Preparing for the Winter Tire Rush Once You Become a Mechanic

become a mechanic

Winter in Canada means cold winds, icy roads, and below-zero driving conditions. In order to prepare for snowy roads, drivers must install winter tires, and while this can be relatively straight-forward, poor planning and sudden changes in weather can lead to a rush of people who need service all at once.

Although outfitting a car with its winter tires isn’t mandatory until December, early snows and cold weather means that drivers may come into your garage far earlier than you expected. To make sure you don’t get caught off-guard by seasonal demand, read on for a few helpful tips on how you can best prepare for the avalanche of people in need of winter tires.

Mechanics Prepare for Winter Weather in Advance

As a business, the best way to meet an increase in demand is to increase your supply accordingly. If you want to become a mechanic, you should know that planning ahead can save on time and frustration, and means that you’ll be more than ready to provide the services your customers will need.

Just like the clip below illustrates, road conditions can get a little dicey in the winter:

This doesn’t mean, however, that you should order next year’s winter tires before winter even ends. Instead, try to plan at least one business quarter ahead of the seasonal rush, in September or October, for instance. If possible, review what the trends for your shop looked like in past years and use that to predict what you may need in the future. Effectively planning for the demand you might face can save the headache of running out of tires in the middle of a rush.

Grads of a Mechanic Program May Want to Find Seasonal Staff

Using the network you built during your mechanic program to find reliable, knowledgeable, talented mechanics to help during the winter rush can be an excellent idea. Hiring seasonal employees is a great way to both lessen your staff’s workload and give you an opportunity to strengthen your professional relationships, as well as provide an opportunity for students and recent graduates of mechanic school to gain work experience.

Seasonal staff can make all the difference
Seasonal staff can make all the difference

Stay Organized and Check Your Inventory

A heavy workload can be difficult to manage, but as long as you keep everything in order, you won’t feel as overwhelmed as you might be otherwise. Practicing good organizational habits can help your garage process last-minute walk-ins, streamline billing, and allow you to have a better understanding of what supplies you’re running low on and need to re-order.

Winter tires can go quickly, especially in cities with intense winter weather like Montreal. It’s important to keep an inventory list that is accurate and updated frequently in order to prepare for the next day’s work. All drivers need to winterize their vehicles, and if you can’t provide the services they need, they’ll take their business elsewhere. Try to check your inventory as often as possible, and make the appropriate adjustments throughout the season.

Winter is coming. Are you ready to learn new skills at auto mechanic school?

Contact your local Automotive Training Centre today for more information.

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