Why He’s Tech of the Month: Fresh out of high school, Clint Powers was looking for a career. He knew he wanted to work with his hands rather than in an office environment, so he looked up nearby trade schools.
According to a survey of over 200 contractors, the top three fleet concerns for service businesses are labor costs, fuel costs, and vehicle maintenance.
Each of these business challenges provides their own unique issues to service businesses with fleets of any size. The common thread between these challenges is a lack of accountability with the drivers. If there’s no system of monitoring behavior and keeping track of certain information, then how do you know what is causing each of these types of pain points?
Why are HVAC technicians so sought-after? The answer lies in the fact that the HVAC industry continues to speed along, never stagnating in its quest for smarter and better ways to operate. These days HVAC systems are cheaper, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly than ever before. Today, many HVAC systems are connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), with computers handling tasks for automatic temperature control and air quality.
Bob and Tim arrive at the jobsite of a new customer. The customer is the owner of a shopping center that has a branch post office as one of its tenants. The complaint has been that the system is not controlling the indoor temperature in the postal facility. Tim tells Bob as they are arriving that the service ticket says that they are to service a 20 ton split system that uses a hot water coil for heating and an air conditioning coil and condensing unit for cooling. They are to do routine maintenance on the entire system.
Technicans are in a unique position in the HVAC contracting world because they often act as both a serviceman and salesperson. Some companies even push for their service techs to sell, offering cash bonuses or other incentives.
This product is designed to enable technicians to safely and comfortably transport a variety of tools when servicing equipment or in industrial buildings where walking long distances is required. The Hi-Viz Tech Pac offers Veto Pro Pac’s patented center panel; metal, locking zippers; and a heavy duty stabilizing injection molded waterproof base that keeps tools dry.
HVAC contracting is a dangerous profession.
Technicians are threatened by electrical shock, burns, muscle strains, refrigerant gases, injuries from handling heavy equipment, and much more.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, fatal injuries among specialty trade contractors involved in foundation, structure, or exterior work rose 27 percent to 231 in 2015, up from 182 in 2014.
As an HVAC contractor and business owner, are you changing the way you handle your employees? It might be time to revisit some decisions and policies you implemented years ago.
Over the past several months, Nashville, Tennessee-based XOEye Technologies has helped Synergy Solution Group members deploy its communications platform, which leverages mobile devices and smart glasses to document service calls, receive real-time support, and provide transparency for clients.
