A lot of it does depend on the teachers, although most tech schools are garbage from what I've seen. I went to Ford ASSET and it was fantastic, taught me everything I needed to know to actually function as a tech. We went to school for 2 months then worked in the dealer with a tech as a helper for 2 months for 2 years straight. Even though I'm planning on getting out of this business ASAP I feel like the knowledge and skills I've learned will be valuable for the rest of my life.

And you're right there isn't much money in this, especially for new techs right now, because all the old guys who are high up in the shop still make what they're used to making and the rest of us have to fight for the scraps. 7-8 years ago there was more work in the shop than they could handle and everyone made plenty of money, and it'll be that way again someday, but hopefully I'll be out of this business soon enough so I wont have to find out how long it'll take.

 

Got a relative who went to a local tech school. He can do brakes and front end work but
he don't know squat about the technical aspects such as how computers interact with
a vehicles operation. The only cars I ever saw in the shop were 80s and early 90s V8
stuff.

 

I'm not saying ALL tech schools are junk I think that ALL tech schools in MA are junk and run by complete potato heads. I honestly think that here in MA if you so choose to work in the automotive field that one you a dumby for not going into diesel and two going to a tech school school at all.

Now I'm going to make a generalization about trades so you can either agree or not but i think that it's fair to say that we as a group in this trade are not schoolers now what I mean is that we're not dumb asses (maybe some) but school is just not for us so college is really a fairy tale and we stop at high school and pop right into a trade

All of my experience and knowledge came from the shops I've worked at. Now I work as a Honda tech in Boston MA, I own my own landscaping business, and I also have my own shop (one bay, one lift) that i do side jobs and help people out in. I have made a pretty cushy life not going to school and I'm not looking for praise so don't get me wrong I just think that people like me who may be smart or whatever have no business in any tech school in MA I think that people coming out of those schools getting jobs have to basically forget all what they've been taught just to start at square one

Now a few of you from other parts of the country say tech school was awesome and the teachers were very good. Well you guys luck out and get a Jump start Into the field. This industry is a dying breed there is no more work in it and especially as a flat rate tech when you put close to 90-95 hours a week in and you have a 80 hour pay check to show for it although it may be a
Nice check you still lost hours so who's foolin who

For all the young techs you wanna go to school for diesel if you can get in a dealership as a diesel tech the money is great and there's only 2-3 per dealership so there's always work of go work for caterpillar or John Deere or greyhound there is no more money in it and your a fool for not listening now

Just my .02 take it or leave it that's how I feel about these schools I think they do more harm than good and especially how expensive continuing education is today I feel teachers should be better than mediocre at best

 

Yeah I'm going through the Ford ASSET program, starts aug 30, and the service bay manager knows I want to be a diesel tech, and he got really excited that I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and he is really nice and excited to get me started!

 

But one thing is, it's almost all about the student. If the student doesn't want to learn, even the best teacher in the world can't do anything about it!

And one thing is, there are mechanics (the part changers) and then the technicians! The people who actually know their stuff and how to diagnose things. That's why when people ask me, what I want to do for a career, I say I want to be a technician

 

You hit it with saying its about the student! I start UTI for diesel in August, and I'm ready to learn. I know enough about basic has engines to get me by, it's time to learn something new that a lot of people are intimidated by!

 

I was looking at UTI and wyotech and couldn't justify the price! It's why I decided to go through the Ford program! $5,500 for 2 years

 

I know a couple guys who went to UTI. It worked for them, but the fact that it's not specific factory training was kind of a set back for them in the dealer aspect. That's why the Ford, Toyota and GM factory schools are so great, they help you develop a relationship with the dealer that you're required to work with and actually gain college credit while you're working so once you graduate it's a seamless transition to your career as a technician. Obviously if you don't want to learn you're not going to but that applies to any school.

 

Yeah I've heard nothing but good things about the Ford program

 

I'm pretty sure I remember talking to you like a year ago about it when you were trying to decide what you were doing. And the work will pick back up eventually, there's tons of people out there putting off work on their cars right now and eventually they're all going to have to come in and get that work done. It's just like anything else, it goes in up and down cycles, I've heard it from all the old timers at work. It's already much busier than last year at this time. My biggest issue with my job isn't the hours money, it's the working with harsh chemicals, getting cut and burnt and busted knuckles all the time. It's fine right now, but I definitely don't want to be here doing this 15 years from now.