new techs want a hint

[daytrader]

I know folks will blast me for this, but to bad I can deal with it.

Let the experianced folks chase the insurance work.

Go try your hand at the truck fleets. No insurance. Most are cash or bill once a month.

Many truck fleets NEED chip repair. There is no insurance glass coverage. They will pay 25 bucks a pop for the first and 15 each other PER truck.

To get an idea the adverage truck glass will see what a normal car will see in 7 years in just 10 months. Think about that.

A small fleet of 50 trucks that only has 10 trucks a week end around. Sure it isn't going to make ya rich, but That is just one fleet of how many?

I know a lady that dose JB Hunt in Louisville KY. She gets full access tot he lot. She dosn't even have to talk to the drivers. She just gose to the shop. They give her the truck numbers. Sge makes the repairs. Then she dose a "yard check" looking at windsheilds that are just there.

Her adverage take is 275 a day. Not a week. A day. She bills JB Hunt 2 times a month.

The trucking companies have it in their own best interest to get the glass fixed at it can set a truck "out of service" if a chip or crack is in the veiw of the driver.

If it is 2 inches above the steering wheel and in the swipe of the drivers rain slicker. It has to be repaired or replaced.

On the passenger side it is almost up to the DOT inspector. They will pay and do.

NEW TECHS chase the nitch.

[Chips-B-Gone]

I totally agree with you. About 3 years ago I worked for Scheider National Carriers as an Operation Support Rep/Driver/Safety guy/Regulatory enforcement. I wore a lot of hats.

I saw these trucks coming in at night on our dedicated account with rock chips in the windshield. The next morning they were yanking it out.

I aproached the maint tech and showed him that I could not save him on the price of the windshield because they purchased the glass for $35 a piece but could save him a ton on downtime and labor costs. I also pointed out his mechanics were not certified to replace windshields.

He jumped at it. I gave him a fleet price of $35 per windshield. I paid for all my equipment in no time. I actually trained with MAFSU (Thanks Chris). I am still listed as a vendor with them but I have not done any work for them in a long time so I am about to fall off thier vendor list.

[splitpit]

Fleet work can be very profitable, I agree.

But who chases insurance work? I've never had to chase an insurance job ever. It's a simple process and it's more like the insurance work chases me!

I think insurance work is an important part of what a new tech should be set up to do. I know some will disagree but why avoid the gravy?

[GlassStarz]

I agree its a great way to make some imediate customers and with time and experience start adding the insurance customers to balance your work.

[tooldini]

I agree 14 insurance referrals since Monday and counting. I think hunting season must be putting some techs off the list or something. I do wanna push to get some fleet work though and will start working on that very soon.

Jeff

[daytrader]

A decent size fleet that has a terminal in your area can turn 200 trucks a day. If the shop only sees 30 a day. Many times you should be able to find 20% in the shop and 4+% off the yard.

Heck I have 4 rock chips in my trucks windsheild. NOT ONE CHIP but 4 of them. I had the driver side replaced in May. Now it has 4 chips in it. Will I repair them? No idea. I may. Just time is not easy. Heck. I would pay a guy to do the exact same repair I can do. BECAUSE I AM TO BUSY.

I only have One semi truck, two straight trucks and 5 sprinters. They seem to keep my hands full. I just get put out to watch guys in truck stops have safelite auto glass come out to replace a windsheild. BECAUSE OF A ROCK CHIP!

I am telling you. The old hands tell you to chase the insurance work. SCREW the insurance work. Go for the regular work.

I learned real quick. I am competition. Folks were very happy to tell me to do the medium paying low volume work. Heck I would rather do the medium paying high volume work. Alot less paper work. Many fleets seem to have their own billing process. Yet, that is minor. Many times I have found so far. Make your own work sheet and submit the bill.

I have even had driver tell me as They walk up to their truck. "Wow! I didn't even write the chip up because I didn't want to spend time in the shop". Not a problem. give me 10 more mins and I will be out of here.

I got into this as a hobby. I drove trucks for years. Now I do specilized sales. Just this glass repair. I can see how a person can make a nice living doing it.