Is Flat Rate Driving Young Technicians Out of the Trade? with Tanner Watters

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In this episode, Jeff Compton talks with Tanner Waters, a field and shop technician in rural Montana, about his path into the trade and what life is like working on tractors, combines, and hay equipment. Tanner shares his apprenticeship experience, field diagnostics, long drives, and major repairs while comparing hourly efficiency pay with flat rate.

The conversation also explores why younger technicians leave the industry, the importance of shop culture and leadership, technician communication, diagnostic time, training apprentices, and the future of agricultural equipment with autonomy, EVs, emissions, and right to repair.

Timestamps:

00:00 Shop Culture Wins
00:34 Podcast Intro and Guest Setup
01:45 Montana Life and Fishing Talk
02:43 How Tanner Got Wrenching
03:24 Corvette and Hemi Memories
05:43 Wrangler Ownership and Oil Cooler
08:41 Life as a Field Tech
11:55 Winter Regens and Emissions
13:36 From Kenworth to John Deere
14:32 Old-School Trucks and Cabovers
18:17 Apprenticeship Tools and Toolboxes
22:50 Princess Auto and Canada Road Trip
26:14 MMA Stories
31:02 The Missing Age Group in the Trade
32:00 The Flat Rate Gap
34:48 Recalls and PIPs
36:08 Why Technicians Leave
40:54 Hourly Efficiency Pay
51:18 Workflow Support Roles
55:03 Technicians Selling the Job
59:54 Pre-Authorizing Repairs
01:04:18 Why Diagnostics Take Time
01:09:50 Transmission Service Expectations
01:11:05 Free Diagnostics vs. Evaluation
01:13:08 Asking Better Questions
01:14:07 Intermittent Turbo Faults
01:15:19 Parts Quality Reality Check
01:18:39 Build Quality and Technician Pay
01:20:54 Training Apprentices the Right Way
01:23:27 Motivation and Career Paths
01:27:13 Turnover and Leadership
01:32:56 Ag Tech Levels and Certifications
01:34:08 Autonomy and Electric Agriculture
01:38:29 EVs in Rural Life
01:41:32 Muscle Cars and Collectors
01:44:49 Jeep Ducks Culture
01:45:53 The Top-Off Jeep Debate
01:47:13 Wrangler Tops and Leaks
01:48:26 Refrigerant Changes and 1234yf
01:49:58 AC Repair Customer Headaches
01:52:57 DIY Refrigerant Cans and Regulations
01:57:29 Right to Repair Deere
02:01:26 Technician Shortage and OTA Updates
02:04:36 Self-Driving and Subscriptions
02:08:54 Shop Culture and Career
02:13:35 Events, Sponsors, and Farewell

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