{"id":750,"date":"2021-10-06T18:49:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T18:49:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:10008\/?p=750"},"modified":"2024-03-15T15:22:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-15T15:22:16","slug":"do-diesel-mechanics-get-paid-flat-rate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learndiesels.com\/do-diesel-mechanics-get-paid-flat-rate\/","title":{"rendered":"Do Diesel Mechanics Get Paid Flat Rate?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So, you are looking at jobs. You see a company that says it pays flat rate to its mechanics. Is that a deal? What is flat rate? Do all mechanics make flat rate? Let\u2019s dive into that. I took a survey of 50 diesel mechanics. The information in this article is based on those findings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do diesel mechanics make flat rate?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule, diesel mechanics are paid hourly. There may be exceptions but, the majority are not flat rate. Flat rate is usually given at dealerships and other small shops.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at what flat rate is, why it sucks, and why you should never work anywhere that has that pay structure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flat rate work stinks. O, wait\u2026 let me tell you what flat rate is first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is flat rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Flat rate pay is when a mechanic is paid by the number of hours billed<\/strong> (or book hours) of a job regardless of how long it takes them. So, for example, you have a set of brakes that the book says take 2 hours to replace. That is how many hours you get paid to do the job. No matter whether it actually takes 15 minutes or 15 hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people in the industry agree that flat rate pay is a huge rip off for the mechanic. Let me give you 5 reasons why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 reasons flat rate pay sucks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  1. Employer wins every time<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Flat rate requires no risk for your employer. Bully for them!<\/strong> In good business, there is what is called a win, win, win. The business wins, the employee wins and the customer wins. The business makes a profit, the employee makes a fair wage and the customer gets the service at a fair price. The flat rate model is a win for the business for sure not for the employee. When you get stuck and have trouble with a job you eat those hours. You do not get paid for any extra work or thought about the customer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Favoritism<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      If you looked at this article and thought \u201cwhatever! I think it\u2019s great\u201d it\u2019s because you are the lucky one who gets all the high-paying jobs. We talk about you behind your back ????. I\u2019m sure you just love the service manager that much that you buy his lunch daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Favoritism is one of the big problems with flat rate. Who gets the best paying jobs? The best mechanic? The one with the most seniority? In some cases, but more often the guy who is \u201cin\u201d with the boss. While the new guy is struggling to get 30 paid hours the other guy is racking up 80.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Slow days<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        One of my best friends worked for a dealership for many years. I would often go by and complain about him about how he was being ripped off. On slow days we would sit in his bay and chat for a couple of hours while he was not getting paid. He was required to be there 50 hours<\/strong> a week. He often only turned in 30 – 40 hours of work. So where did that other time go? could he go home for those hours\u2026Nope. He was stuck there with the hopes of another vehicle rolling in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        1. Wear on your body<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          With knowing that you can make hardly anything on those slow days you really have to hustle on the busy days. There are days when you can work 10 hours and bill 15. You are going to be running hard. Especially if you have kids to feed. All that stress and hustle do not play kindly to your body. Consider this, the Mayo Clinic<\/a> lists these symptoms of stress. Common effects of stress are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n