Despite challenges getting certain parts and components most of last year, the truck service repair business was booming, according to survey data compiled by Fullbay, a provider of heavy-duty truck and trailer repair shop management software, in partnership with the Technology & Maintenance Council.
Fullbay queried more than 1,600 individuals from commercial freight, logistics and repair industries to aggregate and compile its 2023 edition of The State of Heavy-Duty Repair report. The company's findings were released Sunday at the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Expo in Orlando.
More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents said they raised labor rates in 2022, with the Southwest U.S. region leading the charge ($13.10/hour). Despite coming in with the highest overall hourly rate, the Western region reported the lowest average rate increase ($10.20/hour). About 92% of the shops that did raise labor rates passed a pay raise along to technicians. Among the shops that didn't raise labor rates, 42% gave their technicians a pay bump anyway.
Hourly rate leads the way in how technicians are paid at 46%. Flat rate (28%) and a combination of flat and hourly (23%) make up most of the balance.
Patrick McKittrick, Fullbay CEO, noting an uptick in flat rate billing and pay give an update to the company's annual The State of Heavy-Duty Repair report Sunday at the Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Expo in Orlando.
The highest paid techs in the country come from the Southeast, averaging $46/hour. A close second is the West at $44.60/hour, followed by the Northeast at $44.50 and the Southwest at $41.90. The Midwest by far brings up the rear with regard to technician pay – almost $11/hour less than the top paid techs at $35.10/hour.
Technicians are finding themselves on the clock for long periods, with 45% of Fullbay's technician respondents self-reporting working more than 40 hours per week, and 23% working more than 50. The most tenured techs are the ones are feeling the brunt; 46% of diesel techs with at least 20 years under their belt are working 50-plus hours a week.
