How Rad Air Built an Unstoppable High-Retention Auto Repair Culture

Andy Fiffick is the President & CEO of Rad Air Complete Car Care and Tire Centers, overseeing a network of multi-location auto repair shops in the Cleveland, Ohio area. With more than 50 years in the automotive industry, Andy began working on cars at a young age alongside his father, a diesel mechanic who instilled a “do it right the first time” mindset that still guides his leadership today.

After formal automotive training and a decade at Ford Motor Company while earning his business degree, Andy left corporate life to build his own repair business from the ground up. His experience as both an operator and franchisor gives him a grounded, real-world perspective on what actually drives sustainable growth and long-term employee retention in today’s auto repair shop culture.

In this episode…

If you’re feeling the strain of hiring, retention, and morale right now, this conversation hits close to home. The episode centers on auto repair shop culture and why it’s become one of the biggest differentiators between shops that constantly churn staff and those that keep people for decades. This isn’t theory, it’s about what happens in the bays, the break room, and the everyday decisions owners make.

The tension is simple but uncomfortable: most shop owners say culture matters, but far fewer are willing to change how they personally show up. From training and accountability to work-life balance and leadership presence, this discussion explores why auto repair shop culture is under pressure today and why getting it right matters more now than ever for owners, managers, and multi-location operators trying to grow without burning out their teams.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[01:05] Who Andy Fiffick is and his role in the auto repair industry

[02:08] Early automotive upbringing and finding a lifelong career path

[05:29] How technology reshaped training and technician expectations

[09:39] Using mistakes as coaching opportunities instead of discipline

[11:54] Employee recognition and everyday engagement practices

[13:27] Protecting work-life balance without hurting shop performance

[16:40] Reducing turnover through consistent owner involvement

[19:47] Monthly leadership meetings and cross-store collaboration

[21:44] Why quarterly check-ins outperform annual reviews

[24:06] Franchising as a growth and accountability strategy

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Andy Fiffick LinkedIn
• Rad Air Complete Car Care & Tire Centers Website
• Tread Partners
• Gain Traction Podcast on YouTube
• Gain Traction Podcast Website
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn

Quotable Moments:

• “I never ask our people to do anything I’m not willing to do myself.”
• “If you’re trying to teach responsibility and accountability, why aren’t you going to the training with your guys?”
• “You never degrade someone for doing something wrong, you use it as a coaching and learning experience.”
• “Our guys want to live their lives, and that excuse of always working is no longer acceptable.”
• “You can’t expect your team to do a great job if you don’t give them the tools they need.”

Action Steps:

1. Audit your auto repair shop culture by identifying where your actions don’t match the standards you expect from your team.
2. Attend the same training sessions as your technicians to reinforce accountability and shared learning.
3. Replace annual performance reviews with quarterly one-on-one check-ins focused on support and growth.
4. Create systems that protect work-life balance, such as adjusted hours or operational alternatives that don’t rely on burnout.
5. Build regular cross-store or team meetings to encourage collaboration and shared problem-solving across locations.