Technician Career Path

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is nominating former Wisconsin Representative Sean Duffy, now a Fox News host, to be transportation secretary. If confirmed, Duffy will oversee aviation, automotive, rail, transit and other transportation policies at the department with about a $110 billion budget as well as significant funding remaining under the Biden administration’s 2021 $1 trillion infrastructure law. Trump has vowed to reverse the Biden administration’s vehicle emissions rules. He has said he plans to begin the process of undoing the Biden administration’s stringent emissions regulations finalized earlier this year as soon as he takes office. The rules cut tailpipe emissions limits by 50 percent from 2026 levels by 2032 and prod automakers to build more EVs. Reuters reported last week the Trump transition team wants to kill the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric-vehicle purchases, citing sources. “Sean will use his experience and the relationships he has built over many years in Congress to maintain and rebuild our Nation’s Infrastructure, and fulfill our Mission of ushering in The Golden Age of Travel, focusing on Safety, Efficiency, and Innovation,” Trump said in a statement Nov. 18 on his Truth Social platform. “Importantly, he will greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans!” Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ewh2U99N

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Winners take time to relish their work, knowing that scaling the mountain is what makes the view from the top so exhilarating. – Denis Waitley

Managing the Essential Eight Controllables to Maximize Service Absorption Thank you for attending the “Managing the Essential Eight Controllables to Maximize Service Absorption” workshop presented by Ken Barnes. You can now download the workshop materials and keynotes for actionable insights on increasing service absorption. Access proven strategies to optimize working days, technician productivity, effective labor rates, and gross profit margins while reducing repair event cycle time. Utilize these resources to drive measurable improvements in your dealership’s profitability and efficiency. Visit https://lnkd.in/eudre9vj to download the presentation.

What Trump’s win means for the CHIPS Act and automotive semiconductor imports. President-elect Donald Trump’s return to office comes as the auto industry looks to diversify semiconductor sources to insulate itself from conflict between microchip powerhouses Taiwan and China. And as is the case with trade, electric vehicles and emissions regulations, Trump promised a significant shift in U.S. policy on microchips. Trump is a critic of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, a bipartisan law that provides incentives for semiconductor manufacturers to build factories in the U.S. The act was credited with spurring domestic investments from global chipmakers, including Microchip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., for example, which received a $6.6 billion federal government grant Nov. 15 to build three plants in Arizona. During an Oct. 26 appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Trump said the law only serves to provide “billions of dollars for rich companies” and suggested high tariffs on chip imports could attract investments instead. “You tariff it so high that they will come and build their chip companies for nothing,” Trump said. As with Trump’s other tariff-related campaign pledges, it is unclear if the administration would pursue such tariffs immediately or at all. But regardless of how the U.S. wants to attract domestic semiconductor manufacturing, it will have to contend with long lead times between a project being announced and semiconductors being produced, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions. Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eMdAqBaB

Think about it.

A Ford patent indicates the automaker could offer personalized advertisements in future infotainment systems. While it is not clear whether or how Ford Motor Co. would use the technology, the patent is indicative of a trend in the auto industry. Ford has filed previous in-car advertising patents, and apps such as Waze and Google Maps have toyed with deployed in-vehicle ads. Ford’s in-car ad technology patent application filed in February 2023 is pending, but its publication in August 2024 revealed the “in-vehicle advertisement presentation system” to the public. The system would present advertisements visually on infotainment screens and audibly through car speakers. It would tailor the ads to individual drivers by analyzing several factors, including the vehicle’s destination and route, audio signals within the car and historical data on the user. But even if Ford’s patent is approved, it doesn’t necessarily mean new models will feature such advertising. “Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business, as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” said Alan Hall, a Ford spokesperson. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/gTDdUjPP

"This Friday, finish your work and be done. Look forward to the weekend and have some fun!" — Kate Summers

When it comes to customer satisfaction, performance of collision repair facility and insurer are intertwined. As outlined in CCC Intelligent Solution’s “Moments of Truth” study, insurers greatly influence where consumers get their vehicles repaired. In fact, a third of consumers said the biggest factor determining where they took their vehicle for repair was a recommendation from their insurance company. In turn, the study also found the customer’s interaction with the collision facility influenced their perception of the insurer. Forty-two percent of survey respondents said their interplay with the repair facility influenced their perception of their insurer. Of those 42 percent, more than 8 in 10 said the perception was changed positively. Read the full article in Automotive News: https://lnkd.in/ezGpTp9h

The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are. -Goldie Hawn