Keep shop management, payments, marketing (all the things) all in one place with Tekmetric. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Click HERE

ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square dog! Register now HERE

Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE

When I used the maintenance tool for the fist time with Detect Auto, my mind was blown. My advisors had the same reaction - and then SO MUCH MORE TIME. Learn more about Detect Auto and book a free demo now!

Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2027 is coming up in February and NOW is the time to sign up. It's happening in Vegas February 4-6 and it will be the best 3 days of your shops year when you attend. Learn now HERE

In this episode, Mike Allen welcomes Rich Falco to talk about the challenges and stories behind running a shop in today’s changing automotive landscape. They focus heavily on why shop owners need to invest in technician training and the difficulties many shops face bridging the gap between what techs want to learn and what the industry demands. A key theme that emerged was the growing impact of ADAS calibrations, the risk of improper repairs, and the increasing need for specialized equipment and procedures.

Timestamps:
00:00 Scope Drama: Impressive Diagnostics or Just for the ‘Gram?
01:05 Poker Nights & Shop Camaraderie
02:58 CTI Training Center – Tech Paradise
04:44 Bikers, Miatas & Life After Kids
05:11 Running a Mobile Calibration Business
06:29 Body Shop Calibrations: Bent Brackets & Bad Installs
07:05 Small Shops vs. Chains: Who Cuts Corners?
08:00 Essential Tools for Mobile Programming & Diagnostics
09:11 How Much Does a Well-Equipped Van REALLY Cost?
10:49 Why Shops Should Avoid “Hero” Jobs on Exotic Cars
13:15 Overconfident Techs (And When Ego Bites Back)
14:18 CTI’s Latest: Technician Evaluation & Skills Platform
16:17 Closing the Gap: Tech Training You Want Vs. Need
19:22 Best Training Tools: Online vs. In-Person
21:02 Shop Owners Bringing In-Depth Training to Their Doorstep
23:53 Should You Build Up Domestic Programming Skills?
24:34 Playground for Technicians: Touring the Research Center
25:07 Autel vs. PicoScope Throwdown
26:44 Shops Chasing “Hero Work” vs. Profitable Bread & Butter
28:18 Building Technician Career Paths—Real Tools for Real Growth
30:21 The Real Deal: What Techs Actually Want in Shops
32:42 Shop Owner Secrets: Training, Recruiting & Retention
34:44 Why the Best Techs Invest In Their Own Training
35:37 Networking & Recruiting at Industry Events
37:17 Rookie Shop Owners Who Get It Right (And Bring Cocktails)
41:47 Short-Form Training – The Secret Techs Actually Use
42:39 Why Boring Training Videos Kill Your Shop Culture
44:42 Not Reading the Service Info? Big Mistake
45:09 ADAS Calibrations, Liability, and Lawsuit Risks
47:24 Will Self-Driving Tech Change Everything?
52:45 Should We Fear (or Welcome) Our Robot Car Overlords?
54:05 Endgame: Cards, Cocktails & Hospitality at the Next Expo