Mechanic Shortage is About to Hit Truck Owners Hard

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Welcome to the diesel podcast presented by DFC Diesel.

Mike, welcome to the diesel podcast.

I'm really looking forward to chatting with you today.

We were able to connect on social media and have some really good conversations about

the, well, not just like diesel trucks, which I think that'll be coming up here on a future

episode, but talking really about the industry itself and people getting into it.

We both have kind of different stories as far as how we got into this.

So I look forward to learning more about you and some things that you're really passionate

about when it comes to the diesel truck space.

Yeah.

Thanks for having me on.

It's again, I'm chuckling right now inside because like, I really don't, I really don't

consider myself a car guy, let alone a diesel guy.

And so, and I'll tell my story, but I'll let you ask the questions, but it's it's it's

complicated right now.

So it's, it's, it's funny to be here.

It's funny to be on.

I love it.

And I can't wait to share my passion with you and your audience.

Yeah.

It's really interesting because I consider myself a diesel truck enthusiast, but I'm not.

Yeah.

I'm not a podcaster.

I just love having conversations.

And this is just the medium that, you know, 10 years ago was the kind of the place to

do it.

So I can identify with that.

And I think jumping into the conversation with things you are passionate about will

really be insightful, but tell me about your background in the automotive.

So, so I stumbled upon it about 15 years ago.

My father-in-law was, you know, I was, guess I was married maybe five years and my father-in-law

said, you know, hey, I can help you get an interview with, with, with Ford Motor Company

and, and it was actually with a distributor of Ford and it was in their accessory division.

And, and, and so what caught my attention though was, was, was like a demo, like you

get to drive a demo.

And I'm like, what's a demo?

He's like, well, basically it's a free vehicle that Ford's going to let you drive around

and could be an F-150 and, and that's what caught my attention.

And cause I didn't grow up a car guy and never was into cars.

I should, you know, I, you know, I guess in hindsight, I did have a Jeep Wrangler and

built, you know, a subwoofer in the back, right?

With, with two 12-inch woofers and like, so back in my high school college days, I kind

of liked, I liked that a little bit, but it was more of a cool factor, not really the

mechanics or the, the engine of, of a vehicle.

And so long story short, I worked for Ford for, for, for six years, I did very well kind

of climb the ladder, but also learned the industry, got a taste of, you know, working,

visiting dealers on a daily basis, you know, Ford dealers.

Every day I would visit four to five different Ford dealerships in northeast Ohio.

That's where I live.

I live in the Akron area.

And so I would visit them and I really, not even knowing, got to learn the industry from

a dealerships point of view and about service and, you know, and would meet technicians

and then see the sales side and the administrative side and really just kind of learned about

business and, and then a dealership group recruited me away and, and they hired me and

when they sat me down and they said, we want you to do something different and unique.

I'm like, what?

And they're like, we want you to go find technicians.

And I remember pausing and being like, why?

And they're like, cause they're in huge demand and they were going to pay me a good

amount of money.

And I'm like, well, why do you want me?

And they're like, we want your energy, your excitement and your drive.

And, and you're talking to a guy who I didn't, I didn't really, I didn't, I didn't

feel comfortable in a service bay.

So, so when I go visit a dealership, really the back end is something that I wasn't

really, cause I'm more of a sales guy and I've always been in sales and, you know,

more B2B sales.

And, and so, so I, I, I remember like thinking, wow, this is a weird opportunity.

Maybe it's, maybe it's, maybe it's unique.

I don't know, like, but if they want me to do it, maybe I'll do it.

And I took the job and started me and I'm like, well, how do you want me to do it?

And they're like, write the playbook, figure it out.

And let me, Patrick, I mean, I was like, I started calling high school

automotive instructors and trade school instructors.

And they invited me into their classes.

And so I remember the first time I went to visit a class that I remember looking at

the dealership lot.

And I'm like, I want the coolest vehicle that, that's out here.

And they're like, well, you can take this, you know, take this, this, this F-150, it's

lifted, you know, and they also had Shelby vehicles on, in this, in this, at this

dealership group.

And when I pulled into a high school automotive class, the garage door opened up

and I rolled in with the, you know, the coolest of the cool.

And I remember the students just being there, just being so excited and really

walking in and really selling one thing.

And that's hope.

I'm giving these kids, not just the students, but the instructor, hope of the

future of the industry.

And I'm telling you, that was where the light went off.

And I realized, oh my gosh, I fell into this little niche and it's a huge

opportunity to use my, my gifts and my talents, which are, which are encouragement

and, and excitement and energy.

And, and in the niche of the automotive industry to these kids that these, these

students that I think that I was guilty of having a stigma in high school.

That's the gearhead.

That's the freak.

That's the kid who doesn't, who can't survive in the classroom needs to go

wrench and shame on me and shame on our, our culture.

And I think part of that was, I felt not guilt, but I just felt, Hey, man, I

fell into this stupid story that, that our culture came up with.

And, but I tell you, like it, you know, every time in the past, when I would

walk by, when I would walk by a service bay and I would see a technician working

on a vehicle, let's say it's an extreme, extreme case where he's got an engine

dropped and it's in pieces.

And I walked by and, and, and what I feel inside of me is, Oh my gosh, look

what this guy or girl is doing.

They are way smarter than me.

And what their geniuses, their surgeon, their automotive surgeons, and the

majority of our culture can't do that.

These are incredible jobs.

They're, they take a lot of intelligence.

And so when you add all that together, boy, uh, I found what I think I'm

meant to do, and that's to give hope and encourage in the next generation of,

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That's really, it's really powerful.

And it, when you mentioned the, the kind of stigma around it, it was like

that for me growing up and I think back to high school, it was about, well, what

honors classes are you taking?

Or, you know, once you get close to graduating, well, you know, are you going

to Princeton or University of Oklahoma or University of Michigan or University

of Colorado or UCLA and everyone overlooked the trades.

And as I've been in the industry and especially now I look at it, there's,

there's so much more opportunity in those trades.

And I know we're talking about automotive, but we can even open that up bigger

to plumbing, you know, contractors, all those kind of things where I appreciate

exactly what you said, because I like to think I'm fairly smart, but I can't tear

apart an engine or I can't balance a turbo or sometimes I have guests talking

about rate shape and all these incredible things with injectors and like fluid

pressure and I'm, you know, I'm trying to keep up with them.

And so I've gained a ton of respect over 15 years of being around automotive

for exactly that.

And I had mentioned before the podcast a little bit is that one of the big

challenges I hear from shop owners, whether I'm talking to them on a

podcast or we're not recording or whatever it might be is the struggle

they have to get young people into their company.

And I would say like, what, what has been one of the biggest challenges you

found in, in what you do in giving those young people hope?

Like to me, when you mentioned rolling in with an F-150 or Shelby vehicle or

whatever it might have been, if I was young and saw that, it would connect me

to one of the big three, which is like the gold standard, the highest of the

high level you could achieve in automotive.

I think, wow, I could potentially have a path to that or around it or in its

support network.

Yeah, yeah.

So let me back up and I want to talk about ASC and kind of how I fell into it.

And so I actually have a job role.

I'm an independent contractor with automotive service excellence, right?

They're Education Foundation.

So about two years ago, I was on a technician podcast and I was telling

my story about my passion, what I like to do because I was doing it because I

was, it was my passion.

I wasn't getting paid to do it.

I didn't need to get paid.

And after that podcast, the vice president of the foundation listened to it and

then she called me and said, hey, listen, I just listened to your podcast.

It's incredible what you're doing.

We have a job role for somebody like you.

And I was like, what?

And she's like, really, our mission with the foundation of ASC is to connect

the automotive industry with the students, with education.

And so I'm like, well, that's what I do.

She's like, exactly.

And we would love to have you a part of our team.

And so I took the job and so now I cover the state of Ohio.

And so what I do with that is I visit, one of the big things I do is I visit

schools, high schools and trade schools on a regular basis.

And what I visit is my goal is to go into the class.

And this is my, this, no, everybody probably does a different, but this is

my approach is to bring excitement about the industry into the classroom.

And in these kids only know very, you know, they're 16, 17, 15, 16, 17, 18 year old

kids who know very little about the industry.

And I try to explain all the different career paths, all the different job

roles, and there's so many that they don't know that, that I still learn every day.

And so, so I do that with, with ASC now, which, by the way, is a blessing,

a great organization.

I absolutely love it.

And so, you know, I guess back to your question, which was like, what,

difficulty or whatever, there's, there's so many challenges with it.

But I, I think, like, just like you mentioned, not just, you know, automotive,

but, but, but trades, you know, for the last one, 50, I'm going to say 50, you

know, plus years, our culture has, has told, has told the youth, it's better

to keep clean than to get dirty, right?

And so you're going to make more money if you're clean rather than getting

your hands dirty.

And it's like, and so, so the challenge is kind of going in and, and, and letting

these students know that, that, that, in my opinion, this path is the better

one because I've sat in the desk, I've sat in the office.

It's not that glamorous.

In fact, it's boring.

Now, don't get me wrong, there's going to be some people that might thrive

in that study, but to me, it wasn't, and I wasn't a student at all.

I, I hated school.

So all that, and I'm telling you that because all that has, has a part in

where this passion comes from.

I feel I've got empathy and compassion for, for, for any trade student.

And so, so really it's, it's bringing the excitement in there and, and it's

the parents, it's, it's the parents and I don't always have the opportunity

to get to the parents because the parents don't, don't even know.

They don't, they don't know the, the opportunity and the amount

how about legit, let's just say it how it is, the money that these kids can

make is, is more, and I would, is more than, than, than a kid that goes to a

four year school, comes out and gets an accounting job.

I like, but easily these automotive students can make a heck of a lot more

money and they get their hands dirty and they have fun doing it.

And, and yes, challenging and there's going to be issues, but, but, but that

it's, it's, there's a lot of challenges, but, but ultimately I say it's, uh,

you know, bringing in and giving these kids hope and excitement and, and show

them kind of a lot of the cool stuff in the industry.

One of the really tough things when I think of being like in high school.

So 15 to 18 years old is you have a lot of excitement, but you don't have a

lot of experience yet.

And for myself, like I was like you, I was person that sat in the desk.

I didn't like school, but I knew how to play the game and how to do it and did

it the way society said, this is how you need to educate yourself.

And this is how you should do a career path.

Well, I spent eight years heating everything I did.

And so it took me eight years after college to kind of figure out where I

wanted to be.

And I contrast that with my brother who took the trade route and he got where I

would want to be eight years, 10 years faster than I did.

And I see what it afforded him and what it allows him to do.

So that was like a personal connection that I had to that process of finding your

way. I think one of the things that really jumps out to me is your passion for

this, because when I think of automotive, the first thing that comes in my mind

isn't necessarily passion and excitement, right?

It's kind of it's technical specifications, it's parts ordering, it's diagnosis,

it's, you know, a schedule and that kind of stuff.

But I think the reason people ultimately either get into it or they modify a

truck or they go to the aftermarket for things is because of passion.

Do you find that that is something in your work and in your experience?

There's a lack of it, not with the individuals in it or about to pursue it,

but in the way that the industry or the structure around it is,

is organized.

It is passion, something that doesn't come through a lot because in our

conversation, just so far in the first 15 minutes, I can tell you're extremely

passionate about it. It has me excited and I'm, I'm not in high school looking

to do a career, right?

So if I'm excited about it, well, I imagine if someone younger is.

You know, like so, so when I was working with Ford, I loved the opportunity

to travel a little bit and go to some of the Ford locations, like in Dearborn

Michigan to the Rouge factory where they make F-150s, the Ford Museum.

I loved when, when we got to mingle a little bit with the Ford Performance

team and if I would go to a Ford event or a race or something,

I loved that.

That was the exciting part.

And, and then about my main job role in the industry is I work for Shelby,

Shelby American, Shelby and Shelby Performance.

And, you know, yeah, the iconic brand Shelby.

And I, I, again, by the way, everywhere I've gotten, every job role I have in

the industry, I've got a lot of job roles.

Okay, I do. I'm not even, I'm only going to mention a couple.

And, and everyone I've gotten, I've gotten not because of my intelligence,

just because of my relationships that I've built, like building relationships

is so important in any industry.

But specifically to me, I have, I have, I, I love meeting people.

I love interacting.

And I met an individual that worked for Shelby.

And this is a, what, seven years ago and met him and because of the relationship

and, and we synced, he asked me to come be a part of his, his team.

And so for the last seven years, I worked for Shelby and, and working for Shelby.

I'm in sales and I'm a, what they call a market strategist.

And, and he and I cover five states.

And so I'm around, I'm around, in my opinion, the coolest of the cool in the industry.

And when I took the job role, but it was in 2020, 2020, I think it was, when I

walked into the Shelby factory in Indiana, okay.

So Shelby, Shelby is a, their, their main location is in Vegas where they let a, you

know, a couple of the Mustangs come out of, but they have a truck factory in, in, in,

in Indiana.

And when I went there for the first time and walked into this beautiful factory with

hundreds of Shelby trucks, okay.

And you've got, you know, your paint department and your, your, your graphics

department, and then you got your supercharger department.

And oh my gosh, the, the, the excitement, right?

It, it, you can feel it in me now.

And I was just there the other day and you walk in and you're like, this is cool, man.

And what these people are doing are, these are really, really cool jobs because they're

just working with a, a, an iconic brand with a really cool product that is really cool.

It sounds cool, drives cool.

And so that, that, I wish that every, and I'm only give, I'm only mentioning one

company out of probably, I don't know, a hundred, you know, hundreds of, of really

cool, established automotive companies.

Um, and so getting the students to see a little bit of that, just a tidbit of that.

And gosh, if I could bring every student that I meet into, into our factory like

that, would it, it would light all, like the light bulbs go off, right?

Because oh my gosh, they discover and they see it.

So it's really getting these kids out of their house, out, you know, away from their

device, right?

Of course.

And, and out of their classroom and into businesses so they can actually see stuff.

But I think, you know, it's, you know, it's all the cool factor, the cool companies

that have really incredible product they make of getting students into those businesses

somehow.

And if, you know, and if it has to start with, you know, virtual, you know, on a video

or, or whatever.

But I've just been blessed to see a lot of that, go to races, um, go to a lot of

different Shelby events.

I finally went to SEMA, uh, about three years, four years ago.

I went to Barrett Jackson and, and, and Arizona this, this couple months ago.

My gosh, like when you go to that and you just see innovation and technology and, and

just incredible, you meet, you meet incredible people that are doing cool things.

You know, that's where the excitement, the passion comes from me.

And remember, I'm not even a gearhead.

So, so I find myself in these situations where there's a lot of people and engineers

that are talking a language I don't get.

And I just kind of, I can fake it to make it a little bit, right?

And, and, and I don't need to know all the, you know, just like you, you know, I don't

need to know all the, uh, you know, the mechanics of the vehicle to have conversations.

But, but anyway, so that, that's where my excitement and passion comes from.

If we were to look at it from the perspective of someone who's young

that finds that they're mechanically inclined and maybe they are in those programs

in high school, or maybe they've graduated and they're just out of it.

And maybe they've been in a job for a year or two and they're, they're looking forward.

And maybe they're not happy where they're at.

Maybe they want to progress into a different side or just go somewhere else.

What, what are some ways that they can build those relationships?

Like you mentioned, how that's fueled your career.

What, what can they do to do that?

What, what they can do is what I do every week, but I get that they might not be, um,

how I don't know, ready for it or so.

And, and what I mean is getting, getting out into the community.

Every week I will go into a random automotive business.

I will want, now I know, I get it that I'm, I'm a 55 year old automotive professional with

experience and, and, uh, and some confidence.

And, and I, you know, so I've got all that where it's easier for me to walk into a business,

a business cold, but I, I bring students and I encourage students to get out and go,

like go, get online and look for what they think is, has interesting or cool.

And don't pick up the phone and call anybody.

Just go into the door, like walk.

The other day I went into this vinyl shop.

There was a vinyl wrap place up in, uh, like maybe an hour from me here.

Um, and, and I just walked in and I don't know what I'm going to see when I open the

door, open the door and I'm like, gosh, I see like a Lamborghini and something else.

I'm like, oh, this, this looks kind of cool.

And I go in and, and I don't know if the owner is going to be warm, right?

If he's going to be cold, mean, angry.

Does he have a fire go in that a little fire?

You know, he's, does he have a customer service issue that, you know,

he doesn't want to deal with anybody else.

Who knows?

But I walk in and I'm like, Hey man, I'm just, just checking out your business.

Looks pretty cool.

I just wanted to see what you do.

And we, you know, what is your business?

And in his name was Alex.

He was so welcoming.

He, he goes, come on, come here, come around the corner and they have two

vinyl jobs they're doing with like five guys, the wrap in the vehicle, uh, one,

we're talking like this really high end niche unique truck.

And, and my point is, is that 20 minutes later he and I are like, but you know,

you know, we're, we're, we're like friends and I learned about his business.

He heard about what I do and, and it's doing things like that.

But you know, can a young high school student actually do that?

I think some can, uh, with a little bit of encouragement, but once you get out and

meet people and see the industry, that's where you can try to figure out maybe

which way you're going to go or at least have at least have a start maybe, right?

But it's seeing what's out there.

And unless you get out, unless you, unless you go down your street,

getting your car right and drive somewhere, you're, you're not going to find it.

Yeah. You might see it on TikToker, right?

Or Instagram or something like that.

But, but you got to physically go shake hands with people and go meet people.

That's what I think, my opinion.

When I look at it from like a diesel truck enthusiast perspective and maybe somebody

that is interested in the trades or has just started out is they have that framework of

they like diesel trucks or a particular brand of diesel truck.

But I, I imagine it's pretty easy to get almost,

almost in a rut or almost have blinders on in the sense of you have this job,

it's local to you, you're working it, it becomes a system.

And you might think that's the end of it.

But when you talked about going to SEMA and Barra Jackson and I think of diesel events,

like ultimate call out challenges in Indianapolis, it's huge.

There's a whole bunch of them all around the Midwest.

And I think of if you're able to go to something like that,

maybe you're not looking at the race side of it, but there's dozens of brands that specialize

in different components and there's different transmission builders, turbo engine builders.

Just being able to see that you might find something that really interests you or

strike up a conversation with somebody.

There's a way to network at these gatherings of people.

Yeah. Yep. Yeah.

How do we get the kids there?

Right. Right.

How do you get them there?

Yeah. You know.

I think seeing it is powerful.

My first experience and the whole reason that I got into this was I had a diesel truck.

It was bone stock.

I had some friends that would do upgrades and I would see them and be like, wow, I want that.

And I was in a completely different industry and I reached this age, like in my late 20s,

where I said, you know what? I don't want to sit here at this desk for the next 40 years

heating what I do.

And so I just found a company and bugged them for six months until they had an opportunity.

And I remember my first time walking in the door because to me, I was disconnected from

the passion and disconnected from the industry.

I was just an individual that would get a magazine or jump on a website

and look at parts or watch a YouTube video.

And here's 20 trucks in engine base and here's a whole turbo department

and here's a whole transmission department and it just clicked.

And I was like, this is what I want to do for the next 30, 40 years,

not what I was doing before.

So I can identify with what you're talking about, about showing a path.

And I think, you know, the power of this conversation, when I hope someone who's younger

or maybe they're not younger, maybe they're like I was a little bit older middle age.

Like, how do you transition this?

I think that advice of connecting, seeing.

Yeah, go to any show.

Even as quick, the easiest for somebody would be a local car show.

But going into that car show, not really looking at the main point to look at the cars,

they're the network and meet people, ask questions.

Where do you work?

How did you get into the industry?

And when you do that, you have no idea how it's going to come out of there.

That's the exciting part about any event I go to.

I go in saying, oh my gosh, you know, how is this going to happen?

What am I going to leave with business cards or just contacts,

sharing info with people and every event I go to, that's what it is.

But it's like, so I would say, start at car shows, any industry event,

you know, you're probably going to have to travel, like you said, the one in Indy,

you know, that gosh, for somebody to, you know, let's say to pay the travel, right,

to fly or drive, get the, you know, if you can get a pass to get in and in,

let's say a cost you 500 bucks.

Oh my gosh, I bet you'd be the best $500 they ever, ever spent.

I'm investing in their career.

Because you're right, you walk around those places and you see things you didn't even know existed

that might excite you.

And then you're meeting that person and hey, maybe you have to relocate.

Maybe you do.

I mean, you know, maybe some people can't relocate, but they're just so many different

products, careers, job pat roles, right, that even you and me don't even know.

Like I stumbled across the other day.

Oh, what is it?

Cleveland performance, I think they're called.

And they buy old, the wrecked, they buy damaged wrecked vehicles, right?

Even big diesels, you got everything, they buy them wrecked.

They tear them down and like put the engine, like, you know, on a pallet with everything,

like turn key, everything.

You can actually start the engine, there's a pedal.

So they take all the inside of the vehicle, put it out, and then they sell that to someone

that just then puts the body, you know, puts that in a good body.

And I was like, my gosh, it's almost the opposite of a technician.

It was like disassembling.

And that's what they call the job role.

You're a disassembler.

And I'm like, wow, that's like, again, I'm just, really, you're a disassembler.

I'm like, how cool?

Because you don't really have to be so, you know, you're just taken apart.

I think it'd be a little, I think it'd be a great way to learn how to put something together

by disassembling first.

And so, again, I guess I'm telling you that because, you know, here I am the other day,

I stumbled across it because I saw it on Instagram, walked in, met them,

they were warm enough to welcome me back and showed me around for an hour.

And I left there saying, wow, is that cool?

And then post on Instagram because I'm like, hey, man, they need a disassembler here.

Anybody want to learn?

And so, you know, just not being afraid to walk into a business.

That's what it takes, I think.

Yeah.

I have another question for you, but I want to ask you about that first,

because that would have been my biggest challenge.

It would have been just like cold walking into a business.

Like that would have held me back the most when I was younger.

And I'd say even today a little bit, just because of my personality,

it's like, I don't know what to expect where, you know, a little older, I have more experience.

I can find a commonality that I would have with just a business and kind of work that

into a conversation.

But for somebody, like, have you had people who have asked you that, younger people?

Like, hey, I'm just so hesitant.

Get it.

Like, you say that and, you know, and I kind of want to hesitate a little bit and say,

I get that, that that's not going to be everybody's cup of tea, right?

That it's not going to be challenging to do that.

But how could that individual maybe overcome that?

Because what are their fears?

Their fears are what?

I mean, first of all, they're not selling anything.

Okay. So, so I've been in sales when you cold call, when you walk in, you're selling something

like, you know, it's the rejection that you're, you're, and so as somebody walking in intrigued

to learn about this business as, as a business owner or a manager, if somebody walked into my

shop or my business or my factory, especially a young kid, a youth that was intrigued,

oh my gosh, would I be welcoming like that?

Like, oh my God, there's somebody here that wants to see my business.

Like, they're not here to sell me something.

Wow. Come on in.

I'd love to show you around.

So, so I guess the individual might have fear because they don't know what they're walking

into, but I'm here to tell them they shouldn't fear anything.

If, if anything, they're going to compliment the owner of the business or the manager.

And especially if they walked in with, with the, with the, with the word track of, hey,

I'm an, I'm a, you know, I'm, I'm a, you know, if you're in high school or high school, if you're

in trade school or if you're already graduate or whatever, if you're already, you know, working

in the industry, hey, I'm a young technician that's been in the industry for a few years.

I'm just coming out today.

I wanted to come into your business.

I wanted to see what you do.

I saw it online or whatever.

It looks really cool.

Interesting to me.

Could I just, could somebody maybe show me around or tell me what you do?

It's really intriguing.

And I'm excited about it.

I would have liked that.

My gosh, you would think, you know, the majority of the time someone's going to say,

Hey, yes, come on in.

I'll show you around.

And what's the, what's the worst going to happen?

No, man, we're busy today.

Come back another day.

I don't know.

I mean, and so you come back another day, but, you know, and I get, you know,

not everybody can do that, but I think people can challenge themselves and kind of get out

of their comfort zone a little bit and grow, right?

You're going to grow as a human, as a professional by stepping out of your comfort zone.

Common question we get from you guys a lot is, Hey, I need a diesel engine.

I either, you know, I can't wait this long to get one or normal place.

I get stuff from it.

It just takes too long or I don't, they don't have the parts in it that I need.

Maybe my truck's not stock or I tow heavy with it.

I don't want to go back with just the stock engine.

DFC diesel is a sponsor of the podcast.

We worked with them, you know, hand in hand on doing episodes, answering technical questions.

They have a complete lineup of Cummins, Duramax and Powerstroke remanufactured engines

that are set to a standard of ISO 9001 2015 standards, which is a huge deal in the aftermarket.

And there's certain levels of quality testing validation that are required for that.

So, you know, when you get one of those engines, the type of quality that's built behind it with

an industry leading warranty that's really comprehensive.

And, you know, the other thing with that is, you know, sometimes the options that are out there,

it's just, it's a basic OEM engine.

You want a little bit more.

You don't want to have the same failure again.

So there's a bunch of different series of engines that they have from core, street,

tow haul, and also the speed of air series, which we've covered on the podcast before.

There's a lot of really cool benefits to it.

And if you have questions about that, reach out to them.

If you don't know the type of engine that you're looking for, if you go to dfcdsell.com,

there's a ton of info there.

You can send an email or you can reach out to them.

Also, they're working with speed of air pistons, which it's the only piston that pays for itself.

And there's a lot of really cool technology behind it.

So you can add that into your build and be able to get better fuel economy,

you know, increased power, increased torque and better engine life out of it.

You know, some of the most common engine applications or series of engines that they have

with that lead time, a lot of them are in stock or they have really short lead times.

So you can check your favorite retailer or go to dfcdsell.com,

check them out to see what's in stock, see what you can get.

If you have questions, maybe you want to do, you know,

something that's outside of the normal series of engines.

They have tons of choices for rods, cranks, pistons,

valve train upgrades, tons of different things.

So if you're in the market, definitely make sure and hit on over and check them out.

Hey, diesel fans, I wanted to chat with you about diesel fuel.

It's something we've talked about a lot on the podcast

and specifically ways that it can lead to a lot of costly repairs.

And the main reason that we have these issues is a lack of lubricity.

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that boosts performance and then addresses this issue.

So whether you have an old truck, new one, something anywhere in between,

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Hotshot's EDT is a six in one formula.

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and it has four times the lubricity as our leading competitor.

So it's a great way to be able to stay ahead of the maintenance curve,

avoid those costly repairs.

And the best part is it does the work for you.

So all you do is add it to your regular fuel up schedule

and it's doing all the heavy lifting.

So you don't have to worry about some of those issues

that just come with diesel fuel any time we buy it from the pump.

If you go to HotshotSecret.com, use code dieselpod20.

It'll get you 20% off your order.

We really appreciate the team and our friends over at HotshotSecret

offering this discount code just for you guys.

So if you're in the market, head on over to their website,

use code dieselpod20 and get 20% off your order.

I think the flip side of that conversation,

where we can transition it a little bit,

is what about businesses that are struggling to find the people

we just talked about in the first part of the podcast?

Like that's a major challenge I hear from everyone that I talk to.

What are some things that they can do to find that exact person?

So very few people go into the high school or trade school class.

Very few industry people.

I kind of look at it and say it's embarrassing, truly.

It's embarrassing.

I also give, how do I say it?

I also give, I got to be compassionate a little bit and say,

hey, I get a lot of businesses are busy running their business

and they don't have time to go out.

But if they want to survive, they better find time

or they hire the right person that can go out and go into the class.

These programs, these classes, are hungry for business to come in,

for industry to come in to introduce themselves,

to let the students know that they're hiring.

So the first thing is, what can businesses do to find these?

A, they can go physically into the high schools

and start building relationships with the school, with the instructor.

So not coming in saying, who do you have that I can hire?

It's coming in saying, hey, how can we help your program?

Because then you build that relationship

and then the instructor is going to say, hey, man, he and she,

though these are my students, these are the ones that need jobs, man,

and they're going to trust that employer.

And so the first thing for the employer is getting out into the schools,

getting on social media, start doing some of the stuff

that people are doing out there on social and posting stuff,

doing some creative, cool things about their jobs

that they're looking for, be welcoming.

So many businesses won't hire anybody under 18,

which is just like, it blows me away, blows me away.

Shoot, I've been going into, I've been,

I've had the privilege of going into elementary schools now.

You know what they have?

They all have careers on wheels day.

And you go in, oh my gosh.

So I went in with one of my Shelby trucks

and this blows me away.

You go in and I've got like a fourth or fifth grader

looking at my truck.

And I had a girl, she's looking at my,

she's looking at the tire and she goes,

those are 35 inch tires, aren't they?

This is a fourth grade.

I go, oh my gosh, how do you know that?

She's like, well, my grandfather, you know.

So, and then this, this young boy,

I'm guessing he would probably, I don't know,

maybe he was in like third, fourth, fifth grade.

He goes, that's not stock suspension.

And I'm like, wow, you're right.

That's like an off-road suspension.

And so these kids, man, there's no age, right?

You need a, we as an industry need to plant that seed

in elementary school, okay?

And in the middle school, high school is almost too late, right?

And I also have the privilege every year

in my local middle school,

they have me come in and talk to every eighth grade student

and I introduce the career center

that they have the option of going to in high school.

And Pat, all I do is add sizzle.

It's all I do.

Cause I go in with the guidance counselor, right?

Who's professional, she knows how to do this.

And they have me come in to add the excitement and the sizzle.

But that's what's needed.

It's to tell these kids, hey man, like, you know,

plumbing, electrical, carpentry, automotive.

These are incredible, incredible career paths

that you can make a lot of money

and have a great, great, you know, happy career.

And so, and so I go into that.

And so these businesses, man, it's not that hard.

They just need to get out and go into the schools

and connect with the guidance counselors and get on,

you know, be creative on social media to entice the youth, I think.

That's a great tip.

I haven't heard that before.

Like the actual being proactive and doing it versus,

I think it's more reactive, like there's a job posting

and they're looking at resumes, they come in and just,

they kind of get what they get, but actually being proactive with it.

I think it's really the future, both sides of it, right,

are really the future of the aftermarket and like the future of it.

And I think, I wish I would have had this conversation

when I was younger, it wasn't a part of it at all.

Like I said before, it was like, what classes are you going to take?

Start making a list of the universities you want to go to.

And it's like, you tell a 16 or 15 to 18 year old,

pick out your career for the rest of your life.

I didn't even know what clothes I was going to wear the next day.

Let alone, you know, like what I want to do

for the next 40 years of my life, I had no idea.

And I wasn't exposed to a whole lot.

It was, it was just like the status quo.

And for some that works and it's great and you can do it.

But then others, it doesn't.

And I think that's where I think society and the education system

and all that has failed people is,

we don't highlight these other opportunities enough.

Oh yeah. You know, like, I, like, when I hear the term GPA, I cringe.

I cringe.

What, like, you know, in classes and in tests, like I hated taking tests

and the anxiety I had and like, but our culture,

that's the only option that we have, right?

You got to go through school and you got to be compared and, you know,

like to all the other students, right?

And like, based off of what they do and how you know, it just, it was brutal.

So when, like, when I look back, man, there was some scars that I got

because of the way that our culture does school.

And I felt less, I really did.

I felt like, I mean, I always knew that I had talents and gifts, but,

but hated school work.

And I ended up, I ended up going to college.

I went to a, I luckily, it's a whole story.

How about this?

I accidentally got let in to a four-year school.

And that's a whole other story.

And I'm probably one of the only people that actually got let in.

And then I get let in and I survived for three years and then failed out.

And when I failed out, I was like so bummed, so let down, disappointed myself.

And I ended up taking a year off, went to South America,

learned their culture and learned their language in Argentina, came back,

went back to school, they let me back in.

I had to interview again.

I applied, I finally was mature enough to apply myself.

I applied myself, made the Dean's List and I graduated with a four-year degree

and, and then went out in the world that had zero idea of what I wanted to do.

And nowadays when, when, when, when, when people are graduating and the, the, the,

the, the, the cost of a four-year degree.

Oh my gosh.

It, the ROI is not there.

And, oh, you know, that kind of segues to another point.

So trade schools.

So I want to make sure that whoever's listening knows, like,

there are colleges, I was at an advisory board meeting yesterday at, at our local

school here called TriSea, Cuyahoga County or Cuyahoga Community College.

And they have an automotive program and I want to say not every state,

but most states are going to have automotive programs at their, at their, at a few colleges.

And like this one has three programs.

They have Ford.

Okay.

They have General Motors and they have a general class.

And most of the students that are in these are going for free because of scholarships

and grants.

Okay.

Most are going for free.

They're in the classroom eight weeks.

Okay.

In, in the lab in the classroom for eight weeks.

Focusing on like either Ford GM or General.

And then the next eight weeks, but they're in a dealership working full time,

applying what they just learned.

Okay.

And then they go eight weeks, eight weeks, you know, they rotate for two years.

They graduate with an associate's degree.

They're already employed and they're a hundred percent certified by Ford or GM.

And like, oh my gosh, they've got no debt or, or if, if some are paying

they've got very little debt, if they took, if they took loans, but most of them go free.

And they're already employed.

They've already been working.

And they're about five years advanced than, than a, than a, than a young adult that,

that, that just went into the business, went into a shop that's are working.

And so like, there are those opportunities out there, like incredible, like, oh my gosh,

and I just think more, more of the youth and the parents need to know that, that, that those,

that that, that, that that educational path is, is out there.

There's just a lot of, a lot of ways to enter the industry and that's one of them.

That's so, it's so cool.

And it's new for me to, I guess, hear all this because I get messages from time to time

from a listener, somebody who's younger and they'll say, hey, I listed your podcast and

I hear all these companies that I like respect or have some of their parts.

I'd love to get into this.

How do I, how do I do it?

And it's always kind of been a struggle for me because I've never been on that side.

I've never hired, you know, I never owned a shop and hired people.

So I don't, I don't really know.

And I love to be able to direct them towards a conversation like this so that they can,

they can hear it.

And I think I would offer that if anybody reaches out to you at any point, not just from this

podcast, but from any podcast and says, how do I, I have no, I would love to get an email,

by the way.

Let's make sure you can share whatever I would, I, I, I find it joy to help and to encourage

even if it's a quick phone call, email or text or DM or whatever to give people.

Cause I just think I have, I, you know, I've got all this knowledge and how to do it.

My gosh, if I could share that with someone and point them in the right direction.

But so, Hey, I want, I want to make sure you know that you can share me.

I'm here to help.

That'll definitely be fantastic to, to be able to do.

One thing I wanted to ask you about is for people like you and I that we're not mechanics.

Yep.

Is there a place?

Well, I know there's a place for us, but sometimes you got to make your own place,

right?

You got to, you got to kind of figure it out is I don't want to forget about those people

because that was me and there was no one I had to ask.

I just kind of had to, I didn't even have a strategy really.

Like I said, I just bugged a company for six months.

So they had an opening and then jumped on it, right?

Yeah, that's what you do.

Well, it was the only thing I knew how to do because there was no,

there was no framework for it, right?

It was just, well, let me try that and just stay persistent.

But there's also incredibly important positions, whether it's in management,

whether it's in marketing, whether it's in so many different parts of it that might not involve

tools that this industry still needs as well.

Do you come across people that maybe ask you for advice with that or,

or, you know, they're just looking to get into it in a different kind of way?

All the time.

I have students reach out to me and it could be where they know kind of what they want to do

or they don't know or they say, how do you get your job?

And I'm like, which job?

Shelby, the ASC.

I got an automotive event that I put out all the time.

That's a whole other business.

And I'm like, well, which one?

And they're like, well, this.

And I'm like, well, I guess I networked my way to it.

And then we talk about networking, which again, like it's really, you know,

you know what it is?

It's a lot of the soft skills, right?

That are, you know, that are just general skills that people need to know.

But in all the time, people are asking me stuff and it's, it's really just kind of

me then asking questions.

Hey, what, what, what interests do you think you have?

Like, what do you see yourself doing?

What are you passionate about?

Because gosh, if you could find something you're passionate about, you know, like,

you know, because I've sold in my sales days, I've sold a lot of things that I didn't care

about and gosh, it was kind of miserable, you know, just there's no fun in it.

And now to sell what I do now with like with Shelby, my gosh, it's, it's a really,

really cool, you know, job role to be around that and to sell something that's just that,

that I've got excitement about.

I don't know, did it answer your question?

Yeah, yeah, it does because I think just if you're interested in automotive,

whether it's a diesel or something else, you already have kind of a basic interest of it

and some knowledge.

And that can be a bridge to so many opportunities.

Like before I mentioned it would have been difficult for me to just walk into a business.

Yeah, that's because I'm more reserved and kind of more introverted.

But I'm what about it?

What about an official job shadow?

Like, yeah, I think that's way overlooked.

Yeah, job shadowing.

It's it's which a lot of the high schools have it.

It's hey, you know, this like in fact, my local high school has a requirement that

they have to get out and do 20 hours their senior year.

And I just had a student that's not like on the technical side, but he has interest in

automotive and he reached out to me and said, hey, can I job shadow you?

I was excited.

I'm like, heck, yeah, we're gonna have fun, man.

We're gonna I'm gonna I'm gonna take you around and see numerous, numerous automotive businesses.

And so like job shadowing, oh my gosh, a student could just get out there and you know,

anything they have interest in just say, hey, can I can I job shadow?

Even if it's an hour, like or one day or half a day, like just, you know, that's kind of I guess

what I was saying about walking into a business that that's kind of what you're doing.

You're almost kind of job shadowing.

But you know, but yeah, you know, I think job shadowing is definitely something that's overlooked

in our culture, but it's so, so important because they at least, you know, you go in for

for let's say eight hours and you're like, you know what, this is horrible.

Like I do not want to do that.

Yeah.

It could maybe even be a great way for a company to do something like that where they have,

you know, a week or something where they have people come into job shadow and it gives both

parties an opportunity to see like, do you want to do this and would this be a good fit one day?

And and how do we how do we put together a plan to get this person, you know, into this position?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I think it's going to be the major challenge moving forward is how companies find

employees who are passionate and, you know, smart and good at their jobs and then also

appealing to the younger generation.

Like you mentioned elementary school and middle school and saying this can be a career because

we're if I think back like granted it was a different time.

But like I wasn't bombarded when I was younger with the trades or an opportunity.

It was other things.

It was other careers.

And then that gets the plant to seed and then that's what you keep in the back of your mind

through high school and college and then you become an adult and go into that.

And then you might find you don't like it.

So I think getting them younger and saying, yeah, you can make an off road suspension or

yeah, you can, you know, work for a company that does 35 inch tires or whatever.

Yeah.

Like you can do.

Yeah.

I wouldn't make it.

Mickey Thompson has a, I guess, I don't know if it's our headquarters or head distribution or

somebody is in Akron and I went in there the other day.

It was unbelievable.

Just a tire company.

Right.

I mean, I'm in Akron.

It's a tire company capital of the world.

Right.

But but you walk into Mickey Thompson and just had like all this off road stuff.

Like just like again, like all it is is a rubber company, a tire, tire company, but it's got

cool factor and you go in and then excited me just being in there.

Again, I feel guilty that I get to go to.

Well, I guess I get to go because I purposely, you know, go out to these places, but you see

that you can feel the excitement in me.

It's like, I'm only listening a handful of companies.

And, you know, the future of the industry is there's definitely it statistically,

like when you listen to Mike grow, he's on all the time talking about this statistically,

it's only going to get worse over the next few years.

Okay.

More are retiring than coming in.

So, so there's opportunity right now and there's even going to be greater opportunity

in the very, very near future.

And and then all the new technology, like there's job roles in our in the automotive

business that aren't even out there right now that are going to be in five or 10 years.

So, yes, is the industry is hurting.

It's good.

I think it's going to get a little ugly because they're going to hit a point where

they're really, really desperate, which means they're going to have to pay more.

But I think, you know, I think that we're going to catch up with that.

And our culture is going to it's going to have to catch up and realize,

hey, these jobs are in such demand that they that they're going to pay more.

I think I think it'll catch up eventually.

And and I and I the whole college thing is going to have to change and the price.

I don't know. It's it's going to but to the listener right now that's listening or the

parent or someone that has had someone and oh my gosh, is this industry incredible.

There are so many different different like niches in there and there's opportunity in

every one that it's incredible.

Great pay.

You got great business companies.

They're going to be around for a long time.

They're not going away.

AI is not doing anything there.

And and I think we just need to get over the stigma, you know, of my gosh.

I mean, you know, that that that it wasn't like the best path and it is the best.

It's incredible. I think it is.

And you can see it in my in my excitement.

So how do we segue into the diesel part of this?

Well, I think I think it all relates to it, though, like sure it does.

You know, I think of, you know, people don't think it's viable.

I mean, there's some of the most successful people I know are did something in diesel

and you can see it with their toys, their homes, their businesses, the facilities,

the machinery that they have in it.

I've had some really great podcasts where they'll walk me through,

you know, some of the technology that they have.

And it's it's humbling to see and, you know, the diesel space is changing

very rapidly and a lot of it's driven by outside forces, but, you know,

the amount of diagnostics that take place and and the things that people want,

you know, are changing and diesel isn't going away either.

It's so crucial to so many different industries that that it's going to be there.

And so I think everything that you talked about applies directly to someone who's

going to listen to the diesel podcast or they hear someone, you know,

at work listening to this or or something like that.

And it was really helpful to chat from like two different perspectives.

One is someone wanting to get into it.

But then two is you're a business trying to find these people.

It might take a little bit more work.

You might have to get more hands on.

You might have to say, hey, come shadow us or we're going to have an open house

or we're going to do something or I'm going to spend a little bit more time

talking with this person at the booth that said, hey, I'm in trade school or something.

And maybe asking some more questions because that could be your next like super employee.

That could be the next person, right?

You know, who changes your business.

You don't know.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Great stuff.

Hey, Shelby Shelby does have a diesel, by the way.

I definitely I saw that we were talking about it and you had sent me some links

and I checked it out.

And I want to spend like I want to have a dedicated podcast just to the Shelby F 250

because to me, Shelby is so iconic.

Yeah.

And it's history and what it's done.

And I didn't even know like I know about Shelby Mustangs

and I know about some of the F 150 stuff, but I had no idea about the F 250 670 pound stroke.

Yeah, it's it's it's called the super bar.

And in fact, what I would like to do soon here and we talk about it after is

is the closest Shelby dealer to my house just yesterday received the all new 2026.

So it's on there a lot.

So pretty soon, I'd like to get over there and like do something with you with that.

But this thing is a beast.

It really is.

It is a it just looks massive.

You know, it's the 6.7, right?

High output.

It's, you know, it's 20 inch wheels, 37 inch tires that look aggressive.

And there's two massive spares in the back of the bed.

And it's it's completely redesigned from last year.

Like every part on there is new kind of looks similar, but every piece is just a slightly different.

And and we just released it.

The sales have been great so far.

And there's a lot of excitement out there about it.

So that'll be awesome to chat about.

So yeah, we'll we'll make a plan for that.

I really appreciate you reaching out on social media and the conversations we had prior to it.

And then leading to today because it's it's like I said, it's something I

don't know the path.

I don't know how to direct somebody.

But I can point back to this and say, hey, contact Mike.

And that's what I want to do right now is really like, like I'm serious.

Like, like I have in whoever's listening, if they're on the edge,

I'm not the type person that might reach out.

No, reach out.

Like, you know, you're not wasting my time at all.

You're I'm always here and in the future for you, for anybody that yeah, please point on my way.

And if it doesn't cost anything, you know, it's free.

I'm just here to help because I want to help the industry.

Yeah.

What's the best?

What's the best way for people to find you on social media or to reach out to you?

You know, on Instagram, it's Ohio Tech Group.

So Ohio Tech, T E C H group, or or you can maybe in the notes, you can put my email,

you know, my Gmail account in there and they can either email me or DM me on Instagram.

And you can see kind of what I do in the industry, maybe get ideas too.

People can't if they watch some of the stuff I post on Instagram is just what I'm doing out there.

Some of the fun, cool stuff I see.

So maybe they'll they'll get, you know, get ideas from that.

But yeah, great.

Very cool.

Michael, I appreciate your time today chatting with me and sharing your story

and and these insights into into what you do.

Thank you as a privilege to be out here.

I really appreciate it.

Don't forget, diesel fans, make sure and head on over to kershaw.kaiusa.com.

Use code 20 TD 8 FR 26 to get 20% off your order.

Kershaw's got a whole lineup of knives to meet any budget that you might have,

whether it's a new knife or EDC hunting, fishing, something around the job site around the house.

They've got you covered with a bunch of different choices for blade steel,

blade shape, different handle designs, opening mechanisms,

and you also get free shipping over $50.

So we really appreciate them offering that discount code just for diesel podcast listeners.

Also want to give a shout out to some of our Patreon supporters, Robert, John, TSW diesel,

all of our other Patreon supporters, all of you who follow us on social media.

We appreciate all your support here in your 10 of the diesel podcast

and look forward to bringing you more of the content that you want to hear in 2026.

Until next time, keep the shiny side up.

Mechanic Shortage is About to Hit Truck Owners Hard

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diesel truck enthusiast

Barra Jackson

ultimate call out challenges in Indianapolis

transmission department

speed of air series

tow haul

fuel up schedule

diesel space is changing very rapidly

open house

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