We did not write the contract. It was grandfathered in when we bought the company.
Mechanic won’t use oil I’ve chosen
- Thread starter Spike555
- Start date
We did not write the contract. It was grandfathered in when we bought the company.
He is starting to feel the pressure. He is going to feel it even more when the manager watches him replace 5 air filters and writing down the mileage and unit number for me to enter into the computer.
I gathered that, but if you're bound by it (are you?) then still need to figure out what it actually says...
The drivers are not supposed to be checking fluids. That was their job under the old ownership, and they failed at it miserably.
The mechanic is supposed to be checking fluids once a week. And then if something is amiss he tells us and we schedule it to be off the road.
If it is vital, or safety related, it comes off the road then.
Drivers USED to have company credit cards, we did away with that because some were buying cigarettes and snacks everyday.
We now use a fleet fuel card. They can only buy fuel and pump DEF. They must enter the mileage and their own PIN# so we know exactly how much fuel they purchased.
For the toll road each unit has a transponder.
To replace the entire fleet would be around 1.3 million dollars, so yeah…the fleet is important.
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
Babysitting isn’t the answer. I would look into getting a new mechanic right meow. Pay this dude to buy out his contract and move on with your lives.
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2021
- Messages
- 5
Personally, he wouldn't be touching my vehicles. He WILL NOT change. There has to be another place or person you can hire as fleet maintenance manager
It's already been said, but based on what we've heard so far, I wouldn't be surprised if this guy starts to sabotage the vehicles. I'd end the contract asap.
Find a replacement
Edit. Didn’t realize there was 5 pages of people saying to fire him when I wrote this
My feelings exactly. At this point, with the exchange between this guy and the OP, taking him out of the purchasing etc. the set up for a spiteful retaliation is tremendous. I wouldn't have the time or the energy to be concerned with what he might/could do. Trust me there's a lot he can do, and a lot can take time to figure out and be tough/impossible to prove. I'd find a way to diplomatically [if possible] end the relationship, move on, and learn by it.
I didn’t read all pages, but does the mechanic belong to a union? I’m a Teamster semi mechanic and I don’t get such freedoms nor should I.
I like the idea of giving a week off. Document all the trucks with past due air filters, document low fluids on as many vehicles as you can. When he comes back, as him for the service history on a few trucks, if he can't provide it, send him out the door instantly.
As others said, start looking for a new shop guy now. Sounds like you should be buying oil by the drum, not by the bottle.
As others said, start looking for a new shop guy now. Sounds like you should be buying oil by the drum, not by the bottle.
Absolutely. Taking away his extra income after 15 years is not going to sit well with him.
You guys do not even know this guy and you are firing him. Terrible.
Set the guy up with new rules and procedure and give him a chance to start following them.
The OP Spike555 mentioned he hadn't even talked the guy much at all.
Need a sit down and set expectations. and do quarterly performance review,
Man, what a BUNCH of bad managers most of you guys would make!
Set the guy up with new rules and procedure and give him a chance to start following them.
The OP Spike555 mentioned he hadn't even talked the guy much at all.
Need a sit down and set expectations. and do quarterly performance review,
Man, what a BUNCH of bad managers most of you guys would make!
Not only firing him, but looking into possible theft charges.
As a business owner, I had one employee who was caught stealing through his company issued credit card. After realizing it, and documenting what was happening, he was charged. Not to mention fired...
These days in my hobby, I oversee several highly skilled mechanics. In that role it's mostly just making sure things are done properly, as lives are potentially in danger if they aren't. If they were caught stealing, they'd be fired immediately too.
As a business owner, I had one employee who was caught stealing through his company issued credit card. After realizing it, and documenting what was happening, he was charged. Not to mention fired...
These days in my hobby, I oversee several highly skilled mechanics. In that role it's mostly just making sure things are done properly, as lives are potentially in danger if they aren't. If they were caught stealing, they'd be fired immediately too.
this is we how my shop operated on service contracts. if you do not have a spine we would squeeze the cash out of you
that mechanic knows how to keep his fridge stocked
that mechanic knows how to keep his fridge stocked
gathermewool
Site Donor 2023
More than he already is by NEGLECTING them!?
Is this guy employed by you to be YOUR mechanic in your building, or does he have his own shop and is contracted to be your maintenance provider, and you are simply one of his customers?
That’s just it, I have met him in the middle by providing him with the motor oil he is willing to use, he is still buying parts but I am supplying fluids and filters.
When he tells me something is back ordered I find a suitable supplier that can get me the part ASAP, if even at a slightly higher cost and then I drive it down to him or have it shipped to him.
If I get the part locally here in the larger city I drive it down. If I order online I have it sent to a manager down there, they give it to him.
I’m not just going to fire the guy, he is getting a chance to “fall in line” so to speak.
He went from working for a company that didn’t give two ****s to one that does. It’s going to take some time for him to catch up. I understand that. I am giving him the chance.
It is HIS shop, WE pay for the lease on the building. If we let the lease run out, he has to move on or take it over himself.
We pay him to prioritize our equipment In all manners, maintence and repairs.
I buy oil by the case from a supplier. I can’t buy it by the drum because I can’t be sure he won’t use it on others equipment and not pay me for it.
I’d be fine supplying the oil for him to use for others if I could count on him to mark it up a little and make it worth my while.
Right now, buying it by the case is cheaper per gallon than by the drum.
