The upcoming generation

[mekanik]

I worked with a couple aircraft mechanics over the years. They told me there is a lot of paperwork in the aircraft maintenance business. I hope she likes paperwork.
If someone comes to the shop I work at and wants a half donkey job done we show them the way to the door and tell them to not bother coming back.

 

[Old Doug]

Don't see welding rigs like that around here. Seems like it could be a bit of a pain. Look fancy but not the most practical. Those you have to reach down into the compartments to get your tools. Most of the welding rigs here have have vertical cabinets with shelves and tool boxes in them and a work space on the back with a vice and/or a pipe spinner. Hard to find pics. of some of the really fancy decks but here's a few options.

Welding Deck Gallery

Industry-leading aftermarket accessories for the transportation sector and service vehicles.

acemfginc.com

 

[colson04]

Dollars to donuts says she winds up in an aviation shop somewhere, who would want to work on greasy nasty trucks pushing you to slap on a bandaid, when you can do clean airplanes instead and are told to always do it right?

My wife's cousins both went that route (siblings, brother and sister). He became a Heavy Truck Mechanic, she went to school and became a certified Welder. Both worked in their trades for 4 or 5 years, and then she found a local custom plane builder was hiring. She interviewed, got the job, liked it so much she bragged on it so her brother applied. Both are quite happy with the pay, the work environment, and work schedule.

 

[92U 3406]

I worked with a guy who did the opposite. Aviation to Heavy Duty. He said the pay in aviation sucks if you're doing maintenance for one of the larger airlines. The money was in the private fleets with the smaller planes.

 

[IceHole]

Speaking of Matt Boyed, I met a fella this week from Louisiana that did a turn-around with Matt, when he was just getting started with animation. Small world in the oil biz.

It’s been a great week hanging out with the Texas pipeliners and refinery hands I had the opportunity to work with in DFW. But, I got to get my a$$ back to Alaska and the safety of the trailer park. Big and scary down here and way too much concrete.

How bout’ that BBQ? Knowwhatimsayin? .

That cartoon still going, haven't seen them in years.

Speaking of Matt Boyed, I met a fella this week from Louisiana that did a turn-around with Matt, when he was just getting started with animation. Small world in the oil biz.

It’s been a great week hanging out with the Texas pipeliners and refinery hands I had the opportunity to work with in DFW. But, I got to get my a$$ back to Alaska and the safety of the trailer park. Big and scary down here and way too much concrete.

How bout’ that BBQ? Knowwhatimsayin? .

I spent a few months around Houston and Gavelston. I thought Anchorage drivers were **** till dealing with those drivers.

We had a rental van, I elected to just ride, wasn't ready for doing 90 in a 65 on a 74 lane highway.
Dirt barely 2 lanes roads are my liking.

 

[Coaldust]

I noticed that folks were commonly running 85-90 in a 65 and no traffic enforcement. Not necessarily complaining, but I’m certainly not accustomed to casually driving like that on a commute in a strange city.

 

[Old Doug]

The highway close to the farm they run 70 + i dont like it and my old trucks are not set up to run that fast. Luckily there is a good scrap yard that i can get to without ever being on the no speed limits highway. I guess there is a shortage of highway patrols?

 

[digger doug]

"She makes the Indy 500 look the Roman Chariot races...."

 

[92U 3406]

Any ideas on how to school up the younger guys to become more independent?

I have a couple young labourers at work that have no idea how to take the initiative. They could walk past three overflowing garbage cans on their way over to ask me what I want done next and not clue in to just take the trash out. I want to try and change that so they just get it done without asking.

 

[IceHole]

Any ideas on how to school up the younger guys to become more independent?

I have a couple young labourers at work that have no idea how to take the initiative. They could walk past three overflowing garbage cans on their way over to ask me what I want done next and not clue in to just take the trash out. I want to try and change that so they just get it done without asking.

Some of that comes with age and experience.

Look back at 20yr old you vs now and most anyone will say "damn i was a dumbass"

 

[funwithfuel]

That goes back to upbringing. I don't think you can train that in later in life. A lazy upbringing will result in a lazy adult. .

 

[AzIron]

The kids these days are looking for leaders to teach them something not an instructor the problem is they have never experienced a true leader in a work environment

My opinion is based off the experience of how I am filling positions with 18 year old kids that know nothing it takes 6 months of them showing up with spotty attendance and it takes about that long to break the phone habits biggest difference I get is I will jump in and push a shovel for a half a day with the labor crew when I can and typically out work them and they are embarrassed by it typically

The thing to focus on is character development if you can make better people out of them you will get a better employee but it's time consuming and mentally abusive to yourself the common denominator with all the guys that smoke weed I have employed is they didn't have dads growing up so we approach them like there 12 and go from there

I work for some really corporate gc and I can see a lot of problems with the industry the guys at the top all have 4 year degrees or are over 50 that don't and everywhere I have been where college degrees were all management it didn't matter what experience you had or could perform it didn't matter you were never going to be equal with out that paper and that is not leadership no one will follow that anywhere unless it's a cliqish little group of like minded thinkers and that's why there is such a disconnect cause you have to conform to the group or be pushed out

I spend 20 plus hours a week on a tailgate mentoring youg guys thru financial things relationship things philosophy and societal governance theory because it develops them as a person and they get a sense of investment and being wanted that they never have had before and I do not pay top wages for the green guys cause I don't need to for them to stay

People won't excel when there being forced to conform to what the industry says they should be give the guys the room to approach on there level and when the opportunity comes to throw them in over there head where safety is not a big concern then do it worst thing is they will have to redo it they need to fail so they learn they can our culture has taught everyone 40 and younger that if you fail you will never achieve your dreams so people are scared to perform because somehow failure became fatal and yes that attitude costs mony sometimes but the experience they get makes that money back the next go around

 

[CM1995]

People won't excel when there being forced to conform to what the industry says they should be give the guys the room to approach on there level and when the opportunity comes to throw them in over there head where safety is not a big concern then do it worst thing is they will have to redo it they need to fail so they learn they can our culture has taught everyone 40 and younger that if you fail you will never achieve your dreams so people are scared to perform because somehow failure became fatal and yes that attitude costs mony sometimes but the experience they get makes that money back the next go around

One of my favorite sayings -

"If you ain't screwing something up once in a while you're not doing anything."

The most successful people have had multiple failures. I've screwed up so much stuff and lost a ton of money over the last 30 years.

 

[Welder Dave]

Maybe it would kick their brain in gear if you said, well for starters you could take the (overflowing) garbage out. Then explain to them to be more aware of what's going on in their environment and just do what's needed without asking or needing to be told.
I worked at a golf course years ago. The superintendent was really good and very hands on. Had a great foreman for many years. He was telling me how he picked the person to be the foreman among a few candidates. There is often garbage or other debris and stuff laying around on a golf course. People can be too lazy to find a garbage can. Anyway he noticed 1 guy that would always stop to pick stuff and even go out of his way to pick it up if he saw something. The guy was very aware the golf course needed to look it's best. The other candidates were good workers but the 1 guy was a lot more tuned in to his environment so got the foreman job. He worked at the golf course for over 30 years and the superintendent was very pi$$ed off with the golf course when the guy retired. He was no longer the superintendent but kept in touch and originally hired the guy. While he was still superintendent he tried very hard to get a pension for the guy. The guy worked at the course for about 10 more years with other superintendents. It was a bloody shame the golf course was too cheap and never did give him a pension. He deserved it more than anyone.

 

[Truck Shop]

Bravo--AzIron.
*
I was at a local hardware store some weeks back rounding up some new fasteners. This young
women asked if I needed any help, no-but thankyou for asking. Then she said {your names Mike
right? you worked for Tate? Correct. I've heard about you--everyone says your the real deal.
I went through the diesel program at the C.C. for two years. As I turned red.
*
You haven't found a job yet? I'm looking and have applied but I think because I'm a women no
one really is interested. But I keep trying. What areas do you think you are strong in? Actually
electrical I did well my grade point was 3.5, but mechanically I kind of lack.
*
Well I'm starting to assemble a Cummins--would you like to assist? Holy smokes--you bet.
So she had two days off in row that coincided with my time frame, she set the crankshaft, liners,
hung the pistons on the rods & installed rings plus loaded in the bores. She did exactly as
I told her, listened to me not one whiny a$$ comment of {I already know that}. When done
she admitted she learned way more in those two days than six months of class. She has good
sense and ability.
*
She will go far.

 

[Junkyard]

Here’s a theory I have on why some of the younger kids don’t stick their neck out….they’re scared to death of failure. Growing up with social media all they see is success and others roasting people for mistakes. I see it in my 14 year old son. I have to remind him that I realize he’s only 14 and my expectations are set based on that. I don’t expect him to know how to run the OH on an engine or how to use a meter for more than voltage tests. I do have to remind him occasionally to take care of remedial tasks.

My BIL works with me. I’ll spare yall the story of why he’s where he’s at. Suffice to say he wasn’t raised and mentored right. To use a coaching analogy I cannot grab him by the facemask and chew him out. I have to father him.

What I’ve learned is some people aren’t good at recognizing tasks that need to be completed. I don’t necessarily know why. I focus on teaching them to think and be observant more so than focusing on the actual task. I had a helper for a few weeks this summer and she never figured that out. She was raised poorly and she’s just not very smart.

BIL wants to learn and be what others consider to be a well rounded mechanic. He absolutely has the drive. He struggles with slowing down and thinking. That’s what I have worked on the most, take your time and work it out in your head. We’re not in a rush, we’re paid by the hour and we want it done right. If we spend a bit longer on the job than it should take I’ll adjust the bill accordingly.

If I find somebody that truly wants to learn I can handle the rest. Frustrating? You bet. Rewarding, it certainly can be. My shop ain’t the place for somebody that just wants to do one thing until they can’t get it wrong. We do a lot and I’d need somebody willing to learn on the go all the while aware of their strengths and weaknesses. No big deal at all, right?

 

[92U 3406]

I have hope for them. They're on time just about every day and I hardly ever catch them on their phones during work hours either. I think we can get them whipped into shape, I just need to find out a way to make it happen.

 

[colson04]

I have hope for them. They're on time just about every day and I hardly ever catch them on their phones during work hours either. I think we can get them whipped into shape, I just need to find out a way to make it happen.

My father in law made a 10 point bullet list for his shop for the young guys to reference when they had finished their assigned work for the day. Simple things like empty garbage cans, pick up and take care of dirty shop rags, clean up oil dry, empty oil drain containers, sweep floor, clean work bathroom, etc are on there in the order he wanted them done daily. When a young guys would come find him to ask what was next, he would just send them to the list on the wall. After a few weeks, those guys quit asking what was next because they knew to work the list and it started getting done through out the day. After a couple months, they were asking whats next, but they had already done their assigned work, plus the housekeeping list, and then he knew they were ready for more responsibility.

@Truck Shop thats awesome to hear about your experience with an up and coming young person. I know everything isn't doom and gloom and it's nice to hear a positive story like yours to back that up.

 

[IceHole]

That goes back to upbringing. I don't think you can train that in later in life. A lazy upbringing will result in a lazy adult. .

True.

Rented a place to a welfare rat and the sense of entitlement that she was "owed" was sickening.
She was 3rd generation welfare.

 

[mekanik]

We have a new apprentice. He started at another shop and is part way through his second year. He has been with us for five weeks now. The owner told me he did not think he was going to make it a couple weeks back.The apprentice needed way too much supervision. I told him be patient.
He has a very good work ethic and when there is nothing to do he cleans the shop or deals with the garbage or the dunnage from the parts store you don't need to tell him to do it.
He drives an old beater Ford car and has a tool box older than mine. He told me he is saving to buy a home. Apparently when his grandfather passed the home stayed in the family and he can buy it for a fairly good price. He is not a druggy or a drinker, he seems to have his head screwed on right better than most guys in their early twenties. I haven't caught him on his phone once since he started.
He is a little scatted brained but he is a good worker and I'm pretty sure he will work out in the end.