How to Train Service Advisors to Write Better Repair Orders
Quick Answer Training service advisors to write better repair orders requires teaching structured customer interviewing, precise symptom documentation, and clear diagnostic question frameworks. By replacing vague complaint lines with detailed notes on vehicle conditions and operational symptoms, advisors eliminate shop floor confusion, speed up technician turnaround, and improve total labor performance. Every morning across the […]
How To Avoid Socialism In The Service Drive
Service Drive Revolution — Episode #376 Official Full Transcript Host: Chris Collins Guests: Adam Krey and Chris Hogland Published: September 15, 2026 Duration: 54:32 Listen on Apple | Listen on Spotify Following up on the massive conversations sparked by last week’s episode regarding technician pushback and changing shop floor dynamics, Service Drive Revolution – Episode […]
C Speck is the Richest Car Dealership in America
The wealthiest dealership in the United States has been a fixture of idyllic Sunnyside, Washington, since 1912. They don’t sell fancy European sports cars; they’ve never received a celebrity endorsement or shot a commercial with a killer whale, and they don’t own a sports team – unless, of course, you count the Prosser Mustangs, the […]
How Can Service Lane Follow-up Stop Customer Ghosting
Quick Answer Dealership customers may stop returning for service when the process feels inconvenient, pricing is unclear, or communication feels too sales-focused. Service departments can reduce customer drop-off by providing clear pricing, personalized digital updates, and consistent follow-up. Low-pressure outreach can also help re-engage customers who have stopped responding. Your service department is losing customers, […]
Top 10 Service Advisor Mistakes & Best Practices to Fix Them
Quick Answer Service advisors often lose sales and customer trust by rushing check-ins, quoting prices prematurely, and communicating poorly. To fix these mistakes, advisors must build genuine relationships, emphasize value using visual proof, and set realistic timelines. Empathetic, transparent, and proactive communication throughout the service process further guarantees long-term customer satisfaction and boosts overall revenue. […]
How Does Flat Rate Pay Work for Auto Mechanics
Quick Answer Flat-rate pay compensates auto mechanics based on a predetermined time assigned to each job rather than the actual hours worked. This system rewards efficiency, allowing skilled technicians to maximize their earnings by completing repairs faster than the allocated time. However, it also creates income volatility, as unexpected repair delays or slow shop days […]
How Service Advisors Should Handle Multi Point Inspections
Quick Answer Service advisors should present multi-point inspections as educational vehicle health checkups rather than sales pitches. They should explain technician findings using visual evidence, simple language, and an urgency-based priority scale. This approach helps customers understand recommended repairs, builds trust, supports vehicle safety, and can prevent costly breakdowns. Are your multi-point inspections failing to […]
How Much Should Car Repairs Actually Cost?
How much should car repairs actually cost? Learn how labor rates, OEM vs. aftermarket parts, and diagnostic complexity determine fair pricing—and how advisors build trust through transparency.
Is “Socialism” Coming to Your Service Drive?
Technicians are demanding fairer pay, structured apprenticeships, and an end to manual dispatch bias. Learn why legacy flat-rate systems are facing pushback—and how service managers can fix shop culture, efficiency, and retention.
Customer Updates Cadence for Busy Service Advisors 2026
Quick Answer Service advisors should use a proactive communication schedule based on repair time. Quick services may require updates every 30 minutes, while complex repairs may need daily check-ins. Each update should clearly explain the vehicle’s status, repair needs, pricing, and expected completion time. Is your service drive a battleground of frantic customer calls and […]
How Benchmarking Reveals Hidden Service Drive Revenue Gaps
Quick Answer Benchmarking exposes hidden revenue gaps by comparing specific operational KPIs against objective industry standards instead of just measuring service volume. This data-driven analysis pinpoints costly inefficiencies such as unbilled labour, outdated inspection workflows, and missed deferred services. Dealerships can then use these precise insights to fix profit leaks and standardize best practices across […]
Why Are You Losing Service Drive Revenue Each Day
Why are you losing service drive revenue every day? Discover how skipped walkarounds, weak inspections, and poor follow-up drain profit and the fixes that boost repair order averages.
