Auto repair technicians have to work to stay current

The best auto repair techs stay

current by taking ongoing
training on the latest
developments in the auto
industry.

How do auto repair technicians stay up on changes to cars? That’s a darn good question considering that changes are relatively frequent in the auto industry.

Consider a recent article in FamilyHandyman magazine that listed 14 new changes coming down the pike:

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
Self-Driving Cars
Augmented Reality Dashboards
Adaptive Suspension Systems
Adaptive All-Terrain Navigation
Interior Cabin Radar Systems
Invisible Hood View
Massaging Front Seats
Electric Cars for Everyone
Greener Cars
Over-the-Air Updates and Diagnostics
Smartphone and Cloud Connectivity
In-Car Personalization with Biometrics
Integrated Air Purification

That’s quite a list. But it generally only refers to new and improved features on cars. What about mechanical changes and recalls?

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) maintains a Website with recalls for problems with vehicles. The same page shares information about “Defects Investigations,” “Compliance Investigations,” “Vehicle Importation,” “Special Crash Investigations,” and “Complaints.”

Manufacturer Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins alert car owners to problems experienced by other owners of the same vehicle.

At a quality auto repair shop, they strive to stay on top of such changes and reported issues. But staying up on changes goes beyond that.

To stay abreast of the latest changes in the auto industry, auto repair technicians often need to augment their training. This requires reading the latest Technical Service Bulletins. But it can also involve taking additional classes and seminars.

Quality auto repair technicians have ASE certifications (Automotive Service Excellence). They need to take the latest coursework to maintain their certifications. What this means for car owners is that, when they bring their vehicle in for service, they know they have a technician working on their vehicle who knows what they’re doing.

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