Ohio Tire Dealers Offer Mobile Training For Members – Modern Tire Dealer

The Ohio Wheel & Automotive Association (OTAA) has partnered with DRIV Inc., which oversees Garage Gurus — a major automotive service training program : in an effort to “upskill” its members’ technicians.

As part of the program, Garage Gurus provides two, 53-foot mobile trailers that feature a classroom area and tire service equipment. The trailers drive in order to OTAA members’ locations for on-site training sessions.

The first session took place this past August near Columbus, Kansas, in conjunction with the association’s annual golf outing.

An investment in members

Jeff Wallick, president of the OTAA, says the decision to partner with Garage area Gurus was not taken lightly. But at the end of the day, OTAA “made the decisions to invest in our members. We know that our members are – and I mean this quite literally – keeping America moving forward. So the responsibility we feel to serve them well is immense. ” 

Wallick believes OTAA members will see a return on the investment as their employees will become “even more proficient at working on the latest and greatest vehicle technology. ”

“If we’re going to succeed and grow as a good industry, it’s incumbent upon us in order to make an investment through initiatives and partnerships like we have with Garage Gurus, ” says Alex Boehnke, OTAA legislative director.

The particular mobility associated with Garage Gurus’ training trailer was a key factor for the particular OTAA, he adds. “Asking small business owners to pull out their professionals for training is the big ask. They’re trying to do as much business as possible and they’re short on workforce.

“If we are able to develop a partnership like this that will saves time and brings the coaching to them, it is all the more valuable. ”

“Our objective will be to make it as simple and convenient as possible with regard to our members to show up plus engage with industry-leading training in the way that’s best regarding them, ” says Wallick.

More than 40 courses

Garage Gurus’ trainers are professionals who have 15 to 30 years of hands-on experience and also are Automotive Service Excellence-certified, according to Wallick. More than 40 courses are available, from ride control to brake systems.  

“The training is going back and forth between what I am going to call theory and application, ” says Wallick. It consists of “a little bit associated with watching videos, a little bit of discussion with the teacher and then they’re actually putting their hands to work on actual gear to apply exactly what they have learned. ”

Garage area Gurus tries to keep sessions to about 12 students. The times from the classes can vary, depending on trainees’ availability.

Wallick states that specialists can attend one eight-hour training session or 2 four-hour day sessions. The “sweet spot” that OTAA found are usually four-hour periods, he explains.

This allows OTAA members in order to keep experts working at their dealerships for because long as possible before pulling all of them out for teaching, which the OTAA pays for.

“A technician may display up intended for work in 7 a. m. and they’re heading to get jobs done in the morning and then have period to grab lunch plus head to training from 2 p. m., ” says Wallick. “Our role at the OTAA is to facilitate that education and take care of any friction in the process.

“In this case, that means paying for the training because we really do see this as an investment in our OTAA users, their techs and our own industry, ” explains Wallick, who adds the association will continue to promote the program to people.