The fastest way to lose the next generation of technicians is to make the job feel rigged. We sit down with longtime automotive leader Jim Centorbi to talk about what’s really happening in the workforce, why so many young people avoid the trades, and how outdated systems inside the dealership are pushing good talent away.
We get specific about technician compensation and the flat rate pay model: what it rewards, what it punishes, and why “uncontrollables” like scheduling chaos, parts delays, and inconsistent estimating land directly on the tech’s paycheck. From there we zoom out to the bigger operational issue: too many service departments and fixed operations teams run without a real handbook, clear job descriptions, or consistent training. When everyone improvises, customers wait longer, advisors guess more, and trust erodes.
Then we look forward. If direct-to-consumer vehicle sales and EV contracts keep moving the way they are, what happens to the traditional dealership? Where do technicians go? How do parts and service protect labor market share and parts market share when customers can buy everything with three clicks? We argue for a return to basics: mentoring, process, data-driven forecasting, and the golden rule as a competitive advantage.
If you care about dealership service, fixed absorption, customer experience, and the future of the automotive industry, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a service leader or technician, and leave a review with the one change you’d make first.
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