specific ways in which you can improve.

If you own and manage the shop and haven’t already established the company’s mission and culture guidelines, now is a great time to do so.

Start by drafting a mission statement for your business. Then, set some ground rules when it comes to the way the business operates. These guidelines should cover the way customers are treated,the way employees treat each other, and the way you treat employees.

2. Set Clear Goals

As a manager of an auto repair shop, it’s your job to set clear goals for yourself and your team. Goal-setting helps everyone to stay motivated and committed to making the shop a better place for employees and customers.

When setting goals, make sure they’re “SMART” goals. SMART is an acronym. It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based.

Use these criteria to set the right kinds of goals for yourself and your team. Goals are much more likely to be met if they’re specific, attainable, have clear metrics that you can use to determine progress, and have a set deadline attached to them.

In addition to setting goals for everyone else, it’s best if you can give your team members opportunities to set goals for themselves as well. This helps them to feel more accountable and gives them a chance to take ownership over their performance and progress.

Schedule regular goal-setting meetings so everyone has a place to share their goals and explain what steps they’re going to take to accomplish them, too.

3. Evaluate Team Performance Regularly

Another benefit of having regular meetings for yourself and your car shop employees is that they give you a chance to evaluate team performance. Everyone can use these meetings to share their goals, of course, but they can also use them to share which goals they’ve met and what kinds of milestones they’ve hit over a certain period.

It doesn’t matter if you evaluate team performance each week, each month, or each quarter. The key is to have a schedule that you stick to, no matter what happens.

If you go too long without regular performance reviews, your team will feel less accountable to you and to the company. This, in turn, can lead to stagnation and can make it harder for everyone to hit their goals and keep the company on track.

4. Organize and Secure the Shop

As a manager at a car repair shop, it’s your job to ensure everything stays organized and secure.

When it comes to organization, this means establishing and maintaining a solid filing system that helps you make sure everyone’s documents are in order and are accessible to the right people.

Consider using shop management technology to manage your employees and their schedules as well. As the experts who created the Tekmetric mechanic shop program have pointed out, these systems can help you handle interactions with customers, manage inventory, and more.

As for security, create a plan to protect the shop and its customers. This includes securing the facility itself (i.e., making sure all doors can be locked tight), protecting vehicles, and protecting cash in the register as well as people’s credit card information. All customer information and employee records should be locked down, too, to prevent potential data breaches.

5. Take Responsibility

Finally, as a manager of an auto shop, remember that everything, both good and bad, is your responsibility.

Taking responsibility doesn’t mean that everything that goes wrong is your fault. However, it does mean that it’s your job to deal with the fallout and ensure the same issue doesn’t happen again.

Remember, too, that taking responsibility as a manager also doesn’t mean doing everything yourself. By delegating to trusted team members, you reduce your chances of making mistakes or forgetting important details that can negatively affect the shop.

When you accept responsibility for your shop, you’ll likely find that it’s easier to stay motivated and, in turn, to motivate your team. You may experience a greater sense of purpose, too, and will be more engaged in the day-to-day processes that keep the shop up and running.

Level Up Your Auto Shop Management Today

Managing an auto shop can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. After implementing these 5 tips into your management practices, you’ll find that you have an easier time handling customers, supervising employees, and making sure the shop runs as smoothly as possible.

Do you need more advice on the right way to run your shop? Check out the business section of our site today. From best marketing practices to tips on accounting and bookkeeping, you’ll find everything you need here.

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Continental ContiEcoContact 5: The Ultimate Choice for Superior Performance and Eco-Friendly Driving

Published

10 months ago

July 5, 2023

Leonardo

As passionate automotive enthusiasts, we understand the importance of finding the perfect tire that offers exceptional performance without compromising on environmental responsibility. That’s why we are proud to introduce the Continental ContiEcoContact 5, a game-changer in the world of automobile tires. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the outstanding features and benefits of the ContiEcoContact 5, showcasing why it surpasses other options available in the market today.

Unleashing Unparalleled Performance

When it comes to choosing the ideal tire, performance is a top priority for any driver. The Continental is engineered with cutting-edge technology to deliver an outstanding driving experience in various road conditions. Let’s explore the key factors that make it stand out from the competition:

Advanced Tread Design: The ContiEcoContact 5 boasts a unique tread pattern that ensures optimal grip and stability, allowing for precise handling and enhanced control. Whether you’re maneuvering through winding roads or navigating city streets, this tire offers remarkable traction and responsiveness, instilling confidence with every turn.

Fuel Efficiency: One of the notable highlights of the ContiEcoContact 5 is its remarkable fuel efficiency. By reducing rolling resistance, this tire minimizes energy wastage and promotes better mileage, ultimately leading to cost savings and reduced carbon emissions. With the ContiEcoContact 5, you can enjoy a thrilling drive while minimizing your environmental footprint.

Silent and Smooth Ride: Continental’s innovative noise-reducing technology ensures that the ContiEcoContact 5 provides an exceptionally quiet and comfortable ride. Say goodbye to annoying road noise and vibrations, and indulge in a serene driving experience like never before.

Outstanding Wet and Dry Performance: The ContiEcoContact 5 is engineered with an advanced silica compound that enhances grip on both wet and dry surfaces. With its exceptional braking capabilities, this tire delivers optimal safety and peace of mind, even in challenging weather conditions. Stay in control, rain or shine.

Eco-Friendly Innovation

In today’s world, it’s crucial to prioritize sustainability and eco-conscious choices. The Continental ContiEcoContact 5 embodies the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility. Let’s explore how this tire contributes to a greener future:

Low Rolling Resistance: By minimizing energy loss through reduced rolling resistance, the ContiEcoContact 5 helps conserve fuel and reduces carbon dioxide emissions. This not only benefits the environment but also translates into significant cost savings for drivers in the long run.

Durable and Long-Lasting: The ContiEcoContact 5 is designed with longevity in mind. Its robust construction and optimized tread compound ensure excellent wear resistance, extending the lifespan of the tire. This durability not only reduces waste but also saves you money by minimizing the frequency of tire replacements.

Eco-friendly Materials: Continental prioritizes the use of sustainable materials in the manufacturing process. The ContiEcoContact 5 incorporates innovative technologies and eco-friendly components that minimize the environmental impact without compromising on performance or safety.

Continental: The Trusted Name in Tires

As a leading brand in the automotive industry, Continental has garnered a well-deserved reputation for excellence, safety, and innovation. With over a century of expertise, Continental consistently raises the bar when it comes to tire manufacturing. The ContiEcoContact 5 is a testament to their unwavering commitment to delivering superior products that exceed customer expectations.

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Tools for Top Fleet Managers

Published

10 months ago

June 24, 2023

Leonardo

Fleet vehicles have a wide array of uses, such as ensuring that goods arrive at their destinations and that service orders are carried out. These commercial fleets need to be managed effectively. Fleet managers must have the tools and skills to do so. Here we will look at what makes a good fleet manager and what tools they require to excel at their jobs.

Skills that Top Fleet Managers Have

Fleet managers need to be able to multi-task. They constantly deal with incoming information that they need to respond to while monitoring their fleets effectively.

This also requires good time management. A crisis can derail tasks that have to be performed and a good fleet manager will be able to prioritize their daily work and emergencies without getting flustered.

Communication skills are vital with employees and employers as well as with companies the fleet is doing work for.

A goal orientation will help the fleet manager to set goals and monitor performance against targets. They constantly look for new ways to reduce costs and enhance goal drivers.

Working in a dynamic industry requires patience and flexibility. Fleet managers accept accountability for their areas of business, knowing that the company depends on them doing their jobs well. Decisions often have to be made on the spur of the moment and an effective fleet manager is confident and capable of making sound decisions based on their expertise and input from their tools and equipment for monitoring their fleets.

Finally, they need to be proactive and resourceful.

Fleet Management Software

Modern fleet managers know that they cannot rely on manual systems to manage their fleets. Vehicle management software has become a necessity in managing even small fleets. This allows them to monitor and keep track of every aspect of their operations.

Both vehicles and drivers are managed with this software. Drivers may be guilty of poor driver behaviors, such as braking too sharply, which is detrimental to their vehicles, or not wearing seat belts, which impacts their safety. Some employees will take a chance and use a company vehicle outside of the company’s area of business for private use. This costs the business money and must be dealt with.

Vehicles also need to be monitored to ensure that they go for servicing at the right time and that faults and engine failures are picked up before they cause an incident or become more expensive to repair.

Tools for Vehicle Management

GPS is used to keep track of vehicles. This ensures that drivers are in the right place at the right time. It makes for a more efficient fleet as the nearest driver can be located and sent on a job or delivery. Non-motorized assets, like trailers, can also be monitored in case they are unhitched, and risk being lost.

Geotab is used to provide information on various statuses pertaining to a vehicle. This includes battery voltage, vehicle identification number, seat belt, emissions, engine hours, odometer, and engine RPM. Geotab GPS tracking devices keep track of where a vehicle is. All this data can tell the fleet manager various things, such as when to schedule a vehicle for repairs or a service, or when a driver is non-compliant or driving unsafely.

Top fleet managers install fleet management software in their fleet vehicles and use the data obtained from it to manage more effectively.

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How to Choose The Right Private Airport Car Service For A Stress-Free Journey?

Published

11 months ago

May 23, 2023

Michael Caine

When traveling to a distant place, many things need to be considered. Hiring a private car service is one of them. When you visit somewhere either for your work or enjoyment, you need a car service that would drop you at your destination. This is when you must employ a private airport car service.

Therefore, before you visit, you must be careful about researching airport car services so that you have enough information so you don’t have to stress over for getting an airport car at the last moment.

Why is it important to choose an airport car service?

Choosing an airport service is important for one’s good. When you visit a place you are new to, you are unaware of the rules and regulations of that place, and therefore, hiring an airport service is important.

There are many advantages of choosing an airport car service, a few of them are mentioned below:

Increased security and safety
Time-saving convenience
Customized travel arrangements
Professional and experienced drivers
Luxury and comfort
Stress-free travel experience

Therefore, due to these benefits, it is important to hire an airport car service.

How to choose the right airport car service?

Selecting the right airport car has a few tips, let’s have a look at them:

1. Research private airport car services:

The airport car service will pick you up on time and drop you at your location without delay. So, for such convenience, you ought to be careful regarding researching private airport car services so that you land a reliable and reputed car service.

2. Reviews and ratings:

The next important point is evaluating customer reviews and ratings. These will give you a great idea about the services of private cars. Moreover, you will have a great idea about professionalism and the reputation of the company. Reviews let us know how happy the previous customers have been with the company’s services.

3. Certified company:

Before you book your airport cab, be very careful regarding the certification of the company. Checking for licenses and certifications is very important. If you neglect this point you can end up in serious trouble.

4. Assessing the fleet of vehicles:

There are several cars available at the airport car service, therefore, you must find a car from the fleet that best fulfills your needs. Once you assess the fleet of cars you will find many cars according to your requirement.

5. Service area coverage:

Determining service area coverage before booking a car service is necessary. In this way, the chauffeur will know the destination of the customer and he will carry out his duty very carefully. He can even use GPS for the right location. You can check by searching online queries like car service Albany to Newark and select one of the best long distance car service providers online.

6. Affordability:

While looking for a car, you need to keep in consideration, your budget. You can be comparing pricing and affordability of different companies so that you find the most affordable one. Therefore, you must hire a car that is within your budget.

7. Reputation and experience of the company:

You must be assessing the reputation and the experience of the company so that you get professional drivers. Moreover, this would let you know that the car services are punctual or not. A reputed company will send its car on time and ensure the safety of its customers. Moreover, the reputation of the company also reflects their professionalism and great quality service.

Furthermore, you must also be careful about ensuring availability and responsiveness of the airport car service providers. Typically, they reply soon however you must start looking for a car service 2 days before your travel day to avoid end time chaos.

8. Professional drivers:

Verifying the professionalism of drivers is necessary as it ensures the safety of the customer and the drivers’ punctuality. Professional drivers are well aware of the traffic rules and they will avoid any mishap and deliver you a safe and comfortable ride.

9. Insurance coverage:

Checking for insurance coverage is fundamental. However, rental car insurance is not common. Mostly personal car insurance is provided by the insurance coverage, they do not cover rental car services. However, in case of an accident sometimes your own company provides insurance.

Therefore, this is how you choose an airport car service for a stress-free journey and to enjoy a safe and comfortable ride. Make sure you follow these tips to achieve incredible airport car service.